Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter 3 - Behind Closed Doors

Morgan Wallen sat in the plush waiting room of his record label's headquarters, tapping his foot restlessly against the hardwood floor. Despite his laid-back appearance, a familiar tension curled in his stomach. It wasn't his career on the line today, but it sure felt like it. He was about to introduce Georgie Day's demo to a group of executives who rarely had time for unproven artists. He knew how ruthless they could be, but that didn't faze him. He believed in Georgie. The real challenge would be getting them to see what he saw.

He glanced at his watch. The meeting was in ten minutes. He sent a quick text to Georgie.

Morgan: Going in soon. I'll let you know how it goes.

A few seconds later, his phone buzzed.

Georgie: Thanks, Morgan. Trying to stay calm over here!

Morgan smiled to himself, imagining her pacing around her apartment, her nerves probably making her feel the same way he did right now. He had been in her shoes once—waiting, hoping, and wondering if anyone would give him a shot. That was why this felt so personal. Georgie had the raw talent and drive, but she needed someone to get her foot in the door, just like he once did.

His manager, Travis, walked over and clapped him on the back. "You ready, man? They're expectin' you."

Morgan took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."

Across town, Georgie sat on the edge of her bed, her guitar resting beside her, untouched. She had tried playing a few songs to distract herself, but her hands had been too shaky to focus. Every few minutes, her eyes darted to her phone, even though she knew she wouldn't hear anything for a while. Patience was not her strong suit, especially not today.

She could barely believe this was happening. Her demo, the songs she had written in the quiet of her tiny apartment, was about to be heard by people who could make or break her career. She had spent all morning trying to temper her expectations, reminding herself that nothing was guaranteed, but it was hard not to imagine what could come next.

A record deal. Recording studios. Radio play. Everything she had dreamed of for years.

Her mom had called earlier to check in, giving her the same supportive speech she always did. "No matter what happens, honey, you're already a success in our eyes." Georgie had smiled at that, but right now, she wasn't sure if it was enough to calm her nerves.

She stood up and began pacing the length of her small apartment, thinking about how far she had come. Two years in Nashville, countless gigs, long hours at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and now this moment. She could only imagine what was happening in that meeting room right now.

Morgan walked into the conference room, his usual swagger slightly tempered by the importance of the meeting. Three executives sat around the polished table, their faces unreadable. They were veterans in the industry, people who had the power to launch careers or quietly crush them. He'd been through meetings like this before, but this time it felt different. He wasn't here for himself.

He greeted them with a nod and took a seat at the head of the table. Travis slid a flash drive with Georgie's demo across the table, and one of the execs—a sharp-dressed man named Bill—picked it up and examined it with mild interest.

"So, Morgan," Bill began, "you've got a demo for us. What's the story here?"

Morgan leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "Yeah, I do. Her name's Georgie Day. She's been playin' bars all over Broadway for a couple of years now. I saw her at Kid Rock's place last week, and she blew me away. She's got the kind of voice that grabs you. It's real, raw, and she writes her own stuff. No pretenses."

Bill raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sounds promising. But we hear a lot of voices out there. What makes her different?"

Morgan had expected this question. He knew the game. They wanted to know why they should take a risk on a new artist when they already had a roster of talent.

"She ain't tryin' to be someone she's not," Morgan replied, his voice steady. "Her music comes from a real place. She's got a story to tell, and you can hear it in every note. I'm not sayin' this lightly—she's got the potential to be somethin' big. You give her a chance, and I guarantee, she'll make the most of it."

The room fell silent for a moment as the executives exchanged glances. Finally, Bill plugged the flash drive into the laptop and leaned back in his chair.

"All right," he said. "Let's hear it."

The room filled with the soft, acoustic sounds of Georgie's demo. The first track was a ballad—a haunting melody that showed off her range and her vulnerability. As the chorus swelled, Morgan couldn't help but smile. This was the moment. This was her voice, raw and pure, filling the room. He watched the executives' faces carefully, trying to read their reactions, but they remained stoic.

The second track was more upbeat, showcasing her versatility. It had a catchy hook and the kind of lyrics that could easily get stuck in your head. As the song played, Morgan noticed one of the executives tapping his fingers along to the beat. A good sign.
When the last note faded away, the room was silent again. Bill clicked off the laptop and turned to face Morgan.

"Well, she's got a voice, no doubt about that," he said, nodding thoughtfully. "And I can hear the potential. She's still a bit rough around the edges, though. If we were to take her on, she'd need some development."

Morgan leaned forward, his heart pounding. "That's fine. She's ready to put in the work. All she needs is a chance."

Another executive spoke up, a woman with sharp eyes and a keen sense for talent. "I agree. She's got something. It's not fully polished yet, but there's definitely something there. I'd be interested in seeing what she could do in the studio."

Morgan felt a surge of hope, but he knew better than to get too excited. "So, what do y'all think?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

Bill looked at the others before turning back to Morgan. "We'll need to discuss it a bit more, but I think we could work with her. Set her up with a meeting, maybe get her in front of some producers. We'll see where it goes."

Morgan nodded, trying to keep his excitement in check. "That's all I'm askin' for. Just give her the shot."

They exchanged a few more words, discussing logistics, before the meeting wrapped up. Morgan left the room with Travis by his side, feeling lighter than he had all day.

Travis slapped him on the back as they walked toward the elevators. "Looks like you did it, man. They're interested."

Morgan grinned, but his mind was already on Georgie. He pulled out his phone and quickly sent her a text.

Morgan: They liked it. Want to meet with you soon. We'll talk more later, but it's lookin' good.

Back at her apartment, Georgie's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she grabbed it instantly. When she saw Morgan's message, her heart raced.

They liked it.

She read the words over and over, her breath catching in her throat. They liked her demo. They wanted to meet with her. This was happening. She quickly typed out a response, her fingers trembling.

Georgie: Oh my God. I can't believe it. Thank you so much, Morgan. This means everything to me.

She sank down onto the couch, her mind spinning. This was the furthest she had ever come, and for the first time, it felt like her dream wasn't just some distant fantasy. It was within reach.

Tomorrow, she would start preparing for that meeting. But tonight, she allowed herself to breathe, to smile, and to feel the thrill of hope taking root.