Morgan Wallen has given fans several sneak peeks at his upcoming album, “I’m The Problem.” In early April 2025, the singer confirmed on X that he would be singing alongside a female artist on the new album — a first for Wallen. However, Wallen has stayed mum on her identity as of this publication. Nevertheless, it appears the mystery duet partner may have voluntarily stepped out of the shadows. As Taste of Country reported on April 15, Tate McRae’s Instagram Story included subtle hints that she is the female singer in question.
The Story featured an orange jersey emblazoned with T8 (easily read as “Tate”), but that is just the start of the list of clues featured in the seemingly innocuous photo. Above the T8, in much smaller letters, are the initials “MW.” Furthermore, the shirt is clearly a Tennessee Volunteers jersey, the baseball team for the University of Tennessee. Wallen is from Tennessee, of course, but as A to Z Sports shared, he is also “one of the most famous Tennessee Vols fans on the planet right now.”
Wallen and McRae Have Been Linked in the Past
GettyAlthough Wallen himself hasn’t confirmed if McRae is indeed his duet partner, Holler has shared that there have been subtle signs that the two singers support each other. For example, the two follow each other on social media. In 2024, Wallen also reposted a video of McRae covering “I Need Some Help,” his hit song with fellow musician Post Malone, on TikTok. Fans couldn’t help but notice Wallen’s repost in the video’s comments section.
McRae has also shared an interest in country music on multiple occasions. In August 2024, she told Nylon magazine about her relationship to the genre: “I’ve been a country fan for so long. My family [and I] listened to country my entire life.” In a clip Billboard shared, the Canadian singer also lists country among the genres she uses for inspiration.
Fans Have Mixed Feelings About the Potential Collaboration
GettyAlthough Wallen is no stranger to genre-bending collaborations, fans are largely divided on whether to be excited or wary of a McRae duet. When Wallen first confirmed his duet with a female singer on X, fans flooded the comments section with guesses such as Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, or Lainey Wilson — all fellow country stars. Needless to say, the suggestion that a pop star may be in the mix has thrown some fans for a loop.
In the comments section of a Country Minute TikTok video, people expressed opinions on both sides. Some shared that they’re excited to see how this collaboration will take shape, and others were curious how the singers’ styles will blend. Naysayers feared the song wouldn’t live up to the hype, and some even suggested that Wallen and McRae would both be better off pairing up with different singers.
Wallen’s Upcoming Duet With Post Malone is Highly Anticipated
GettyWallen fans may not know how to feel about him teaming up with McRae, but there’s another “I’m The Problem” announcement that most can agree on: his newest duet with Malone. On Friday, April 18, “I Ain’t Coming Back” will have its official release, although a short preview of the song went live on April 15.
In the comments section of the original Instagram announcement of the song’s release, people couldn’t contain their anticipation. Many are excited to see the singers teaming up again and shared that they couldn’t wait for Friday to come. With the huge success of “I Had Some Help” in 2024, “I Ain’t Coming Back” has some big shoes to fill.