Morgan Wallen is bringing the Still the Problem Tour to Soldier Field in Chicago on June 19 and 20, 2026 — and if you’ve been following the tour at all, you already know that one of the biggest questions heading into every stop isn’t just what songs he’ll play. It’s who’s walking out with him.
The Morgan Wallen pre-show walkout has become one of the most buzzed-about traditions in country music — a moment where a local celebrity, sports legend, or surprise guest struts out alongside Wallen to the opening notes of Lil Durk’s “Broadway Girls” and sends the crowd into an absolute frenzy. Chicago is one of the biggest sports cities in America, and the speculation is already running hot. Here’s everything you need to know — the walkout tradition, who’s appeared so far in 2026, and our best bets for the Windy City.
The Walkout Tradition: How It Started and Why It Works
The walkout tradition has been part of Wallen’s live show since 2023, and it has grown into one of the most anticipated moments of each tour stop. The formula is simple: as Wallen makes his entrance, he’s accompanied by a notable local figure — typically a sports legend, celebrity, or cultural icon tied to the city. The crowd recognizes the guest, the energy explodes, and the show is off to a start that no stadium concert opener could replicate.
Holler Country has tracked every walkout across the Still the Problem Tour, noting that the tradition has featured an extraordinary roster of guests over the years — from Travis Kelce and Tom Brady to Drake, Mike Tyson, Rob Gronkowski, and Kid Rock. The walkout is city-specific by design: Wallen clearly does his homework about what local icons will mean the most to the crowd in each building, which is what makes each one feel personal rather than manufactured.
When the tour launched in Minneapolis on April 10, Wallen opened with NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen — a beloved figure in Vikings country — walking him out to a roaring crowd. The template was set.
The 2026 Still the Problem Tour Walkout Roster So Far
Let’s look at who has already walked out with Wallen on this tour — because the list gives you a sense of the caliber of guest he’s targeting and the local-legend strategy at play:
Minneapolis (April 10, Night 1): NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen — beloved Vikings defensive end and one of the most colorful personalities in Minnesota sports history. Comedian Theo Von also joined via a pre-show video.
Las Vegas (May 1, Night 1): No walkout guest — and Wallen was not shy about it. He told the Allegiant Stadium crowd directly: “Y’all got some flaky a— people in this town. I had like five different people lined up to do the walkout and they all bailed on me last minute.” Only in Las Vegas.
Indianapolis (May 10, Night 2): Caitlin Clark — Indiana Fever star and the biggest name in women’s basketball, who had just played a game less than a mile away earlier that day. Wallen posted the walkout on Instagram with the caption “22” in honor of Clark’s jersey number. The moment went massively viral.
Denver (May 29, Night 1): NFL legend John Elway — two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and the defining figure in Denver Broncos history. The Broncos’ official social media account posted: “The Duke joined @morganwallen for Night 1 of his Still The Problem tour.” A city-appropriate pick if there ever was one.
The pattern is clear: Wallen is going for local sports royalty — the kind of figure whose name alone makes a stadium full of hometown fans erupt. Minneapolis got its Vikings icon. Indianapolis got its most famous current athlete. Denver got its greatest quarterback. Chicago, one of the most storied sports cities in America, has an embarrassment of options.
The Chicago Shows: What’s Already Confirmed
Before we get into walkout predictions, here’s what we know for certain about the two Soldier Field nights:
Night 1 — Friday, June 19: Morgan Wallen with Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, and Zach John King. Doors at 4:30 p.m., show starts at 5:30 p.m.
Night 2 — Saturday, June 20: Morgan Wallen with Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, and Zach John King. Doors at 4:30 p.m., show starts at 5:30 p.m.
Holler Country notes that when Ella Langley is on the bill, Wallen tends to bring her on stage during his set for their duet “I Can’t Love You Anymore” — a song that is already setting chart records and earning comparisons to the classic duet tradition of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
No official walkout guests have been announced for either Chicago night as of this writing. That’s normal — Wallen never announces these in advance, which is precisely what makes them feel like genuine surprises.
Our Chicago Walkout Predictions
Chicago is one of the great sports cities in the world, and Wallen has a pattern of going deep on local legend status. Here are the names that make the most sense:
Mike Ditka — The Most Chicago Option Imaginable
If you’re playing a stadium in Chicago and you want to send 60,000 people into a full emotional meltdown, you walk out with Da Coach. Mike Ditka is as synonymous with Chicago as deep dish pizza and Lake Michigan. His 1985 Chicago Bears are widely considered the greatest team in NFL history, and Ditka himself remains one of the most beloved figures in the city’s sports culture. The energy of a Ditka walkout at Soldier Field — the Bears’ home stadium — would be absolutely unmatched. This is the dream scenario.
Brian Urlacher — Bears Royalty
If Ditka isn’t available, Brian Urlacher is the modern-era Bears legend with the kind of name recognition that plays to a 2026 crowd. The Hall of Fame linebacker is one of the most decorated players in Bears history and remains a beloved Chicago figure. A country music fan appearing at Soldier Field for Wallen would check every box.
Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman — Bulls Legends
The Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s is one of the most culturally iconic sports stories of the modern era, and both Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman have the name recognition and the personality to make a Wallen walkout unforgettable. Rodman in particular would be a genuine wildcard moment — unpredictable, electric, and completely on-brand for the kind of surprises Wallen has been delivering this tour.
Pat McAfee — The Entertainment Crossover Pick
Pat McAfee is everywhere right now — former NFL punter turned media personality, WWE commentator, and one of the most recognizable voices in American sports entertainment. He has appeared in Wallen’s orbit before, and his larger-than-life personality would translate perfectly to a stadium entrance. Holler Country has already been speculating about McAfee for Pittsburgh — a Chicago appearance would make equal sense.
Chance the Rapper — The Music World Wildcard
Wallen has shown he’s willing to cross genre lines for the right moment — his walkout with Drake in Houston remains one of the most iconic moments of any recent tour. Chance the Rapper is Chicago’s most beloved hip-hop artist, a genuine hometown hero who has deep roots in the city. A Chance the Rapper appearance at a Morgan Wallen show in Chicago would break the internet in a way very few walkouts could.
The Dark Horse: A Chicago Cubs or White Sox Legend
With baseball season in full swing in June, a current or former Chicago baseball legend is an obvious option. Names like Ryne Sandberg, Frank Thomas, or even a current Cubs or White Sox star walking out on a Friday or Saturday night during the heart of the baseball season would fit the city-specific playbook Wallen has been running all tour.
The Tradition’s Biggest Moments — For Context
To appreciate just how high the bar is set for Chicago, consider some of the all-time great Wallen walkouts across his touring history. Past guests have included Travis Kelce, Tom Brady, Mike Tyson, Rob Gronkowski, Brett Favre, Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, Steve Young, George Kittle, Kid Rock, and Drake — a roster that spans virtually every corner of American sports and entertainment culture.
The Houston walkout with Drake and Roger Clemens remains one of the most talked-about moments of the 2025 I’m the Problem Tour — a country-rap crossover that felt completely organic given the well-documented friendship between the two artists. The Caitlin Clark Indianapolis moment in 2026 may already be its equal.
Chicago deserves something at that level. And given what we know about Wallen’s track record for reading a room, there’s every reason to believe he’ll deliver.
How to Stay in the Loop
The walkout guest is never announced in advance — that’s the whole point. The best way to find out who’s walking out with Wallen in Chicago is to follow Morgan Wallen on Instagram, where he typically posts the walkout video within hours of the show. Fan accounts like @CountryChord on X (formerly Twitter) have been among the fastest to capture and share walkout footage throughout the tour.
If you’re going to be at Soldier Field on June 19 or 20, keep your phone ready from the moment the lights drop. Whatever happens next, you’ll want the footage.
