Morgan Wallen’s tribute took an emotional turn as he sent prayers to Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika — but one unexpected detail left fans questioning everything.

“This song right here has been hitting me harder in the last couple days,” the country singer said at his Edmonton show.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen performs onstage for the 16th Annual Darius and Friends St. Jude Benefit at Ryman Auditorium on June 02, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA

Morgan Wallen took a heartfelt moment during his recent concert in Canada to honor Erika Kirk, the grieving widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Performing at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on Friday (Sept. 12), the 32-year-old country superstar paused midway through the show to share an emotional message. Just days earlier, Erika’s husband had been assassinated during a public speaking event in Utah.

“I’m not gonna say a whole bunch on this, but this song right here has been hitting me harder in the last couple days,” Wallen said in fan-captured footage. “I just wanted to let Erika Kirk know that me and my family are sending prayers her way.”

 

Wallen then dedicated his song “I’m a Little Crazy” — which reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot chart in April 2025 — to the Kirk family, inviting the crowd to join in and sing along.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was a popular conservative activist and the co-founder of Turning Point USA. He was shot on Sept. 10 during a Q&A session at a “The American Comeback Tour” event hosted by the organization at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was later pronounced dead. Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children. The suspected gunman, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody the following day.

Wallen wasn’t the only artist to honor Kirk over the weekend. That same evening, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin addressed fans at the band’s Wembley Stadium show in London, asking the audience to “send love anywhere you want to send it in the world,” including to “Charlie Kirk’s family.”

Numerous other music artists — including Sheryl Crow, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Breland, Lauren Alaina, Gavin Adcock, Parker McCollum, CeCe Winans, and Michael W. Smith — also shared tributes and reactions on social media in response to Kirk’s death.

A public memorial service for Kirk is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.