With Morgan Wallen’s fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, he’s owning up to his past and offering an unfiltered look into real-life moments, starting with the album’s striking cover art.
In a new interview with Apple Music’s New Music Daily Radio with Zane Lowe, Wallen shared that the idea for the cover art came to him unexpectedly while sitting in his lawyer’s office on the way to court.
“I saw old school court drawings in there, and at the same time, me and my team were talking about what’s this artwork going to be? I’m like, ‘Ah, I’m not really sure.’ And I saw those old school court drawings and something just clicked in my head. I was like, ‘That might be cool.’”
He decided to see if any other artists had done something similar, but when he came up with no results, he thought, “Maybe I’m onto something.”
Wallen went on to explain that he intentionally didn’t use the actual image from his court appearance, claiming it was “too real,” but he still wanted to reference that chapter of his life in a way that felt creative and thought-provoking. The result is a sketch of his profile from the shoulders up. He’s seen wearing a white button-up with his signature long locks and mustache on full display.
“I just wanted to just pay a little bit of homage to that and make people say, ‘Hey, is that what that is?’ And I feel like we toed the line of it pretty well, and I think it looks cool.”
Weaving That Same Creativity And Honesty Into The Title
That same blend of truth and artistry also shows up in the album’s title. “I’m The Problem” is a bold statement that at first is assumed to be a nod to his past controversies and the public mistakes that’s followed him. However beyond that, it could also be seen as a way for him to take ownership and signal a level of personal growth from Wallen.
Reflecting on the title, Wallen told Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen, “I mean, I think it’s just at this point in my life, to me, and I’ve said this maybe before, but this feels like… I don’t know the future. I don’t know, I’m really taking things day by day, but it feels like… Just the way that my life has taken me and where I’m at as a man, it just seems like it might be the last time that I really get to honestly say that as a person. So I think it’s me. I’ve always prided myself in taking accountability for what I do, and this is just a big stamp on that for me.”
The cover and title both set the tone for the highly anticipated project which is available now via Big Loud / Mercury. The collection includes a massive 37-song track list and blends elements of country, rock, and pop influences. It also features collaborations with Post Malone, Tate McRae, Eric Church, ERNEST, and HARDY.
Even before its release, I’m The Problem had already made a major impact—racking up three No. 1s at country radio and six songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now, fans have the chance to finally dive into the full project, which finds Wallen exploring heartbreak, accountability, and everything in between across 37 vulnerable tracks.
Offering A Wide-Range Of Musical Influences
Just like on his past projects, Morgan Wallen’s wide-ranging musical influences have made their way into I’m The Problem, but this time, they’ve been strung together more intentionally than ever before.
“There were three styles on the last album that I had in my head, and I went with that same approach with this album,” Wallen reflects on the process “We had straight up country songs, which I always do, and then we had more of an alternative-indie approach on a few of them. Those songs end up being a little bit countrified, just because that’s who we are and that’s how we do them. And then the more cross-genre approach might end up on a multi-genre radio station, just because of all the influences that I’ve had throughout my life, listening to every single type of music. I think I’ve stuck to that approach with I’m The Problem, getting an anchor song for each style and once we have those anchor songs dialed in, we fill up those buckets.”
“We recorded around 50 songs for this album and ended up cutting 13,” he continues. “I feel like we accomplished what I had in mind, and a huge shoutout to my close collaborators on this too. They came in ready and fired up every single day, and they inspire me as much as anything else.”
Wallen co-wrote 22 of the tracks and worked with an impressive 49 songwriters to bring this project to life. Previously released songs include “Lies Lies Lies,” “Love Somebody” and “I’m The Problem,” all of which have already reached No. 1 at Country radio.
Morgan Wallen’s 2025 Tour Dates
This weekend the superstar will host his inaugural Sand In My Boots Festival in Gulf Shores, AL and then will embark on his 20-show I’m The Problem Tour. His first stop will be on June 20 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas and continue with stops in Seattle, Washington; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Toronto, Ontario and more. With a second stop added in Madison, Wisconsin, Wallen’s appearances will mark the first time an artist has played two consecutive nights at Camp Randall Stadium.
A rotating lineup of guests including Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and Koe Wetzel join in direct support with Gavin Adcock, Corey Kent, Ella Langley and Anne Wilson as across select dates. Additionally, he’s set to deliver a special one-night-only album release celebration show on May 28 at Roundhouse in London.
The post Morgan Wallen Reveals How A How a Courtroom Sketch Sparked The Idea For His ‘I’m The Problem’ Album Art appeared first on Country Now.