Morgan Wallen Dropped a New Song and Broke Attendance Records This Week. His Mullet Is Still the Real Trendsetter
"Been By Now" arrived July 24 as Wallen's Still the Problem Tour packed Michigan Stadium for two nights running. The haircut that turned him into a style icon in barbershops everywhere hasn't gone anywhere.
- Morgan Wallen released 'Been By Now,' his first solo track of the year, on July 24, 2026, after debuting it live during a sold-out show at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
- His Still the Problem Tour played two nights at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on July 24 and 25, with more than 220,000 fans expected across both shows.
- Wallen's shoulder-length, tapered mullet has become one of the most requested barbershop looks of the last few years, described by stylists as a symbol of individuality as much as a haircut.
- You do not need a stadium tour to pull off the look. It comes down to a clean taper up front and patience growing out the back.
A Big Week for Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen released 'Been By Now' on July 24, 2026, his first solo single of the year, after giving fans an early listen during a sold-out show at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The track, written with Charlie Handsome, John Byron, Blake Pendergrass, Rocky Block, and Taylor Phillips and produced by Joy Moi, digs into a relationship fading quietly rather than falling apart all at once.
The release landed in the middle of a massive stretch on his Still the Problem Tour, which brought him to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor for back-to-back shows on July 24 and 25 with Thomas Rhett, HARDY, Hudson Westbrook, and Blake Whiten opening. Organizers put combined attendance for the two nights north of 220,000, enough to land the run in the conversation for one of the biggest ticketed concert stretches in the country this year. The single arrives while his 2025 album, 'I'm the Problem,' is still charting, having spent 13 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
The Haircut That Started a Movement
Long before the new single or the stadium run, Wallen had already turned his own haircut into a cultural touchpoint. The shape is a modern take on an old idea, short and tapered through the front and sides with shoulder-length hair left in back, usually with a soft fade blended in rather than the harsh line of a classic 1980s mullet. It reads more current, less costume.
Stylists covering the trend describe it as more than a look. One breakdown from FashionBeans put it in stronger terms, framing the cut as "individuality and rebellion against conventional grooming norms," which tracks with why it has spread well past country music fans into sports and mainstream pop culture over the last couple of years.
What to Ask Your Barber for the Wallen-Style Mullet
Getting the look right comes down to a specific ask, not just a general one. Tell your barber you want a moderate taper on the sides with the length kept close around the ears, while the back stays long enough to sit at the shoulders. It works best on straight to slightly wavy hair, and it tends to suit oval and round face shapes more naturally than very tight curls.
Plan on a trim roughly every six weeks to keep the fade blended and the front from creeping past where you want it, even while the back keeps growing out. A light, moisturizing product on the longer sections helps it look intentional instead of just overgrown, which is the difference between this cut looking sharp and looking like you simply skipped a few haircuts.
It's Not Just for Country Fans Anymore
The mullet's reach has grown well past its country music roots, showing up now on athletes and in mainstream fashion circles as a burst-fade or textured variation on the same idea. That crossover is part of why barbers across Las Vegas are fielding more requests for it heading into the back half of summer, whether someone is walking in with a photo of Wallen or just describing the general shape.
If you have been on the fence about it, summer heat in Vegas is actually a reasonable time to try it. The tapered sides keep things cool day to day, and the length in back gives you something to tie back or tuck under a hat on the hottest afternoons without losing the shape underneath.
Figures from Country Now, Holler, and FashionBeans' coverage of Wallen's single, tour, and haircut.
6 Mullet Variations Barbers Are Cutting Right Now
The mullet has splintered into a handful of distinct looks. Here is how to describe the version you want.
- Classic Wallen Mullet: Tapered sides, shoulder-length back, soft fade blended in rather than a hard line.
- Burst Fade Mullet: A curved fade around the ear paired with longer length in back, popular with an athletic crowd.
- Curly Top Mullet: Natural curl left long on top and in back with tighter, faded sides for contrast.
- Business-Front Mullet: A neat, short, professional front and sides that hide the longer back under a collar during the workweek.
- Skater Mullet: Choppy, uneven layers throughout for a looser, lower-maintenance shape.
- Textured Shag Mullet: Heavier layering through the crown for volume, blended into a shorter, tapered perimeter.
Frequently asked questions
- When did Morgan Wallen release 'Been By Now'?
- The single came out July 24, 2026, after he debuted it live at a show in Baltimore the night before.
- How big were the Michigan Stadium shows?
- More than 220,000 fans were expected across the two nights, July 24 and 25, as part of his Still the Problem Tour.
- What should I tell my barber if I want a Wallen-style mullet?
- Ask for a moderate taper on the sides with length kept around the ears, and shoulder-length hair maintained in back, trimmed roughly every six weeks.
- Does the mullet only work with straight hair?
- It suits straight to wavy hair and oval or round face shapes most naturally, though barbers can adapt the shape for other textures on request.