Morgan Wallen closed out 2025 with another huge milestone: his album I’m The Problem finished the year as Apple Music’s No. 1 album.

That kind of success isn’t shocking given Wallen’s incredible run over the past few years, but what did surprise fans was that he actually acknowledged the achievement publicly. Wallen typically stays quiet on awards, accolades and year end lists.

On Dec. 2, he shared Apple Music’s post on Instagram and added a short, pointed comment: “I like to let my fans do the talking.” Coming from Wallen, the line immediately sparked conversation. Many saw it as more than just a thank-you, it read like a subtle swipe at the CMA Awards, where winners are chosen by industry voters rather than by the fans who stream and buy the music.

Wallen’s relationship with the CMAs has always been distant. He’s won two awards - New Artist of the Year in 2020 and Entertainer of the Year in 2024 - but he skipped both ceremonies and barely acknowledged either win. He also chose not to attend the 2025 CMA Awards, keeping his streak of award-show absences intact.

His friend and collaborator Ernest recently shed light on Wallen’s mindset. Ahead of this year’s CMAs, Ernest said Wallen truly doesn’t care about award results, joking that Wallen is too busy succeeding on his own terms to stress about trophies. Judging by Wallen’s reaction to topping Apple Music’s year end chart, that sentiment seems spot on.

With I’m The Problem dominating streams and Wallen continuing to pack stadiums, he appears perfectly content letting fan support speak louder than industry recognition. His latest Instagram post made it clear: for him, the fans’ voice is the only one that matters.