What I Want (Morgan Wallen song)

"What I Want"
Single by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae
from the album I'm the Problem
ReleasedMay 20, 2025 (2025-05-20)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Morgan Wallen singles chronology
"Just in Case"
(2025) 		"What I Want"
(2025) 		"I Got Better"
(2025)
Tate McRae singles chronology
"Revolving Door"
(2025) 		"What I Want"
(2025) 		"Just Keep Watching"
(2025)
Lyric video
"What I Want" on YouTube

"What I Want" is a song by American singer Morgan Wallen featuring Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on May 20, 2025, through Big Loud, Mercury and Republic Records as the fifth single from Wallen's fourth studio album, I'm the Problem.[1] The song marks the first ever collaboration between Wallen and a female singer. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Wallen's fourth number-one on the chart and McRae's first.[2]

Background

Wallen revealed that the collaboration with McRae was something both had wanted to do for a while. Initially, "What I Want" was not written with a female singer in mind but Wallen admitted that McRae "just absolutely crushed every single part of the song". The two did not work on or record the song in the studio together due to the fact.[3] Wallen said that his sister introduced him to McRae's music several years prior.[1]

After news of the collaboration broke, fans of McRae criticized her for working with Wallen following his controversial past.[4][5]

Promotion

On March 29, 2025, Wallen was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, and performed previous singles "I'm the Problem" and "Just in Case".[6] During his performance, a television in the background displayed several titles for unreleased songs on the album alongside their track numbers, including "What I Want", with other artists blurred out.[7] In April 2025, Wallen confirmed that the song would be a collaboration with a female artist, as that is something Wallen had yet to do.[8] On April 15, Canadian singer Tate McRae posted an Instagram story of a jersey with Tennessee Volunteers colors, having "T8" written across the front and Wallen's initials "MW".[9] Wallen revealed the full tracklist for I'm the Problem the day after, confirming their collaboration.[10] On May 13, the singer held a listening party at his bar in Nashville and previewed the track.[11]

Lyrics and composition

"What I Want" is a "crooning ballad" that sees both artists sharing vocals about a "temporary relationship".[12] It tells the story of two lovers who each bring their own baggage together, realizing that they ask more of each other and, as a result, let each other "off the hook".[13]

Critical reception

In a ranking of all album tracks, Melinda Newman and Jessica Nicholson of Billboard placed the song twelfth, saying that it comes as a "shimmery tune with a slight hip-hop beat" where both artists share "verses and a few harmonies" but would have been more "fun" if the duo sang together more as their voices are a "surprisingly compatible match".[14]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Platinum 80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[50] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[52] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 20, 2025 Contemporary hit radio
[53]

References

  1. ^ a b Newman, Melinda (May 16, 2025). "Here's Who Brought Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae Together for Their Pop-Country Duet". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  2. ^ Trust, Gary (May 27, 2025). "Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae's 'What I Want' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Mower, Maxim (May 16, 2025). "'What I Want' by Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae - Lyrics and Meaning". Holler. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  4. ^ Stahl, Jay (May 16, 2025). "Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae release controversial collaboration from I'm the Problem album". USA Today. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  5. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (April 18, 2025). "Tate McRae draws criticism for Morgan Wallen duet 'What I Want'". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Peters, Mitchell (March 30, 2025). "Morgan Wallen Returns to SNL With Performances of 'I'm the Problem' & 'Just in Case': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  7. ^ Liptak, Carena (March 30, 2025). "WATCH: Morgan Wallen Shares a Peek at His Album Track List During 'SNL'". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (April 9, 2025). "Morgan Wallen Says 'I'm the Problem' Album Will Include His First Duet With a Woman". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  9. ^ "She's Wearing Tennessee Orange For Him: Tate McRae Appears to Confirm Morgan Wallen Collaboration, | Holler". holler.country. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Atkinson, Katie (April 16, 2025). "Morgan Wallen Unveils Titles of All 37 Tracks (And First Female Duet Partner) on I'm the Problem". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  11. ^ Thompson, Erik. "Morgan Wallen Hosts Series Of Listening Parties At His Nashville Bar Ahead Of Album Release". Effingham Radio. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Zemler, Emily (May 16, 2025). "Hear Tate McRae join Morgan Wallen on intimate ballad 'What I Want'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Petrusich, Amanda (May 16, 2025). "On I'm the Problem, Morgan Wallen goes back to God's country". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  14. ^ Newman, Melinda; Nicholson, Jessica (May 16, 2025). "Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem: All 37 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  15. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 2, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Countrytown Hot 50 – 2025, Week 27". Countrytown. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "Top 20 Bolivia – Anglo – Del 30 de Junio al 6 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Bolivia – English – From 30 June to 6 July 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
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  22. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  23. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  24. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Jul 18, 2025". TopHit. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "Top 20 México – Anglo – Del 30 de Junio al 6 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Mexico – English – June 30 to July 6, 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 2025" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae – What I Want" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  28. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  29. ^ "Singel 2025 uke 22". IFPI Norge. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  30. ^ "TOP 100 - Lista". Audiogest. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  31. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 21, 2025". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  33. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  34. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  35. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  36. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
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  38. ^ "Morgan Wallen Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  39. ^ "Top 20 Venezuela – Anglo – Del 10 al 16 de Noviembre, 2025" [Top 20 Venezuela – English – From 10 to 16 November, 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  40. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: June 2025". TopHit. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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  46. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 3, 2025). "Morgan Wallen Has No 'Problem' on Country Year-End Charts: Countdown to Billboard's 2025 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
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  48. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  49. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Morgan Wallen – What I Want". Music Canada. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  50. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae – What I Want". Radioscope. Retrieved September 12, 2025. Type What I Want in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  51. ^ "British single certifications – Morgan Wallen/Tate McRae – What I Want". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  52. ^ "American single certifications – Morgan Wallen – What I Want". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  53. ^ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps". Hits. May 20, 2025. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
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