Megan Moroney graduated from act to watch to surefire superstar in late 2022 when her college football-themed love song "Tennessee Orange" began its climb to viral popularity and platinum sales and streams. For those interested to hear more, the talented singer, songwriter and guitarist had a small but impressive back catalog already, mostly consisting of the six songs on 2022's "Pistol Made of Roses" EP. Then came her debut album, 2023's "Lucky," which includes "Tennessee Orange," follow-up single "I'm Not Pretty" and multiple songs that flaunt the versatile songwriting and singing gifts of someone whose professional career only dates back to 2020.
A native of Douglasville, Ga., Moroney first made music industry connections as a student at the University of Georgia. While in the musical hotbed of Athens, Ga., she opened for Chase Rice and interned for Sugarland's Kristian Bush. The latter became a bigger part of the Moroney story as her go-to producer.
"Tennessee Orange's" success landed Moroney her major label deal as well as her earliest industry award nominations and a CMT Music Award for Female Breakthrough Video of the Year.
Read on for 15 of Moroney's best songs, so far.
Michael Hickey/Getty Images for Spotify The oldest Moroney song on Spotify, this 2021 release heralded her arrival as an act to watch and previewed greater things to come through her working relationship with Bush. The solo write also established Moroney as a promising lyricist who'd fit right in on Music Row. Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT To help wrap their mind around the concept of God, our narrator imagines a guitar-slinging Georgia Bulldogs fan who's "up there six-string strumming with Loretta Lynn tonight." Like numerous songs of yore by an array of country greats, it's absurd on paper yet charming in execution. Natasha Moustache/WireImage Moroney daydreams about chatting with June Carter Cash about her life with Johnny Cash. It rightfully doesn't paint one of country music's most celebrated couples as a happily-ever-after love story. It's honest country storytelling about honest country storytellers. Mickey Bernal/Getty Images Moroney's voice blends well with the smooth R&B style of Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey on this love song about why it's worth sticking together through tough times. It's the first of hopefully many superstar duets of note featuring Moroney, who's also dueted with Mackenzie Carpenter and Kameron Marlowe. Scott Legato/Getty Images A song that ties memories to a specific place, Moroney sings of a love that somehow went sour since those halcyon days spent in the Sunflower State. It's one of the better breakup songs to come out of Nashville in recent times. Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT Small-town gossip reaches the wrong ears on this world-building character study that wouldn't have sounded out of place on an Ashley McBryde album if she'd cut it first. It's from Moroney's pre-fame EP "Pistol Made of Roses." Scott Legato/Getty Images The title track of Moroney's breakthrough album brings as much line-danceable fire as comparable selections by Kane Brown, Cole Swindell and others. It's simply a fun song about a night on the town, and it's good one. Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for ABA Lyrically, Moroney and her collaborators crafted a revenge tale on par with Miranda Lambert's most venomous material. As a vocalist, Moroney used the song as a platform to show off her vocal range ahead of her "Tennessee Orange" breakthrough. It's another "Pistol Made of Roses" standout. Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT A friendly neighborhood bartender's got the cure for heartbreak in a whiskey glass— and there's another on the way. It's the type of clever twist on the song title that points to the work of Bill Anderson ("I Don't Love You Anymore") and other Nashville greats. Hubert Vestil/Getty Images "Introspection About Her Reflection" could be an alternate title for this emotional tune, which brings stripped-down songwriter-in-the-round vibes because of its sparse musical accompaniment. Jason Kempin/Getty Images Haters lurking on Moroney's social media accounts get taken down country style —meaning there's a side of "bess your heart"— on this empowerment anthem for the digital age. Jeff Hahne/Getty Images This could be a lighthearted love song about how opposites attract until you get to the end of the chorus: "When the day is done/ I sleep on my side, and you sleep with everyone." Instead, it's a delicious dose of spite. Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT Fatherly advice and other lessons learned in Douglas County prepared Moroney for situations that are breakup songs waiting to be written. It's a refreshing take on the modern "I love my hometown" trope. Scott Legato/Getty Images Our narrator breaks the news to Joe that his partner's cheating on him before working up the nerve to wordplay her way into confessing that he should "trade her" in for his concerned friend, who's "a girl who's going to treat you right." It's Moroney's finest work yet as a lyricist. Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images The single that caught the mainstream's attention and a 2023 CMA Awards Song of the Year nominee, "Tennessee Orange" builds a story about new love around something near inseparable from Southern culture: college football and the rivalries between SEC (Southeastern Conference) rivals the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs. It's the type of thing that can make a phone call to Mama slightly terrifying."Wonder"
"God Plays a Gibson"
"Why Johnny"
"Can't Break Up Now" (Feat. Old Dominion)
"Kansas Anymore"
"Hair Salon"
"Lucky"
"He Made Me Do It"
"Another on the Way" (Lucky, 2023)
"Girl in the Mirror" (Lucky, 2023)
"I'm Not Pretty" (Lucky, 2023)
"Sleep on My Side"
"Georgia Girl"
"Traitor Joe"
"Tennessee Orange"
