Lorrie Morgan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan at the Grand Ole Opry in 2015.
Born	Loretta Lynn Morgan (1959-06-27) June 27, 1959 (age 66) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Musician singer actress
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Ron Gaddis ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1981)​ Keith Whitley ​ ​ (m. 1986; died 1989)​ Brad Thompson ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 1993)​ Jon Randall ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 1999)​ Sammy Kershaw ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2007)​ Randy White ​ ​ (m. 2010; died 2025)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	George Morgan (father)
Musical career
Genres	Country
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Labels	Hickory MCA RCA BNA Image Entertainment Country Crossing Stroudavarious

Loretta Lynn Morgan (born June 27, 1959) is a famous American country music singer and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer George Morgan. Lorrie Morgan started singing when she was just 13 years old. Her first song appeared on the music charts in 1979.

She became very successful between 1988 and 1999. During this time, she recorded for RCA Records and BNA Records. Her albums like Leave the Light On, Something in Red, and Watch Me sold over a million copies each. Her 1995 album Reflections: Greatest Hits sold over two million copies, making it her best-selling album. Other albums like War Paint, Greater Need, and Shakin' Things Up also sold very well.

Morgan has had more than 40 songs appear on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Three of her songs reached number one: "Five Minutes", "What Part of No", and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength". She also had 11 other songs reach the top 10. Lorrie Morgan has sung with many other famous artists, including her father, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, The Beach Boys, and Pam Tillis. She is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music show. Her music often mixes country sounds with pop, and she is known for her strong, emotional singing voice.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Loretta Lynn Morgan was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 27, 1959. She is the fifth child of country music star George Morgan. When Lorrie was 13, she performed for the first time on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Her father brought her out to sing "Paper Roses", and she received a standing ovation from the audience.

After her father passed away in 1975, Lorrie toured with his band for a few years. Later, she worked as a receptionist and also wrote and sang demo songs for a music company called Acuff-Rose Music.

Starting Her Recording Career

Working at Acuff-Rose Music helped Lorrie Morgan get a record deal with Hickory Records. In 1979, she released two songs, "Two People in Love" and "Tell Me I'm Only Dreaming". Both songs appeared on the country music charts. She also released a song called "I'm Completely Satisfied with You", which included her father's voice added in.

In the early 1980s, Morgan continued to perform in clubs and opened shows for other artists. She also sang backup for George Jones and appeared on a TV show called Nashville Now. In 1984, she became the youngest person to join the Grand Ole Opry. That same year, she released three songs with MCA Records, but only one, "Don't Go Changing", made it onto the charts.

Success with RCA Records (1989–1991)

In 1988, Lorrie Morgan signed with RCA Records Nashville. Her first song with them, "Trainwreck of Emotion", reached number 20 on the country charts. This song was part of her first album, Leave the Light On. After that, "Dear Me" and "Out of Your Shoes" both became top 10 hits. "Out of Your Shoes" even reached number one on some country charts in December 1989.

Her song "Five Minutes" became her first number-one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. Another song, "He Talks to Me", also made it into the top 10. The album was produced by Barry Beckett and included songs written by talented songwriters. After the album, RCA also released "'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose", a duet she sang with Keith Whitley. This song later won an award from the Country Music Association. Critics praised Leave the Light On for mixing traditional country with modern pop. In 1993, the album sold over a million copies.

Her second album with RCA, Something in Red, came out in 1991. This album also sold over a million copies. It featured four songs that made the Hot Country Songs charts, including "We Both Walk", "A Picture of Me (Without You)", and "Except for Monday", all of which reached the top 10. The album's title song, "Something in Red", reached number 14. The album also included a duet with Dolly Parton called "Best Woman Wins".

Moving to BNA Records (1990s)

Lorrie Morgan moved to BNA Entertainment (later BNA Records) in 1992. She wanted to try a new record label and manager. Her first album with BNA was Watch Me, released in the same year. The song "Watch Me" reached number two on the country charts. Her next song, "What Part of No", became her second number-one hit in early 1993 and stayed there for three weeks. After this, "I Guess You Had to Be There" and "Half Enough" were released. Watch Me became her third album to sell over a million copies by the end of 1993.

In late 1993, Morgan released her first Christmas album, Merry Christmas from London. This album featured an orchestra and duets with Tammy Wynette, Andy Williams, and Johnny Mathis. She sang "Little Snow Girl" with Andy Williams on a Christmas TV special. A year later, she started a special holiday tour where she performed songs from the album with an orchestra.

Lorrie Morgan also started acting around this time. In 1993, she appeared in a TV movie called Proudheart on TNN. She played a factory worker who moved back to her small town after her father passed away. In 1994, she played the main role in a TV pilot for CBS called Lorelei Lee, about a country music detective, but the show was not picked up. The next year, she was in the ABC TV movie The Stranger Beside Me.

Her next studio album, War Paint, came out in 1994. The songs from this album were not as successful on the charts, but the album still sold over 500,000 copies. War Paint was the first album where Morgan helped write some of her own songs, including the title track and "If You Came Back from Heaven". She wrote "If You Came Back from Heaven" as a tribute to Keith Whitley. The album also included cover songs and a duet with Sammy Kershaw called "A Good Year for the Roses". By the end of 1994, Morgan began touring as a main performer for the first time.

In 1995, Morgan released her first Greatest Hits album. It included most of her popular songs and three new ones. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" became her third number-one hit that year. "Back in Your Arms Again" reached the top five, but "Standing Tall" was less successful. Greatest Hits became her most successful album, selling over two million copies.

Later 1990s Music

Jon Randall sang a duet with Lorrie Morgan on her 1996 song "By My Side".

Morgan's next album, Greater Need, was released in 1996. The first song from the album was "By My Side", a duet with Jon Randall. This song was Randall's only top 40 hit. The album's last song, "Good as I Was to You", reached number four in 1997. Morgan said she wanted this album to show her growing musically. The album featured guest singers like Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, and her son Jesse Keith Whitley.

She also released Shakin' Things Up in 1997. This album included the top-10 hit "Go Away" and the top-20 song "One of Those Nights Tonight". The album also featured a cover of The Shirelles' song "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". Morgan helped produce this album, which also sold well.

Another album, Secret Love, followed in 1998. This album was made up entirely of cover songs from the 1940s and 1950s. Morgan dedicated the album to her father, who introduced her to this type of music. Songs included "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Good Morning Heartache".

Her last album with BNA was My Heart in 1999. The only successful song from this album was "Maybe Not Tonight", a duet with Sammy Kershaw. The album also included a cover of Bryan Adams' "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" and a duet with Jo Dee Messina. BNA released a second collection of her greatest hits, To Get to You: Greatest Hits Collection, in 2000. After this, Morgan left BNA Records.

Music in the 2000s and 2010s

Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw sang together on the 1999 song "Maybe Not Tonight" and their duet album I Finally Found Someone.

In 2001, RCA Nashville signed both Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw for a special album. This album, I Finally Found Someone, featured six duets and three solo songs from each artist. The title song was originally sung by Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams. One song from the album, "He Drinks Tequila", became Morgan's last song to reach the top 40 on the country charts that year.

Morgan signed with Image Entertainment in 2002. Her first project for them was The Color of Roses, a two-disc album with live performances of her hit songs and pop classics. The album also included two new studio songs and an interview. Image also released her studio album Show Me How in 2004. This album featured her last song to appear on the charts, "Do You Still Want to Buy Me That Drink (Frank)".

Morgan's eleventh album, A Moment in Time, was released in 2009. It included 14 cover versions of classic country songs and duets with Tracy Lawrence and Raul Malo. In 2010, Morgan released another album called I Walk Alone, which featured songs she helped write and produce. In 2014, she released Dos Divas, a collaboration album with Pam Tillis. Morgan released another solo album in 2016, Letting Go...Slow, and a second duet album with Pam Tillis in 2017, Come See Me and Come Lonely. She has continued to tour and perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Her most recent album, Dead Girl Walking, was released in 2024.

Lorrie Morgan's Musical Style

Lorrie Morgan is known for her powerful singing voice and her ability to sing both emotional ballads and upbeat songs. Critics have described her voice as "throaty" and full of emotion. She is often compared to Tammy Wynette because of her strong voice and the types of songs she chooses. Morgan felt that being compared to Wynette helped her music appeal to female fans. She is also known for her straightforward style, especially in songs like "What Part of No". Like Wynette, Morgan is seen as tough but also able to show her feelings through her singing. Her songs often explore themes of heartbreak and everyday life, often with a touch of humor.

Other Music Projects

Lorrie Morgan has worked on many different music projects with other artists. In 1993, she sang "Crying Time" for the movie soundtrack of The Beverly Hillbillies. In 1994, she contributed to three multi-artist albums. First, she covered "The Sad Café" for an Eagles tribute album called Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. Second, she sang a medley with Frank Sinatra on his album Duets II. Lastly, she sang a duet with Keith Whitley on Keith Whitley: A Tribute Album.

In 1996, she appeared on The Beach Boys' album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, singing "Don't Worry Baby". Also in 1996, she was one of many artists who sang on "Hope: Country Music's Quest for a Cure", a charity song to support research for a serious illness.

Lorrie Morgan's Life

Lorrie Morgan was married to country singer Keith Whitley, who passed away in 1989.

Lorrie Morgan has had a busy personal life. She once said, "Drama is something that lets you know you're still alive." She is a Catholic.

Morgan's first husband was Ron Gaddis, a musician. They were married from 1979 to 1981 and had one daughter, Morgan Anastasia Gaddis. Her second marriage was to country music singer Keith Whitley. They were married from 1986 until Whitley passed away in 1989. They had one son, Jesse Keith Whitley.

In 1991, she married Brad Thompson, but they divorced in 1993. During this time, she had some health issues that required surgery. Morgan dated football player Troy Aikman in 1993, and later had a relationship with politician Fred Thompson from 1994 to 1996. She said this relationship made her more interested in politics.

Morgan married country singer Jon Randall in 1996. A year later, she published her autobiography, Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story. Morgan and Randall divorced in 1999. She married her fifth husband, country singer Sammy Kershaw, in 2001. They divorced in 2007. In 2008, Morgan had some financial difficulties. On September 15, 2010, she married her sixth husband, Randy White, a business owner from Tennessee. They were married until White passed away in 2025.

Lorrie Morgan's Albums

• 1989: Leave the Light On
• 1991: Something in Red
• 1992: Watch Me
• 1993: Merry Christmas from London
• 1994: War Paint
• 1996: Greater Need
• 1997: Shakin' Things Up
• 1998: Secret Love
• 1999: My Heart
• 2004: Show Me How
• 2008: I Walk Alone
• 2009: A Moment in Time
• 2013: Dos Divas (with Pam Tillis)
• 2016: Letting Go...Slow
• 2017: Come See Me and Come Lonely (with Pam Tillis)
• 2024: Dead Girl Walking

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Academy of Country Music Awards

TNN/Music City News Country Awards

Country Music Association Awards

See also

In Spanish: Lorrie Morgan para niños