Maureen McGovern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maureen McGovern
Ad for the album The Morning After (1973)
Background information
Birth name	Maureen Therese McGovern
Born	(1949-07-27) July 27, 1949 (age 76) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Broadway, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Years active	1967–2022 (as performer)
Labels	20th Century Fox, Columbia, RCA Victor, Sterling

Maureen Therese McGovern, born on July 27, 1949, is a talented American singer and actress. She is famous for singing popular songs from movies and TV shows. Some of her most well-known songs include "The Morning After" from the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno (1974). She also had a number one hit song called "Different Worlds", which was the theme song for the TV show Angie. Maureen McGovern has also performed in many Broadway musicals, like The Pirates of Penzance and Little Women.

Maureen's Early Life and Dreams

Growing Up in Ohio

Maureen McGovern was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in the United States. Her parents were James Terrence McGovern and Mary Rita. Her family has Irish roots. When Maureen was a child, she loved listening to her father's singing group practice at their home.

People in her family said she started singing when she was only three years old! Sometimes, she would even sing herself to sleep with songs she heard on the radio. By the time she was eight, Maureen knew she wanted to be a professional singer. She was inspired by famous singers like Barbra Streisand and Joni Mitchell.

Becoming a Star: Movie Songs and Hits

First Steps in Music

After finishing Boardman High School in 1967, Maureen worked as a secretary. But she also sang part-time with a local folk band called Sweet Rain. Her amazing voice caught the attention of a music executive named Russ Regan in 1972. He heard a recording she had made.

At that time, Russ Regan was looking for someone to sing "The Morning After". This song was the main theme for the movie The Poseidon Adventure. He hired Maureen to record the song, and she signed a contract with 20th Century Records.

Winning Awards with Her Voice

"The Morning After" became a huge hit in 1973. It reached number one on the music charts after it won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Over a million copies of the song were sold! Because of this success, Maureen was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1974 as 'Best New Artist'.

In 1974, Maureen sang two more movie theme songs. One was "We May Never Love Like This Again" from the disaster movie The Towering Inferno. She even appeared briefly in the movie, singing the song. This song also won an Oscar! The other song was "Wherever Love Takes Me" from the British movie Gold, which was nominated for an Oscar.

In 1976, she recorded her own version of "The Continental". This song was special because it was the very first song to win an Oscar for Best Original Song back in 1934. Maureen's version became a hit in the UK, reaching number 16 on the charts.

Facing Challenges and Finding New Success

After 1976, Maureen's contract with 20th Century Records ended. Her music career slowed down, and she faced financial difficulties. She even took a secretarial job under a different name for a while.

However, her career picked up again when she was asked to record "Can You Read My Mind". This was the love theme from the 1978 movie Superman, though her version wasn't used in the film. The song became a minor hit. Later, she recorded "Different Worlds", the theme song for the TV show Angie. This song was a big success, reaching number 18 on the Billboard charts in 1979 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. In 1980, Maureen also had a small role as a singing nun in the comedy movie Airplane!.

Broadway and Beyond

Shining on Stage

In the early 1980s, Maureen McGovern decided to try acting on Broadway. In 1981, she made her Broadway debut in the musical The Pirates of Penzance. She took over the role of Mabel from another popular singer, Linda Ronstadt. She also performed in other musicals like The Sound of Music and South Pacific.

She returned to Broadway in 1982 for the musical Nine, starring alongside Raul Julia. Maureen continued her theater career throughout the 1980s and even created the role of Mary in an Off-Broadway show called Brownstone in 1985. In 2005, she played the role of Marmee in Little Women The Musical.

Returning to Recording Music

Maureen slowly started recording music again in the mid-1980s. She sang songs for movie soundtracks and appeared on albums with other artists. She also began touring and performing in concerts and nightclubs. From 1987 to 1989, she released three albums: Another Woman in Love, State of the Heart, and Naughty Baby. Naughty Baby included a special, early recording of a lost song by George Gershwin.

Later Career and Retirement

Continuing to Perform and Record

From the 1990s into the 2000s, Maureen McGovern continued her busy career. She performed in musical theater, gave concerts, and recorded more albums. She also made guest appearances on television. Some of her later albums include Baby I'm Yours (1992), which featured her favorite songs from 1955 to 1970, and Out of This World (1996), a collection of songs by Harold Arlen.

She was nominated for two more Grammy awards for her albums The Music Never Ends (1997) and The Pleasure of His Company (1998). Maureen also lent her voice to the animated movie Joseph: King of Dreams, playing the character of Rachel.

In 2005, Maureen returned to Broadway as Marmee in the musical Little Women. Even though the Broadway show didn't last long, Maureen continued the role for a very successful national tour. She also performed concerts with symphony orchestras across the country. Her album A Long and Winding Road (2008) featured songs by famous singer-songwriters from the 1960s, like Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell.

Maureen McGovern has also done a lot of charity work. She worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and appeared regularly on The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon until 2014. In 2010, she created a one-woman musical about her life called Carry It On.

Retirement from Performing

In 2021, Maureen McGovern was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy, which is a type of Alzheimer's disease. She shared this news publicly in 2022. She announced that she would no longer perform in concerts. However, she plans to keep working on musical projects for children and to speak out about the benefits of music therapy. As of 2022, she lives in a retirement community in Columbus, Ohio.

Maureen McGovern's Music Albums

Studio Albums

• 1973: The Morning After
• 1974: Nice to Be Around
• 1975: Academy Award Performance: And the Envelope, Please
• 1979: Maureen McGovern
• 1987: Another Woman in Love
• 1988: State of the Heart
• 1990: Christmas With Maureen McGovern
• 1992: Baby I'm Yours
• 1996: Out of This World
• 1997: The Music Never Ends
• 1998: The Pleasure of His Company
• 2003: Works of Heart
• 2008: A Long and Winding Road
• 2016: You Raise Me Up: A Spiritual Journey

Live Albums

• 1989: Naughty Baby

Compilation Albums

• 1990: Greatest Hits
• 2005: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Maureen McGovern

Guest Appearances

• 1985: Placido Domingo: Save Your Nights For Me
• 1986: Greatest Hits Of The 1900's - Maureen sings "Glitter and Be Gay" from Candide
• 1987: Of Thee I Sing - Maureen sings the roles of Mary Turner
• 1991: David Shire – At The Movies - Maureen sings four film songs
• 1993: Amen! A Gospel Celebration - Maureen sings Amazing Grace and From a Distance
• 1995: A Prairie Home Christmas
• 2001: The Fantasticks In Jazz - Maureen sings Soon It's Gonna Rain
• 2005: Little Women: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Maureen McGovern's Hit Songs

See also

In Spanish: Maureen McGovern para niños