Since her debut EP Pistol Made of Roses, the Georgia-born Megan Moroney has established herself as an adept musical purveyor of shrewd examinations of life, love and everything in between, fashioning a brand that blends a beguiling, sparkly feminism with fearless gumption and self-assured perspectives. She followed with her debut major label album Lucky, while her sophomore set Am I Okay? earned Moroney her highest debut to date on the all-genre Billboard 200, debuting at No. 9.
On Friday (Feb. 20), she returns with her third major label studio album, Cloud 9.
Her new album title feels appropriate, as in the span of the past 18 months, Moroney’s ascending career has only continued gaining rapid momentum. She won the CMA’s new artist of the year accolade, earned her second RIAA-certified gold album with Am I Okay?, was honored during Billboard‘s Women in Music Awards, spearheaded her headlining Am I Okay Tour?, and is gearing up for her 49-date The Cloud 9 Tour, a headlining international outing that include stops at major arenas.
On Cloud 9, she continues conveying her strength in distilling love, loss, disappointment and heartbreak into sharply crafted, witty lyrics, infused with honesty and vulnerability that cut to the bone. She takes aim at the contradictory, unfair expectations of women in the music industry on “Liars & Tigers & Bears.” Elsewhere, she takes the wise insights she’s gained on life, friendships and love, using it to encourage and advise the next generation of women on “Beautiful Things.” Instead of internalizing the pain that comes with dealing with lovers’ character inadequacies, she knows her worth and turns her unfiltered writing pen to calling out their shortcomings on songs such as “Who Hurt You?” and “6 Months Later.”
Moroney co-produced Cloud 9 with writer/producer/artist Kristian Bush, known for his work as part of Sugarland, as well as writer-producer Luke Laird, leaning on a blend of country, pop and acoustic stylings. Moroney wrote the album with top-shelf co-writers including Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, ERNEST, Amy Allen, David Mescon, Rob Hatch, Ben Williams and Mackenzie Carpenter.
Billboard has ranked every track on Moroney’s Cloud 9, counting down to the album’s most standout track.
