The daughter of singer George Morgan, she made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at age thirteen, performing Marie Osmond's "Paper Roses." Her father died when she was sixteen.
When her father died in 1975, she took over his band and began leading the group through various club gigs. Within a few years she disbanded the group, and in 1977 she went on to play with the Little Roy Wiggins band. She then became a receptionist and demo singer at Acuff-Rose, where she also wrote songs.
In 1978, she had one minor hit single; the following year another minor hit with "I'm Completely Satisfied", an electronically dubbed duet with her late father. She began touring Nashville nightclubs and opened for a number of acts, including Jack Greene, Billy Thunderkloud, and Jeannie Seely. She toured as a duet partner with George Jones and spent two years as part of the Opryland USA bluegrass show and as a regular singer on TNN's Nashville Now.
In 1983, TNN was launched as the first cable network devoted to country music. Morgan was a regular on the show Nashville Now, singing towards the end of each show.
In 1984, Morgan scored a minor hit with "Don't Go Changing". That year she became the youngest singer ever to join the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1988, Morgan was signed with RCA Records, her first major label.
In 1989, Morgan's first album Leave the Light On was released; "Trainwreck of Emotion" became her first Top 20 hit, followed by her first major hit with "Dear Me".
In 1990, Morgan had her first number one single, "Five Minutes". That song was also featured in her album Leave the Light On, which went gold.
In 1991, Morgan's second album Something in Red went platinum. Morgan married her third husband Brad Thompson, bus driver of Clint Black.
In 1992, Morgan's third album Watch Me was released on RCA's newest label, BNA Records, spawning the number one single "What Part of No".
In 1993, Morgan was the first female country artist to have three albums in a row to be certified platinum. Morgan's romantic life gained tabloid attention with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman following her third divorce.
In 1994, Morgan was voted Female Vocalist of the Year by the fans in TNN's Music City News awards. She would earn this honor again in 1996, 1997 and 1998. She also appeared on Frank Sinatra's Duets II album, singing a version of "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" intertwined with Sinatra's "My Funny Valentine".
In 1995, Morgan had another number one song on the Country Charts called "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" from her Greatest Hits CD.
In 1996, Morgan was featured on the Beach Boys' now out-of-print album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 performing a cover of their 1964 hit "Don't Worry Baby". The Beach Boys provided the harmonies and backing vocals.
Personal life
======================
Morgan is known for her turbulent personal life -- she told Larry King in an interview that "drama is something that lets you know you're still alive." As of 2006, she is married to singer Sammy Kershaw; they were separated at one point but apparently have since reconciled. Kershaw is her fifth husband; she was married to country singer Keith Whitley from 1986 until his death in 1989. They had one child together, a son, Jesse Keith Whitley, born in 1987. She also has a daughter Morgan from her first marriage. Prior to Kershaw she was involved in a lengthy relationship with Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman.
[edit] U.S. Senator Fred Thompson and Lorrie Morgan (1994-1996)
Morgan was also romantically linked from 1994 to 1996 with actor, lobbyist, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee (and former Hendersonville, Tennessee resident), and possible 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Fred Dalton Thompson.
In her book Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story, Morgan states that:
It was great to go out with an older man [Fred Thompson] who was very successful on his own. I felt very secure with him, and he became a wonderful friend, a caring, inspirational man who would encourage me not to doubt myself (which, maybe you can tell by now, is one of my best things).
Fred is an extremely generous man. He wined and dined me and bought me presents --- furs, earrings, Chanel shoes with real high heels.
For a while, I enjoyed my first exposure to politics. It was interesting to hear about political conversations, and people even began talking about Fred as a potential president. It was inevitable that I would be sitting at a glamorous party and would have the flickering thought, So, this is what it's like to be a First Lady. Hell, I could handle that. Then I would say, "Oops, better drop the 'hell'"
I put myself to the task of being a great companion to a stimulating and important man, and as a result I become boring. I lost my spunk, my spontaneity, I had to stop and think about the political implications of everything before I uttered a word in public. Was this a Democratic issue? Was this a Republican issue? I could not trust my best asset, my gut instincts. In other words, I could not be myself.
Fred let me know that it was important how I dressed. Sedate was in. Even if I felt like a little flair that night, forget it --- we might be with men who had big wallets and insecure wives, wives who were a little older than I was. So get that basic black dress out of the closet. And no cleavage, baby.
Fred's senator buddies loved me, and some of my friends said that they never seen me happier. For a while, I wanted to marry Fred, but I knew he could not accept me as I am.
Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story. pp. 262-263. Lorrie Morgan with George Vecsey. 1997. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-41297-4
A Picture Of Me
Lorrie Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And think of a church with nobody praying
Have you ever looked up at a sky with no blue
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
Have you walked in a garden where nothing was growing
Or stood by a river where nothing was flowing
If you've seen a red rose unkissed by the dew
Can you picture Heaven with no angels singing
Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing
If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
Can you picture Heaven with no angels singing
Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing
If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
The lyrics of Lorrie Morgan's song "A Picture Of Me" paint a picture of a world without love, using vivid imagery to convey the emptiness and bleakness of life without that special person. The opening verse describes a world without music, without prayer, and without color. The second verse continues with a garden without life and a river without movement, drawing a parallel between nature and the human spirit, both in need of growth and vitality. The final verse describes a heaven without angels and a Sunday morning without church bells, images of loss and absence that evoke feelings of sadness and loneliness. The singer concludes by saying that to see a picture of herself without that special person is to witness a heartbroken child.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine a world where no music was playing
Picture a world without the beauty of music, just emptiness and quietness.
And think of a church with nobody praying
Imagine a solemn church without any prayers being offered or heard.
Have you ever looked up at a sky with no blue
Have you ever seen a sky without the color blue, dull and lifeless.
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
That's how I feel when you're not with me, like everything has lost its vibrance.
Have you walked in a garden where nothing was growing
Have you ever seen a barren garden, with no flowers or plants, lifeless and colorless.
Or stood by a river where nothing was flowing
Have you ever stood by a river, where the water is still and there is no flow or movement.
If you've seen a red rose unkissed by the dew
If you've seen a rose deprived from the natural beauty of being kissed by dew, lifeless and lacking in beauty.
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
That's how I feel when you're not with me, like everything has lost its vibrance.
Can you picture Heaven with no angels singing
Imagine a blissful Heaven without the sweet melodies of angels singing, silent and still.
Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing
Imagine a peaceful Sunday morning without the familiar sound of church bells ringing, empty and colorless.
If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two
Have you ever witnessed the pain of a child's broken heart, innocent and heart-wrenching.
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
That's how I feel when you're not with me, like everything has lost its vibrance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Richey, Norris D Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Monroe
Imagine a world where no music was playing
Then think of a church with nobody praying
If you ever looked up at a sky with no blue
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
Have you walked in a garden where nothing was growing
Or stood by a river where nothing was flowing
If you've seen a red rose unkissed by the dew
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
Can you picture Heaven with no angels singing
Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing
If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two
Then you've seen a picture of me without you
Amy Fowler
She's got such a beautiful voice it will help you make it through bad times .😢
Jason Garriott
I truly miss real Country Music. With the unique sounds of the beautiful peddle steel, the Fiddle, the Banjo, and when you hear the music you know exactly who is singing. Thank goodness for cds and YouTube so you can still hear great Country Music. This song always makes my eyes flow like a river. Truly beautiful.
Rizz
I doubt we can ever hear the great country music again. Not in my lifetime. What we have today is PoP music.....masqueraded as Country. I tuned in one time and could not believe how many of the male singers all sound alike..... the majority.
Mark Schwartz
Well said
Wendy Smith
Me too
Serenity #1
JUST IMAGINE THE BAND IN HEAVEN.....
Jason Garriott
Who will fill their shoes? If I had to choose which side of Country Music I wanted to listen to right now. I would definitely pick the 90s County Music and back. I love Traditional County Music.
KING BOY
My husband and son died four days apart 9 months ago and it really hits home , husband died from covid my son died from heart failure at 26 I have been a basket case ever since love you guys so much it hurts 💕 RIP
Alysia Hensley
I’m so so sorry 😞 Sending love and light to you 💙
Ger Mcdonagh
So sorry for your loss may they rest in Heavenly peace can't imagine your pain may you find peace in your sorrow I will pray for you and your family geraldine from Ireland 🇮🇪 🙏🏼