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
Exit 99
Lorrie Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fight we had just made me feel
I had enough I felt like driving anywhere that left you far behind
And I hated you at exit fifty-nine
I passed the cars I passed the trucks
I passed them all Saw you sitting home just waiting for my call
But my angry heart would not allow an ounce of sympathy
It was could as ice at exit sixty-three
Who was right and who was wrong and who's to know
My anger turned to sorrow as my tears began to pour
What a tangled mind at exit eighty-four
The city slowly faded into farms and fields
The world took on a different point of view
I loosened up my grip around that steering wheel
And I wondered if you were sorry too
(musique)
I rolled the window down at exit ninety-one
Felt the cool wind blowing through my hair
I saw the crimson light embrace the setting sun
And suddenly I wished you were there
I couldn't wait to stop and find a telephone
To call you up and tell you I was coming home
Funny how a ribboned road can make you change your mind
And I loved you at exit ninety-nine
Funny how a ribboned road can make you change your mind
I knew I loved you, at exit, ninety-nine
(musique)
The song "Exit 99" by Lorrie Morgan tells a story of a woman who is driving away from her lover after having a fight. She is angry and hurt, and her primary objective is to leave him far behind. As she drives on the interstate, she passes numerous cars, and her emotions go from anger to sorrow. As she continues, the city fades away, and she finds herself surrounded by farms and fields. This change of scenery allows her to reflect on her situation and loosen up her grip around the steering wheel.
Line by Line Meaning
I charged out on that interstate in a great big huff
I left on the highway in a fit of anger
The fight we had just made me feel
Our argument had left me feeling upset
I had enough I felt like driving anywhere that left you far behind
I wanted to escape and leave you behind
And I hated you at exit fifty-nine
I was feeling a lot of anger towards you
I passed the cars I passed the trucks
I drove fast and passed other vehicles on the road
Saw you sitting home just waiting for my call
I pictured you waiting for me at home
But my angry heart would not allow an ounce of sympathy
I was so angry that I couldn't feel any sympathy for you
It was could as ice at exit sixty-three
I felt very cold and distant by exit sixty-three
With every passing mile the question seemed to grow
As I drove further, I questioned who was right and wrong
Who was right and who was wrong and who's to know
I was uncertain about who was at fault
My anger turned to sorrow as my tears began to pour
As time passed, my anger turned into sadness
What a tangled mind at exit eighty-four
My mind was in a state of confusion at exit eighty-four
The city slowly faded into farms and fields
The city scenery disappeared as I entered a more rural area
The world took on a different point of view
I started to see the world and my situation differently
I loosened up my grip around that steering wheel
I relaxed and let go of my tension
And I wondered if you were sorry too
I thought about whether you were also feeling remorseful
I rolled the window down at exit ninety-one
I opened the window to feel the wind on my face
Felt the cool wind blowing through my hair
I enjoyed the feeling of the wind on my head
I saw the crimson light embrace the setting sun
I watched the sunset and admired the colors
And suddenly I wished you were there
I suddenly longed for your presence
I couldn't wait to stop and find a telephone
I was eager to stop and call you
To call you up and tell you I was coming home
I wanted to let you know that I was returning home
Funny how a ribboned road can make you change your mind
A long drive can make you rethink things
And I loved you at exit ninety-nine
I realized that I loved you at exit ninety-nine
I knew I loved you, at exit, ninety-nine
I was sure that I loved you at exit ninety-nine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MELINDA ANN GRAVELLE, STEPHEN R. BLUME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind