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
If I Cry
Lorrie Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They come from the way you touch me
Tears rise like a tide to the moon
When the heart of a woman is open to you
If I cry, it only means I want you closer
Don't be afraid, follow me wherever I go
Stay with me, even if it feels like I'm breaking
I need your hand touch me in the darkness
Tenderness alone can understand
That love knows, more than it can say
Like a river of surrender, it's washed us away
If I cry, it only means I want you closer
Don't be afraid, follow me wherever I go
Stay with me, even if it feels like I'm breaking
'Cause I can only give you everything if I cry
These tears are water from a flame
Lay down in the fire and let it rain
If I cry, it only means I want you closer
Don't be afraid, follow me wherever I go
Stay with me, even if it feels like I'm breaking
'Cause I can only give you everything
Yes, I can only give you everything if I cry
The lyrics to Lorrie Morgan's song "If I Cry" contain a deep sense of vulnerability and emotional openness. The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the song, suggesting that tears are a natural response to feeling intimately connected to someone - in this case, the person whom the singer is addressing directly. From there, the chorus is a plea for understanding and reassurance - the singer wants to be closer to the person they love, even if it means undergoing emotional turmoil.
One interpretation of the song is that the tears represent the singer's willingness to be vulnerable and to bare their emotions to their partner. The line "If I cry, it only means I want you closer" could be seen as an invitation for the other person to draw nearer and comfort the singer. The song also suggests that true love goes beyond words and rational thinking, as evidenced by the line "That love knows, more than it can say."
Overall, "If I Cry" can be seen as a tender and heartfelt confession of love, with the tears acting as a symbol of the singer's emotional depth and willingness to let their guard down.
Line by Line Meaning
They're only tears reach up and touch one
These tears are not just any tears, they are significant and meaningful.
They come from the way you touch me
These tears are a direct result of your touch and affection.
Tears rise like a tide to the moon
My tears are a natural reaction to the emotions that I feel.
When the heart of a woman is open to you
When a woman loves and allows herself to be vulnerable, it can lead to tears.
If I cry, it only means I want you closer
My tears are not a sign of weakness, but rather a desire for closer connection with you.
Don't be afraid, follow me wherever I go
I need your support and reassurance as I navigate my emotions.
Stay with me, even if it feels like I'm breaking
Even when I am at my lowest, please don't leave my side.
'Cause I can only give you everything if I cry
My tears are a necessary and meaningful part of giving you my all.
I need your hand touch me in the darkness
Your touch is a source of comfort and safety for me, especially in difficult times.
Tenderness alone can understand
Only your gentleness and compassion can fully comprehend and soothe my emotions.
That love knows, more than it can say
Love is a powerful force that transcends words and language.
Like a river of surrender, it's washed us away
Our love has overcome obstacles and swept us away, like the current of a river.
These tears are water from a flame
My tears are the result of passionate feelings and intense emotions.
Lay down in the fire and let it rain
When faced with the heat of intense feelings, sometimes the best thing to do is surrender to the emotions and let them flow.
Yes, I can only give you everything if I cry
My tears are an essential part of giving myself fully to our relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BETTIS, BRUCE, SIEWERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind