Michelle Kaplan

Lorrie Morgan: An Artist Who Imitates Life

If it is said that art imitates life, then what about the artist.

For country singer Lorrie Morgan, the lyrics of a stereotypical country song could have been the story of her life. At 47, she has been married five times, currently to fellow country singer Sammy Kershaw. The marriage has not been all love songs; their relationship started when they were both married to other people. They had a brief separation in November 2003, but have since reconciled. Morgan was widowed at 30 when she was married to another country singer, Keith Whitley, who died in 1989 of alcohol poisoning. Her dramatic life also includes losing her father, singer George Morgan, when she was just 16. She also suffered a major blow when she lost her very dear friend, country star Tammy Wynette.

This may be where the singer, songwriter gets the material that fuels the fire in her songs that range from passion to heartache. In a July 2004 interview on Larry King Live she said, “There’s nothing more truthful than singing a song about what you live.” And that thought comes through loud in clear in the music that she’s written and in the tone in which she sings those heartfelt songs. The people in her music represent just that theme. They’re living in the full rich color that she paints with her voice. They come to life in her music because the music is about life. According to her website she has sold more than 10 million albums, so they are songs that most can relate to. With titles such as “Used,” an “any woman’s’ been there done that” theme. Three of Morgan’s songs have hit number one: “Five Minutes,” “What Part of No,” and “I Didn’t Know my Own Strength.” In “Five Minutes,” the bags are packed at the front door while a woman is waiting for a taxi to arrive in five minutes.

Just the amount of time she gives her lover to convince her to stay.
But thankfully country songs are not just the blues.

Morgan has made her mark on the industry scoring three number one hits and recording 12 albums with her latest release “Show Me How,” in 2004. In 1979, she had a minor hit with “I’m Completely Satisfied,” when she was able to perform a duet with her late father by having his voice electronically dubbed in.

In 1984, at the age of 25, she became the youngest singer to join the Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, she has won many awards including TNN/Music City News Female Artist of the Year four times: in 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Morgan’s real full name may have foretold what direction her life was going to take. Although not named after the famed country star Loretta Lyn, her name given at birth was Loretta Lyn Morgan.

In whatever way Lorrie Morgan got to where she is today, through triumph and tragedy she has come to a place that gives her “a great husband, home life, confidence, and contentment.” Today, as she says on her own website, “Everything Fits.”

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