Biography

We are all a product of our life experiences, but it’s the way we handle those triumphs and tragedies that truly defines us. Beneath Megan Morrison’s fresh-faced good looks and youthful enthusiasm there’s wisdom and strength beyond her years. It’s that depth of character that informs her music and makes her one of the industry’s most unique young talents.

Already a successful artist in her native Canada, Morrison is looking to follow in the footsteps of other Canadian imports such as Shania Twain, Terri Clark and Anne Murray, who have each left their mark on America’s country music landscape. Morrison has been honing her skills and earning numerous accolades along the way. In 2003, she won Sony Canada's version of “Nashville Star” and the following year, Morrison competed in the Talent Contest at the world's largest rodeo, the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming, taking top prize from more than 1500 entries from the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Morrison grew up on a cattle ranch in Holstein, Ontario and fell in love with music at an early age. She and her younger brother, Colton, made a pact that they would pursue their two big dreams---rodeo and country music. Their plan was to buy a ranch, raise horses, rodeo, and become country music stars. Those dreams were cut short when Colton died in a farm accident when he was seven. Megan was only eight and she was devastated, but out of that despair came a burning desire to see their dream come true---to succeed in Colton’s memory and make him proud.

“I had my first band when I was 10,” says Morrison, whose talent attracted a seasoned group of musicians that still play in her band today. By the age of 12, she had recorded her first album, and was garnering radio airplay in Canada and Europe. “Going through that tragedy when I was young, I kind of grew up quickly,” she admits. Music became a healing force and she threw herself into finding songs to record that resonated with her on a gut level.

Morrison also has a passion for competing on the rodeo circuit. In addition to being influenced by female artists such as Sara Evans and Martina McBride, Morrison cites the late Chris LeDoux, a rodeo champ turned country music star, as one of her inspirations. “I love rodeo. I made it to the High School Rodeo Finals in both Canadian and Nationals and in 2004,” she says proudly. “After 2004, I had to retire my rope horse. For the last two years I haven’t competed, but I just bought a new horse and a new trailer, so I’m hoping to get back into competing this summer. I’m into breakaway roping and barrel racing, and I’m taking up team roping this year with my best friend.”

Morrison says rodeo and music have more in common than most people might think. “There’s an adrenalin rush,” she says. “It’s the same as I get with singing, but with singing, you can connect with the crowd; with rodeo you have the cheers from the crowd, but you’re not really connecting with them. It’s still people out there cheering you on and I love going full tilt on a horse, but I prefer live performing over anything.”

That passion for performing is readily evident in her shows. In addition to performing her songs, Morrison also throws in a rowdy cover of Aaron’s Tippin’s “Kiss This” from a female perspective. She’s also been known to indulge her rockin’ side with a Joan Jett or Pat Benatar cover. “By the end of the show everybody is pretty pumped up,” she says of audience reaction. “I love being in front of a crowd, and the bigger the crowd, the better.”

Morrison is equally comfortable in the studio and it shows on her latest album, “Movin’ On.” Working with award-winning producer/songwriter Joel Feeney, the young artist has crafted an engaging collection of songs that showcase her strong, pure voice and the emotional intensity she brings to a lyric.

The collection opens with the buoyant “Everywhere I Go,” a favorite among Morrison’s rabid fan base. Morrison says the song makes her think of her family. “I’m a very big family kind of person and when I’m on the road, I definitely miss my family and being at home on the farm,” she says. “I know that wherever I go I can call to talk or they’ll come and meet me somewhere. That means so much.”

“I Can Love Anyone I Want To” is an empowering anthem that holds special significance for Morrison. “My personal favorite off the whole CD would be ‘I Can Love Anyone I Want To,’” she states. “Basically, the song is saying you shouldn’t have anybody telling you what to do, you should just do what you’re passionate about. I love that song!”

Morrison has a gift for wringing every drop of emotion from a ballad and that talent is best demonstrated on “Postcard,” a poignant song about a failed relationship. “I have a lot of people come up and tell me how they can relate to the song,” she says, “and I love to hear the different stories.”

Always a skilled interpreter of other writer’s songs, Morrison has recently begun developing her chops as a songwriter. “For me, it’s been hard to write my own personal experiences,” says the young artist. However, another tragedy, the death of her father in the summer of 2007, has been the catalyst that has fueled Megan to write. “With losing my dad I found that just writing down little things and starting to become more involved in songwriting has helped me a lot to deal with the grief.

“I find I have a lot more to bring to the table because of all I’ve been through,” Morrison continues. “I’ve been through a lot for a young person which gives me more heart in everything I do. I find I put more heart into singing, into my rodeo, into everything I do in life. I put all my passion into it.”

It’s that passion for life, commitment to family and sheer love of country music that infuses every aspect of Megan Morrison’s artistry. As she turns 20 in 2008, the young performer has already amassed more life experience and career accolades than most artists many years her senior, and it’s a sure bet that the best is still yet to come.