Country music is in Lorrie Morgan’s DNA—literally. Born in Nashville on this day (June 27) in 1959, she is the fifth child of George Morgan, a Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member best known for his 1949 hit “Candy Kisses”. She is also the widow of Keith Whitley and the ex-wife of Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw, all of whom are also country singers. But make no mistake, Lorrie Morgan’s voice—and success—are entirely her own. Today, we’re honoring the two-time Country Music Association Award winner as she celebrates her 67th birthday.
How Tragedy Marked Lorrie Morgan’s Path to Stardom
Loretta Lynn “Lorrie” Morgan—surprisingly not named after her fellow country music trailblazer—made her Grand Ole Opry debut at age 13, when her father welcomed her onto country music’s most sacred stage to perform “Paper Roses”.
However, Morgan’s life took a turn when her father died in 1975 of a heart attack after undergoing open heart surgery. Just 16 years old, she began touring with the surviving members of his band.
Eventually—much like Hank Williams Jr.—Morgan realized she couldn’t turn her career into a shrine to her father…