- 6/5/2025
Katie Neal catches up with Megan Moroney!
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MusicTranscript
00:00Back to Eva's company on the Superstar Power Hour, Ms. Meg Maroney. How are you?
00:04I'm great. How are you?
00:06I'm good. I have so many things I feel like I want to talk to you about because you've
00:09had so much fun stuff going on. But I also feel like every time I get on Instagram lately,
00:13I'm like, Meg's always somewhere tropical.
00:15She loves a tropical vacation.
00:17Right?
00:18I know. It's become a problem. I was like tours with Kenny Chesney once and then is obsessed
00:22with the island. Yeah, that's kind of what happened.
00:24I was going to say, that's where you've been most of the time, right? Like St. John's
00:27spending a lot of time down by Kenny. All down in the islands, various islands.
00:31It's beautiful down there though. Like snorkeling, everything. It's so much fun.
00:35I'm just like, I feel like I exhale when I get there and it's very, very peaceful.
00:41Good. Well, listen, I want to talk all about Am I Okay? But first, I really want to talk
00:45about this song with Kenny since we're talking about Kenny.
00:48Love.
00:48Okay. Talk about you had to be there in the story behind this.
00:51So I wrote that song about the Sun Goes Down tour. I obviously opened for him.
00:57Last summer. And I write about things that are important to me. And I do feel like I learned
01:02so much on that tour. I gained so much confidence. I got so many tips from him. And just like,
01:08it was just a pivotal point in my career, but also the best time of my life. So I needed
01:14to write a song about it. I had the title, You Had To Be There. And we were, I was down
01:18with my riders in Panama City. And it was me, Mackenzie Carpenter, Mike Carpenter, and Ben
01:24Williams. And we were on the beach. And we were like, let's try to write the Kenny song.
01:29We literally had the guitar down on the beach. And Micah started playing this like guitar
01:33lick that you hear at the beginning of the song. And I'm like, well, that's it. We wrote
01:38the song in about 45 minutes. And I think the coolest thing to me is that, so I told this
01:45story while I was touring with Kenny. But in 2018, I bought nosebleed seats while I was in
01:50college to go see Kenny at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was like one of the first shows they had
01:55there. I was a sophomore in college. I literally looked at my email the other day, and I still
02:00have the tickets. I was section 312, row 20. And it was the trip around the sun tour.
02:09And so the song starts where like, I'm in college, five girls in the mirror putting makeup on,
02:13like we're getting ready, parking lot, take a shot, steal a kiss. It's like, that was me
02:17in college. And then by the second verse, I say seven years later, got a different point
02:21of view. And like, obviously being on tour with him. I remember I used to say during the
02:27tour, I would look up at the 300 section and just like wave at them and be like, hey, that
02:31was me up there. So keep on dreaming because you never know what could happen. Yeah. So
02:37we wrote the song. I really liked the song. I didn't know what to get Kenny for Christmas
02:42because how do you buy a gift for Kenny Chesney? Impossible. Impossible, really. And like, for
02:49example, the end of tour gift that I got him with a scrapbook that I like handmade and
02:53like hand. It's very intricate. I'll have to like post about it sometimes so everyone
02:57can see it. But well, I guess he has it now. But but I do have pictures. Anyways, I needed
03:04to get him a Christmas gift. I knew I was going to the island at the top of the year. We went
03:08straight from Dick Clark's New Year's Eve straight to the island, me and my team. So
03:12I wrote out the lyrics on a piece of paper and I have the demo with me and I played it
03:17for him down in the islands. And I told him I prefaced it with like, I'm not asking you
03:22to like be on this song or like we don't if you don't like it. I literally just want you
03:27to know that I wrote this because like I appreciate you so much for taking me on tour. And it was
03:31like the best time of my life. And I just write about things that I care about. And this
03:35is something that I really cared about. And I want you to know that. Because I was like,
03:40if he hates it, I'll be so awkward. Oh, right. But also, I just didn't want to pressure him
03:45into anything. And he ended up loving it. And now it is what it is. So yeah, it was his
03:51Christmas gift. He has a guestbook down on the island where each time we go there, we
03:56write something in the guestbook. But he like taped the thing in the guestbook. And we all
04:00wrote like it says New Year's Day 2025. I think that'll be a part of the music video
04:05because we got some like footage of that. But it's very, it's very, I don't know, just
04:12feels authentic. Like me and Kenny knew for a while that we wanted to do a song together,
04:16but like what makes sense for us to sing together. And it just turned out so authentic. And I
04:21think it's like the perfect representation of what that summer was and how magical it was
04:26and how much of a mentor he is for me. I don't think you could have like wrapped a
04:31perfect circle in a like better bow. You know what I mean? I know. It's like one of those
04:36things. I'm still like processing it. I was listening to it on the way here. And I'm like,
04:41that's Kenny Chesney's voice. Like I like dissociate sometimes. And I'm like, I know I'm
04:45friends with him. I know that like I could literally call him right now. But like, holy crap,
04:50that's Kenny Chesney's voice. Yeah. And especially like, you know, like Kenny has a lot of songs
04:54where like, and not a lot, but like where he'll have a female feature on his song, but you have
04:58a Megan Maroney song. I know it's crazy. It's like just so cool. I'm so happy for you. I'm so excited
05:04about this like next chapter of music for you. But first let's talk. Am I okay? Headed up to the
05:08top of the charts. Slay. I love it. Tell the story behind the day that you guys wrote this song.
05:14Okay. So I had only known this dude for like a month. Mistake number one, never write a nice song
05:19about a man that you've only known for a month because by month three, they will ruin your life.
05:22Um, but this is what we do. We're hopeful. But yes, we're hopeful that we haven't met yet another
05:28bad one. So yeah, I was like a month in and I was like, wait, I'm actually like really happy. And
05:34this is crazy. Like what's wrong with me? I'm usually so sad, like put me in rice, something's
05:40wrong with me. Um, and so that was the sentiment that I went in with, I wrote it with, um, Jesse
05:46Joe Dylan and Luke Laird. But at the same time, that was January of 2024 that I wrote
05:53it. Actually it was, it might've been like a couple months before that, but I knew I was
05:56going on tour with Kenny. So I wanted it to feel like a stadium song. So when I was having
06:00Luke, like, you know, come up with the chords and stuff, I was like, this needs to feel really
06:04big because I want to be able to get people up. Even though I play pretty early, I want
06:08people like up out of their seats, jump in and just like another good song for my set
06:14list that feels like a party. And we would end the set every night with that one and mission
06:20accomplished, I guess. But yeah, when we wrote it, it was kind of just half of authentic feelings
06:25of being like, wait, I'm actually happy. Am I okay? And then paired with the like need
06:30for a big stadium song. And that's how we got it.
06:34And it turned out so great. And the music videos also was so fun. And that was one that
06:38you co-directed.
06:39I did.
06:39Do you think that you'll do more of that now that you've like had a taste of it?
06:42Yeah, I think, I mean, I co-directed I'm Not Pretty's music video too. Now I think, I
06:48think just because I'm so involved, it just makes sense. I don't see a music video where
06:53I wouldn't co-direct it, but who knows, maybe I'll like run out of time or something. But
06:59yeah, it's just really fun for me. When I write songs, I see the music video in my head
07:02and Am I Okay specifically was cool because the whole point of that music video was,
07:08like, there's three different bad guys, football player, movie star, and finance bro. And in
07:15each, so that's like, maybe love ain't always what it was. Like, that's the depiction of
07:19what always, it always was. It'd be happy for a second and then it all goes to shit. But in the
07:25fourth guy that I actually pick and that I run off with, he was like a background character in
07:30each of the scenes. So like in the football scene, he's in at the tailgate, he's the limo
07:35driver of the movie star and he's in the office of the finance bro. So it's kind of like a story
07:42of like, maybe the right person was just always around and you keep like screwing up and trying
07:46to go after these guys who are not right for you, but maybe the right one was like always there in
07:51the background. For as many times as I've watched that music video and I watched it before I came
07:54in today, cause I was like, let me just have a refresher. I like still miss that part of it.
07:57Go back and look. Yeah. If you look like you'll see like the guy looking in the mirror of the
08:02limo thing, like he's like looking at me like this girl, she's with another bad guy. But yeah,
08:06I literally came up with that idea at like 3am in Europe and I wrote it all in my notes and
08:12yeah. That's so fun. But like doing like the directing thing and then kind of like acting in
08:17your own videos, is that something that you feel like you ever want to do? Like would you do acting?
08:20Yeah, I think I would. I thought for a long time that I wasn't a good actress and then I would cry
08:27and then go to a show. And then I was like, no, you're a good actress. And that's how I wrote hell
08:33of a show. So yeah, I would probably get into acting one day, not like full time, but just like
08:38for fun, maybe. Dabble in it for fun, for sure. You're also in the middle of the Am I Okay tour,
08:43which looks like it has been so much fun. What has been like biggest highlight for you,
08:47whether it's like moment with a fan or like moment at a show? Oh man. I mean, there's so
08:52many good moments every single night. I think a highlight for me is the Miss Am I Okay tour.
09:00God, they're so freaking cute. Basically what, so for those of you that don't know,
09:04I have a song called This Universe and each night I get a little girl and I make her the Miss Am I Okay
09:11tour in Nashville or Knoxville or whatever. And I bring them out, I hand them some flowers,
09:15they have the sash on, and I ask them a pageant question. And the question is,
09:19what do you want to be when you grow up? And then we give them a pageant wave. And it's just really
09:24cute. Like the girl in Nashville, she goes, I don't know. And I was like, so valid queen.
09:31I was like, I don't even know what I want to be when I grow up. So girl, I got you.
09:37But it's so cute. I think that's definitely a highlight. And then I don't know,
09:41there's something about the show when I play the two bonus tracks back to back,
09:45break it right back into bless your heart. The there's a lot of healing going on during those
09:50two songs. I was gonna say, which has got to be funny when you got to like these little girls
09:54on stage and you're like, do you even know what I'm singing? Oh, yeah. 100%. Yeah. But they're so
09:58cute. And they dress like me. And I just want to put them in my pocket. I'm like, please.
10:01So can I take you home? I love that. Okay, so that and then plus like this album is kind of
10:07like coming to an not to an end because we've got the tour, but you are getting ready to release this
10:11new music and start the next chapter. Like, what can you say about the new music you've been working
10:16on? Well, I can say that I've been in the studio a lot. Yeah, I've been writing a lot. I'm just gonna
10:25keep the ball rolling, you know. So I'm excited this this next like set of music is a lot happier
10:33than what you would expect. But I feel like that's just where I'm at in life. I'm just
10:37I feel like for once I'm just like chilling. I love it. Chilling hanging out in the island. I know
10:42I do have like one really gut wrenching song on the album. There's a few sad songs still because I
10:49would never abandon my emo cowgirlness. But as an for the album as a whole, I definitely think it's
10:56a lot more carefree and just like sassy and fun. And I'm excited for everyone to hear the last two
11:03albums have had like a color that was like the focal point like green for lucky. And then in my
11:08okay was very blue is the next album like as you're starting to think about the visuals. Will that kind
11:13of be the same thing? Yeah, I love this. Oh, you know what it is. I'm not gonna reveal that we're not gonna
11:19have a gender reveal of the new album yet. Oh my gosh. Yeah, that's what we should do. Me and my
11:23fans have a gender reveal for the new album. Yeah, what they're like, I'm whoever and I think the
11:28next album is gonna be exactly it would be so fun. And then let's talk about because when you we have
11:34you on the show ACMs will have just happened and you've got a performance on the show. Can you talk
11:39about what you're singing? Or do you know, I do know what I'm singing. And I guess if it's already
11:43aired, then yeah, I'm doing a tribute for Keith Urban. So Oh, I get to do stupid boy. I think
11:52it's gonna be as of now. It's a broken down version. But yeah, I'm you're gonna happy they
11:58asked me to do it. Apparently Keith requested that I do that song. So he just came to my show
12:04in Nashville. So maybe he knew it was in my range. It's like perfectly in my range. So
12:08is there a higher compliment than Keith, like personally requesting you sing a song? No,
12:13I don't think there is. Side note, Keith Urban smells amazing. Smells so good. You know what
12:18I have heard? My mom was fangirling over him so bad. I had to literally be like, I have I'll
12:21take your all access pass away, mom, you need to get it together. Well, he's one of those people I
12:26say there are some like there's a like, you know, like are the stars? Are they just like us? Yes,
12:29most of the time. But there are some famous people like Keith Urban or Tim McGraw who float into a
12:34room. Yeah, like you've never seen them walk. They're just kind of like floating. Yeah, Tim is the same
12:38way. When I met Tim McGraw, I was like, I know, right. But Keith does smell so good. And it was
12:44I think it was the guys from Midland who told me once that they got it out of him. And it's a
12:47mixture of two Tom Ford. Oh, my God. Wow. I don't know which one. He's got a concoction going on.
12:51He's got a concoction. Wow. Right. I was like, maybe I need to be mixing perfumes more. I love that.
12:56I was like, wow. When we took a picture, I was like, Keith Urban smells good. And he knows it too.
13:01Yeah. Like literally anyone you ask will say that. He's like, of course does. So funny. How did you feel
13:05seeing the ACM nominations when those came out? Excited? Of course. I mean, the album of the year
13:10nomination is like, so cool for me. There's like, I feel like as a songwriter, there really is no
13:14higher honor for like an entire body of work to be recognized like that. I think that one's like
13:18the coolest for sure. Because I am a songwriter first. And I care about songwriting so much that
13:24to see everyone kind of recognize that. Cool. She put in some work. I'm like, cool. Yeah. Especially on a
13:33sophomore album too. Like that's a big deal. Like a lot of people always talk about like
13:36sophomore slump and everybody's always so worried about that. So to have that recognition
13:40as it deserves, it's such a good, yeah, never heard of her. We don't know her. Um, and then
13:45you're going to be performing at CMA fest. Actually the week that we have you on the show will be
13:48that week. Talk about some of like your early CMA fest memories and what you're excited about this
13:53year. So early CMA fest memories, I was on the spotlight stage back in 2022, um, which is the stage
14:00they have indoors. And I'm pretty sure I only had people there because there was air conditioning in
14:05there and like no one really cared at all, which was fine. Cause I literally had like hair salon out
14:11and wonder and that's it. Um, but I, like I played sleep on my side. It was unreleased and I just,
14:18there's videos that I look back on and I just remember thinking that it was like the coolest
14:24thing to ever happen. And then a year later I ended up being able to be on that platform stage
14:29in the stadium. So to go from the spotlight stage to the platform stage in one year,
14:34all because of Tennessee orange, like that was, it was such a cool moment. And my brother,
14:39so my, my brother, it's a tradition that he plays guitar with me every CMA fest. Cause he was the one
14:44that was on the spotlight stage with me. The next year he came back for the platform stage. Last year
14:48I was on the main stage and this year I'm having him come back again to play on the main stage with
14:53me just cause I feel like it would be bad juju not to. Right. And he's like, your brother has
14:57like an everyday job. Like he's a lawyer, right? So this is the coolest thing ever. So I like to
15:01still give him, you know, that the, the opportunity to play in a stadium. It's so crazy too. Cause
15:06he's, I'll be like kind of nervous and freaking out and he's like so cool, calm and collected.
15:10I'm like, you have a normal job. Like I do this for a living and I'm, I'm a little nervous and
15:15you're over here like, let's do it. I'm like, like maybe you should be doing this with your life.
15:20Right. I told him as soon as I could pay him enough, um, I, I'm going to ask him to quit his job
15:24and be on the road with me. Oh my God. How much fun would that be? It'd be a lot of fun. I'd have
15:28to, he does have a new baby at home. So that would be tough. That would be tough, but still would be
15:32a family tour bus or something. Exactly. And then I have to ask you about, so a few weeks ago,
15:37there was like this crazy like video pictures that went viral of you and Ed Sheeran at Bluebird.
15:43Yeah. Crazy. Um, I was supposed to go on vacation that weekend to the beach and I got a call saying
15:49that Ed Sheeran wanted me to play with him, the Bluebird on a Sunday night. And I was like,
15:55well, I won't be going on vacation. You don't tell Ed Sheeran. No. Um, I'd never met him before
16:01anything. So I thought it was like a joke. I was like, maybe he just ran out of people to ask
16:05like, and that everyone else is like not here this weekend. Like, why would he know who I am?
16:09And his team was just like going on about how he's like such a fan. And he did know my songs when I
16:16played like at the Bluebird. Um, and I was like, oh, he wasn't lying. That's crazy. Um,
16:21so nice, very nice guy. We email, he doesn't have a phone. So, um, he's like stayed in touch and
16:30my, he's become, he's on the list now of my dream collaborators. I think that that would be
16:35really cool. I saw that he said he wanted to come to country. So I was like, didn't I die. Email me
16:39back. I died when I saw that. I was like, we're going to get Ed. Are you serious? He's going to move
16:43to Nashville. Yeah. I thought that was great. Well, I very, I'm like very much also manifesting
16:47that along with you because I feel like, uh, Ed, Meg, like collab with your writing because he's
16:53also written for Kenny. Like he's written with Kenny before. So I feel like it's a natural
16:57transition for him for sure. Listen, I'm so excited for you. This new song is so great. I'm so happy
17:02that Am I Okay is doing great. It's so good to see you. Good to see you.
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