Photo: Stephen Lovekin / Southern Living
Megan Moroney spotlighted two powerful women in music for releasing songs that helped her get through hard times.
Moroney, 28, reflected on some of the music that impacted her most while catching up with Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans during the publication’s first-ever Biscuits & Jam Live interview. the live podcast recording took place in New York City. During the conversation, the Cloud 9 artist — who now releases music that inspires others — spotlighted Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert.
“I had artists like that growing up— Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert. If I didn't have their music like I would've been set back, you know what I mean?” Moroney said. “They truly helped me, whether I needed to feel empowered or I needed to feel like I was gonna be okay. So to now kind of have that influence, it means a lot to me.”
Throughout the conversation, Moroney also spoke about her new music, writing a song for Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Chesney, her breakout single and more.
Moroney released Cloud 9 last month, and quickly expanded her third studio album with a 16th bonus track. The highly-anticipated record includes the title track, “6 Months Later,” “Beautiful Things,” “I Only Miss You” with Ed Sheeran, “Bells & Whistles” with Kacey Musgraves, “Wish I Didn’t,” “Who Hurt You?,” and more. Moroney’s star-studded duets marked full circle moments for the Georgia-born country artist. She hinted in an interview with PEOPLE that a collaboration with Sheeran would happen “when the time is right and the song is right.” She also spotlighted Musgraves and her 2013 debut album Same Trailer Different Park, as inspiration to start writing her own music.
Moroney is bringing her headlining “Cloud 9 Tour” to “top-tier arenas across the U.S.” See the dates below.
“I am so excited for my fans and I to dive into this new world of Cloud 9 together,” Moroney said in a statement when she announced Cloud 9’s release date. “Similar to the first two albums [2023’s Lucky and 2024’s Am I Okay?], it’s all written about honest, personal experiences, but these songs were written by the strongest, most confident version of myself I’ve ever been. My feet feel firmly planted in my artistry and it was fun to play around sonically, while still sticking to my roots of what my fans and I love. Cloud 9 is a state of mind, and I have no doubt this will be the best chapter yet.”
MAY
29 | Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
30 | Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
JUNE
2 | Chicago, IL – United Center
3 | Chicago, IL – United Center
5 | Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
6 | Greensboro, NC – First Horizon Coliseum
8 | Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
9 | Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
12 | Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
13 | St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
16 | Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
18 | Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
19 | Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
20 | Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
JULY
6 | Boston, MA – TD Garden
7 | Boston, MA – TD Garden
9 | Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
10 | Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
11 | Philadelphia, PA – Xfinity Mobile Arena
14 | Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
16 | Orlando, FL – Kia Center
17 | Tampa, FL – Benchmark International Arena
18 | Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
24 | Monticello, IA – Great Jones County Fair
25 | Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
26 | Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
28 | Denver, CO – Ball Arena
AUGUST
1 | Portland, OR – Moda Center
2 | Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
5 | Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
7 | Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
8 | Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
11 | Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
14 | Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
15 | Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
16 | Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
18 | Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
21 | Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
22 | Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
SEPTEMBER
13 | Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene
15 | Stockholm, SE – Annexet
18 | Cologne, DE – Carlswerk Victoria
19 | Tilburg, NL – 013 Poppodium
21 | Paris, FR – Le Trianon
23 | London, UK – Eventim Apollo
26 | Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo
27 | Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
28 | Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
OCTOBER
1 | Belfast, UK – SSE Arena