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Showbiz Analysis: Lorrie Morgan on The Power of Music and Letting Go

Mar 11 2016

At the rate things are going, I will have to move to Nashville soon to be closer to my new BFFs. That’s because, nearly every country music interview I do, involves a fascinating entertainer who seems to fit right in with my friendship qualifications. And chart-topping platinum artist Lorrie Morgan is no exception. Fun, honest and reflective, Morgan was the perfect guest on my podcast Whine At 9, where we discussed the power and healing effects of music and the hopes and inspiration behind her new album Letting Go… Slow.

From “I Guess You Had To Be There” to “Something in Red,” Morgan’s beautiful voice and decades of hits have taken us through the highs and lows of life and its milestones in a heartfelt and powerful way. Her songs are likely powered by the fact that she relives the emotions she connects to when she sings. “I’ve often said this—that you can get through a tragedy, and…you trudge on, but the pain never really goes away. And when you sing the songs about things that have happened, the pain surfaces and…it brings it all back. And unfortunately, as a singer, you have to relive those moments to make the song believable—to make the song real. You can’t just say this happened and then I’m just floating through the song barely singing it. You’ve gotta sing that pain every time you sing the song.”

So are singers caught between a rock and a hard place when they opt for a heart wrenching song? Says Morgan, “You really are. But you know, it’s also wonderful therapy because talking about things that have happened to you—heartaches—losing someone…it helps to talk about it… my therapy is singing about it. And that’s been my help all these years…being able to get up there and sing my heartache. And I feel better when I come off stage. It’s like ‘Phew, I got that out of the way’.”

Morgan’s latest album Letting Go… Slow offers an honest, emotional roller coaster of tunes. “There’s so many ups and downs on this album,” explains Morgan, who handpicked songs that were relatable and rich. And she admits that maturity and life experiences have made her music even richer. “You know, a singer is only as good as the song. And the songs I found for this album—They’re just parallel with my life.”

The song that would become her title track was penned by Morgan’s daughter-in-law Ashlee Hewitt. “My inspiration [for the album] was when I heard the song, I knew exactly what letting you go slow feels like. My last divorce with Sammy Kershaw was one of the hardest things I ever experienced in my life. I still loved Sammy, and I didn’t know how to let go. And so I kept trying to do it slowly and thinking maybe something would change, but it never did…The song still reminds me of how I had to let go slow….It wasn’t a whim when we divorced. It was a very painstakingly, heartfelt— just a terrible time in my life. And when I heard ‘Letting You Go Slow’, it just took me back to that pain and I said, ‘I need to sing about this. I’ve got to sing about this’.”

Chatting with Morgan and listening to her music is like a journey with a dear friend. You laugh, you celebrate, you cry, you share the pain, and hopefully, grow stronger together.

Morgan is no stranger to pain, having lost her dad, Country Music Hall of Famer George Morgan when she was a teenager and her husband singer Keith Whitley before she was 30. Her honesty and grit, combined with amazing vocals, gives Morgan’s music even more meaning. When it comes to the pain, Morgan says, “You’ve got to move forward.”

And for Lorrie Morgan, moving forward always involves music. “This album truly is about the music—the songs. It’s not about production. It’s not about bells and whistles. It’s about really, really making some music that matters.”

Listen to Nancy’s interview with Lorrie Morgan on iTunes and follow the podcast on Facebook.

Nancy Berk, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author, comic and entertainment analyst. The host of the showbiz podcast Whine At 9, Nancy digs a little deeper as she chats with fascinating celebrities and industry insiders. Her book College Bound and Gagged: How to Help Your Kid Get into a Great College Without Losing Your Savings, Your Relationship, or Your Mind can be seen in the feature film Admission starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd.

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