Megan Moroney, a 28-year-old country artist from Georgia, released her third studio album titled “Cloud 9” on Feb. 20. Since her sophomore album “Am I Okay?,” Moroney’s popularity blew up significantly because of her emotional and personal lyrics. “Cloud 9” has a happier tone than Moroney’s previous albums, but still has the relatable lyrics that fans love.
The challenge for Moroney with “Cloud 9” was to stay on track with her increasing popularity. When she released “Am I Okay?” in July 2024, she was opening for Kenny Chesney, a fellow country singer, on his “Sun Goes Down” tour. Fans immediately fell in love with her, showing up extra early to Chesney’s show to watch her perform. That same summer, Moroney drew one of the largest crowds ever at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. Only time will tell if this album will have the same popularity as “Am I Okay?,” but so far it has gotten a good reception from fans on social media.
Moroney is known for her songs about relationships from the past and present. She finds creative ways to talk about the men in her life, refusing to hold back about her personal troubles in her music. On her last album, she wrote about how she would love to send a man up to the moon because she never wanted to see him again. In “Noah,” she talks about a man actually named Noah, wondering what he thinks about her and explaining how she is jealous of the other girls who get to have him. Moroney has said that she hopes her fans can feel comfortable screaming along at live performances and going through their emotions with her.
Before she released “Cloud 9,” Moroney said that she was the happiest she had ever been in her life, and it showed. The first single, “6 Months Later,” serves as an introduction to the joyful tone of the album. The song is about an ex-boyfriend who calls her six months after their devastating break up. The upbeat instrumentals make it clear that Moroney is better off without him. This song is perfect for moments when someone might see that ex and realize they are finally over a relationship.
Another empowering single, titled “Wish I Didn’t,” warns the singer’s man not to mess up his chance with her. The instrumentals on the track are very upbeat and give off a fun vibe, despite its threatening lyrics.
The music videos might have been the best part of the album rollout, matching Moroney’s playful and quirky tone. In the “Wish I Didn’t” music video, Moroney fights violently with her supposed love interest, while in the video for “6 Months Later,” she runs a hotline that women can call to get back at their awful exes. It is without a doubt that Moroney enjoyed creating “Cloud 9,” and her fans also seem to be having fun engaging with it.
While the song “Beautiful Things” is slower and more emotional, it too sends a clear positive message about not letting others define who you are. Moroney said she wrote the track about her niece and how, when she gets older, she will have to deal with terrible men. The toned-down instrumentals create an intimate sound, making the listener feel as if they are present for the conversation between Moroney and her niece. This song is for those in need of a pick-me-up after a hard day or situation.
Like Moroney’s other title tracks, “Cloud 9” is a cheery song about being madly in love. The catchy instrumentals will have the listener humming along all day. With this song as the first track, Moroney draws the audience in with an earworm tune, leaving them wanting to listen to more. Overall, this is the ideal track to listen to while driving home from a romantic date.
Every choice Moroney made throughout the album — from her press tour to the pink theme — was perfect. Her collaboration with fellow country music star Kacey Musgraves on “Bells & Whistles” showed how perfectly both their voices blend together. “Cloud 9” is Moroney’s best album to date, with a wide range of emotions giving every listener at least one song they feel they can relate to.
