Lucky (Megan Moroney album) explained

Lucky is the debut studio album by American country music singer Megan Moroney, released through Sony Music on May 5, 2023. It was preceded by the single "Tennessee Orange", as well as the songs "I'm Not Pretty", "Girl in the Mirror" and "Lucky".

The album reached the top 40 of the US Billboard 200 and the top-ten of the Top Country Albums, being certified gold by RIAA. A deluxe edition of the album was released on September 22, 2023.^[1]

Background and composition

After being graduated at the University of Georgia, Moroney had interned for Kristian Bush of country music duo Sugarland. Between 2020 and 2021 Moroney move to Nashville, attending songwriting courses and writing sessions. In 2022 Moroney published her first single "Tennessee Orange", which were viral on social media, getting her a contract from Punchbowl Entertainment and a co-label deal with Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. After the contract Moroney asked Bush to collaborate to her debout studio album.^{[2] [3]}

Lucky was produced by Kristian Bush while all the thirteen tracks were written by Moroney herself, witch contributions by severals songwriter, including David Fanning, Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna and Jessie Jo Dillon.^{[4] [5]} In a interview with American Songwriter Moroney describe the meaning of the album and its composition process:^[6]

"I wanted my first record to be basically everything I love about country music. I wanted to make people feel all kinds of things. Lucky is a party song. Girl in the Mirror is obviously really sad. Sleep On My Side is funny. It covers many things."

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that the album's "colorful production makes its debt to traditional country seem vibrant and fresh, but it's the unexpected twists and turns within Moroney's songs that give the album life and heart". Erlewine also felt that Moroney has a "gift for wordplay" with "internal rhymes and sly punch lines" and that by "reviving the sounds of the past, she sounds thoroughly of the moment". James Daykin of Entertainment Focus called Moroney "such a clever writer", writing that her "melodies are strong and the storytelling even stronger as she twists and turns her way through these 13 tracks. There's heartbreak aplenty but there's also empowerment, purpose and love scattered throughout the beguiling tracks". Jof Owen of Holler described Lucky as "fierce, funny and deliciously acerbic" and wrote that it "captures the best and worst bits of being in love, all delivered with a hairdresser's convivial humour and down-to-earth conversational charm". Lesley Janes of The Nash News opined that there are "plenty of anthems for broken hearts to run to on this record".^[7] Rolling Stone named it the top country album of 2023.^[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[9]	22
US Billboard 200[10]	38
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11]	10

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12]	45

Notes and References

1. Web site: Megan Moroney To Release Three New Songs This Friday. Whiskey Riff. September 20, 2023.
2. Web site: Nicholson . Jessica . May 4, 2023 . Megan Moroney on Why Debut Album ‘Lucky’ Doesn’t Have Many Love Songs: ‘I Write Sad Songs for Sad People’ . November 26, 2024 . Billboard.
3. Web site: Dowling . Marcus K. . March 10, 2023 . Megan Moroney discusses her 'Lucky,' sudden rise to Music City stardom . November 26, 2024 . The Tennessean.
4. Web site: Nicholson . Jessica . July 10, 2024 . Megan Moroney Makes the Personal Universal on New Album ‘Am I Okay?: ‘I Wrote It to Be Therapeutic’ . November 26, 2024 . Billboard.
5. Web site: October 26, 2024 . Country musician Megan Moroney says she writes sad songs for sad people. It's making her a star. . November 26, 2024 . AP News.
6. Web site: Hopper . Alex . May 5, 2023 . Megan Moroney Talks Debut Album 'Lucky': "Everything I Love About Country Music" . November 26, 2024 . American Songwriter.
7. Web site: Megan Moroney Lucky Album Review. The Nash News. Janes. Lesley. May 5, 2023. June 27, 2023.
8. Web site: December 15, 2023 . The 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2023 . December 22, 2023 . Rolling Stone.
9. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 15, 2023. June 27, 2023.
10. Billboard 200: Week of May 20, 2023. Billboard. June 27, 2023.
11. Top Country Albums: Week of May 20, 2023. Billboard. June 27, 2023.
12. Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 22, 2023.