oh my god, I’m not okay! Country music princess, Megan Moroney released three new tracks on the deluxe version of her sophomore album “Am I Okay?” on Oct. 4. These songs give us a little insight into Moroney’s world and the meaning behind her album. With her raspy country twang and production by Kristian Bush, this album is likely to skyrocket with the deluxe tracks. Currently, her album sits 19 on the iTunes Country music charts. Moroney’s taking the pop-country genre by storm and making her way up the charts with sparkly emo-cowgirl flare. Is there any other way?
Moroney initially blew up on social media in 2023 for her song “Tennessee Orange,” about a girl willing to root for the rivaling team if it means supporting the man she loves. Resist the urge, ladies! Stay strong, and cheer for the home team; no boy is worth going against the team your dad raised you on. There was speculation that the song was written about another country music star, Morgan Wallen. But the lore is too deep, so we’ll save that story for another time.
“Am I Okay?” was released in July 2024, featuring 14 songs of heartbreak, friendship, surrendering, and sassy confidence. Needless to say, it’s an album that god blesses the girls who love a bit of country pop twang and songs that they can cry and dance to. You may know some of the songs on the album, like “Indifferent,” “Man on the Moon,” “No Caller ID,” and the title track, “Am I Okay?,” which circulated social media platforms, becoming trending audios.
The natural success of the album called for a deluxe, and Moroney gave the fans their wish. On Oct. 1, she announced on Instagram that she had three more songs that she’d kept tucked away: “Break It Right Back,” “Bless Your Heart,” and “I’ll Be Fine.” Along with the titles of the tracks, she gave little descriptions of each, explaining the meanings behind the songs. Who doesn’t love a little backstory?
Jumping right in, we have “Break It Right Back,” which Moroney described as, “The love songs that start the album were short-lived, and this song explains why.” Moroney is referencing her title track, “Am I Okay?” where she sings about falling into love with her 6’2 dream and all the stars aligning in that moment. “Break It Right Back” tells the story of how Moroney fell for the seemingly good guy, and then everything she thought about him turned out to be wrong. Once again, the girls get it. She sings, “You weren’t supposed to be just like the rest / You swore up and down that, you loved me to death / Now we’re in my driveway, and I’m now your ex / ‘Cause I’m way too much, and you need something less…” Just by the lyrics alone, this song will surely be a fan favorite on Moroney’s upcoming tour. I can hear the screaming already!
The bridge of this song is so clever and even makes a dig at why Moroney and this man didn’t work out: “And how you do it all, and I don’t do enough / How you can’t settle down with a girl that lives on a tour bus.” If I were this man, I would go into hiding after hearing that because the cowboys are going to come to Moroney’s defense. Fumbling Moroney is not something you want to be remembered for, especially when she’s stolen fans’ hearts and became a new country icon.
The next track is called “Bless Your Heart,” and Moroney describes it as, “I’m Not Pretty’s older sister, written specifically for the internet (and real-life) aholes we all know and love.” This song is tongue-in-cheek, karma’s a b*h type song where Moroney showcases her sassy side, telling her online haters to “pick up your meds” and to “redirect your attention to those roots and split ends.” For my pop-country fans out there, this song could be related to “Mean” by Taylor Swift if we grouped them as a family. One of my favorite things that Moroney does throughout her albums is keeping true to her southern roots by adding classic country sounds like banjos and fiddles. That’s exactly the type of legacy country music needs to continue to leave, even with the evolving genre.
The final song released on the deluxe album is “I’ll Be Fine,” which answers the album’s title track, “Am I Okay?” Moroney also gave an explanation that said, “The 6’2 dream and I broke up the day before I sang vocals for the title track. I remember being in the studio, holding back tears, thinking, ‘How am I gonna sing this every night? Should I just trash this song and rename the album?’ I knew everything was gonna be fine, but I needed to talk myself into it, and that’s what this song is.” This song is like the definition of the country campfire ballad. It’s equally sad and depressing as it is accepting and wholesome. I don’t want to give too much away with this song because it truly is a hidden gem. Especially the ending! A round of applause to the writers and producers on that one.
If you’re looking for your next country idol, be sure to give Moroney a chance. Her tour starts in March, and she’ll be traveling all over America, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. My theory: Moroney will only be playing in small venues for a short time before she blows up even bigger than she is now. So buy those concert tickets, and this goes for any small artist you’re thinking about seeing! Sadly, for Moroney, it seems like the romance of “Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine)” did end with a sad song soundtrack, but luckily career and artistry are just getting started.
