Megan Moroney celebrated the release of Cloud 9 with a surprise listening party at Raising Cane’s Global Flagship in New York City’s Times Square on Friday, February 20, just hours after the release of her third studio album.
Despite pouring rain and freezing cold temperatures, hundreds of fans began lining up as early as 5AM, decked out in pink and sporting Moroney merch from every era of her career, showcasing their dedication to the “Emo Cowgirl” and proving once again that Moroney’s loyal fans show up rain or shine.
Raising Cane’s went all out and transformed its Times Square Global Flagship into a Cloud 9 pink paradise with pink cloud visuals, glittery pink pens, sparkly disco balls and more. Even the brand’s signature red signage and condiment holders were swapped out for a vibrant pink color to match the Cloud 9 aesthetics. As fans entered the restaurant, pink Raising Cane’s hats were handed out and fans were greeted with signed pink Moroney posters as well as Cloud 9 vinyl records and a DJ playing a Moroney’s new album.
“My favorite thing about the Cane’s partnership is that it’s just so organic. My Twitter bio used to say, ‘Can I please get a Box Combo with extra sauce and a Sprite,’” Moroney said during a press conference at the event. “It’s very easy to partner with Cane’s and I love Todd, I love his story, he’s very hardworking, kind and his whole family is wonderful. It’s fun and I like to include Cane’s in all this exciting stuff.”
Unbeknownst to fans, Moroney was onsite to surprise those who believed they were simply attending a “Hear & Hang” and receiving a free vinyl record. Instead, she took the time to meet every single fan lucky enough to make it inside the restaurant.
Megan Moroney first surprised fans when she walked into the dining area from the kitchen, carrying a Raising Cane’s Box Combo with a big smile on her face from behind the front counter as Cloud 9 played throughout the restaurant. Fans immediately erupted in excitement at the first glimpse of the “Wish I Didn’t” singer, who then snapped selfies and took a few minutes to chat with every single fan inside the restaurant.
The event also gave fans a first look at the in-restaurant displays promoting Cloud 9, which officially launched that day in more than 900 Raising Cane’s locations nationwide.
Ahead of her surprise appearance at the restaurant, Megan Moroney sat down with Music Mayhem and other media outlets to chat about her new album and more. She kicked off the conversation by reflecting on the newfound confidence that empowered her to embrace her authentic self on Cloud 9, rather than overthinking or trying to fit into a specific mold.
“I think this album, is different because kind of the way that I wrote it, it was just so effortless, and I didn’t overthink anything. I didn’t try to make it check any box, I just was being myself the entire way through,” Moroney explained. “And I think my other albums definitely have a lot of that, but there was some like, hesitations of like, how am I going to be perceived if I say this and this album I’m like ‘I don’t really care, you either like it or you don’t and that’s fine.’ I definitely think there’s like a lot of confidence and it feels because of the confidence that, you know, I’ve developed. It’s translated into my personal life and how I just interact and think about things. So that’s kind of woven throughout the entire album.”
She then revealed that she is “most proud of” her duet, “Bells & Whistles,” featuring Kacey Musgraves. “The Kacey Musgraves collab because yeah, her album, Same Trailer, Different Park, made me want to write my own songs. So to have such a full circle moment. I feel like that kind of stuff doesn’t happen, so I’m really grateful,” she continued.
Of what it means to be on Cloud 9, Moroney added, “Just being in the moment. And I think it’s surrounding yourself with great people and just being excited to be alive. I feel like, I don’t know, that is not a feeling that I have all the time, of course. Because there’s highs and lows of life. But when you do get in one of those phases where you just like, wake up excited to be here, it’s like such a good feeling. And, I feel like being above ‘Cloud 9’ kind of is that.”
She will soon take Cloud 9 on the road with her completely sold-out, first-ever arena trek, THE CLOUD 9 TOUR. Moroney is looking forward to playing the new music live, especially the buzzed-about track “Who Hurt You?,” which she believes will be a “spiritual experience.” She’s also excited to perform “Change Of Heart” on tour.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a headlining show. So to see everybody back in their cute outfits and singing along to every word that they knew of the songs that were out, just gets me excited to see everyone and get back to it,” she concluded.
This isn’t the first time that Megan Moroney has surprised at a Raising Cane’s. The 28-year-old singer/songwriter first announced her Cloud 9 album in her home state of Georgia at the Athens location of Raising Cane’s, just miles from her alma mater, the University of Georgia, and the same restaurant she frequented in college because it was close to her Kappa Delta sorority house.
“Megan and I both went to Georgia and this is where it all started for both of us, I had a dream to open a Chicken Finger Restaurant, and she had a dream to be a musician, and we’re living our dreams,” Todd Graves, also a University of Georgia alum, shared. “It’s great coming back to this place and partnering with Megan for the announcement of Cloud 9. Megan is an incredible artist, and she just wants to be here celebrating with her fans, so when she told me about her idea for a ‘pop up’ I loved it.”
“This feels really full circle. I was a Kappa Delta. The house is a little down the road down there, so that’s where my Cane’s obsession started,” Moroney shared at the time.
Produced by Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Cloud 9 is available now everywhere. The project arrived on February 20 via Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records and features 15 tracks, including the previously released “Wish I Didn’t,” “6 Months Later,” “Beautiful Things” as well as the highly-anticipated viral track, “Wedding Dress,” and “Who Hurt You?.” Cloud 9 serves as follow-up to her Gold-certified sophomore project, Am I Okay?, and her debut album, Lucky.
Raising Cane’s has built a growing tradition of partnering with country music’s biggest stars ahead of milestone moments. In recent years, the restaurant brand has teamed up with artists like Luke Bryan, Koe Wetzel, Bailey Zimmerman, Post Malone and Parker McCollum for surprise in-restaurant “shifts,” fan pop-ups, and special events celebrating their success. Each collaboration delivers Cane’s signature energy and fun, creating unforgettable moments that bring together music fans and Chicken Finger lovers alike.
