Country music fans may need to wait a little longer for Megan Moroney‘s highly anticipated third studio LP, Cloud 9. But she’s treating folks early with the surprise release of the title track, giving eager listeners something to hold onto as the countdown for the album drop continues.
Penned with lauded songwriters Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Ernest Keith Smith (ERNEST), “Cloud 9” finds Moroney venturing into different waters in comparison to earlier songs like “Man on the Moon” and “Girl in the Mirror,” which showcased her vulnerability amid relationships that weren’t quite working out.
This time around, Moroney sounds lighter, brighter, and more at peace. She is living in a state of euphoria exactly as the song title suggests—on ‘Cloud 9.’ She effervescently captures the feeling of being so loved up that it’s like floating on air, wrapped in a blissful and beautiful world where the little things don’t matter as much.
Despite the everyday annoyances that may come her way, like a restaurant not serving her drink of choice or rush hour traffic trying to ruin her mood, Moroney stays optimistic. She lets those moments roll right off her shoulders.
What keeps her cool and grounded through it all? The man she’s waking up next to every morning. “I’m walking on sunshine, holding your hand/ You’re putting stars in my eyes like no one else can/ You get me high, high, high/ You give me that look, I’m floating on air/ No, nothing else matters with your hands in my hair/ I never want to leave where we are now,” Moroney sings, showcasing her mellow yet storytelling-driven delivery, with her signature raspy vocals adding warmth and sincerity to every line.
Sonically, “Cloud 9” fits seamlessly into the sound Moroney has made her own. Her vocals remain front and center, doing most of the heavy lifting. The mid-tempo song features a vibrant melody, a steady drumbeat, and a memorable guitar intro that immediately pulls listeners in.
Produced by her longtime collaborator Kristian Bush, “Cloud 9” is a sweetly upbeat track that offers an irresistible introduction to Moroney’s most self-assured era yet.
In a press release, she previously teased the album, saying, “I am so excited for my fans and I to dive into this new world of Cloud 9 together. Similar to the first two albums, it’s all written about honest, personal experiences, but these songs were written by the strongest, most confident version of myself I’ve ever been. My feet feel firmly planted in my artistry, and it was fun to play around sonically while still sticking to my roots of what my fans and I love. Cloud 9 is a state of mind, and I have no doubt this will be the best chapter yet.”
“Cloud 9” serves as the opening track to the album and the fourth offering from Moroney’s upcoming 16-track project, which highlights her signature pink era—a redefinition of her previous color themes of blue (Am I Okay?) and green (Lucky). She previously released the songs “Wish I Didn’t,” “6 Months Later,” and “Beautiful Things.”
The “Cloud 9” release also follows a major milestone for Moroney, as she was recently named Country Artist-Songwriter of the Year at Billboard and the National Music Publishers Association’s annual Songwriter Awards. The ceremony took place in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, during Grammy Week.
Fans can also look forward to the Cloud 9 Songwriter’s Edition vinyl, featuring the tracklist sequenced in chronological order of when each song was written. Pressed on Purple Cloud vinyl, it includes exclusive cover art, a gatefold jacket, and a special insert, and is available for pre-order now alongside the Signature Pink and Tiger Cloud BTS editions.
Cloud 9 arrives February 20 as the follow-up to Moroney’s sophomore album, Am I Okay?.
