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Photo By: Wayne Tozzi / www.oprynorth.com

Opry North

Name: Megan Morrison

Age: 14

Birth date: March 26, 1988

Birth place: Mount Forest, Ontario

Hometown: Southgate Township/Holstein, Ontario (village just outside of Mount Forest, Ontario)

Resides in: Southgate Township, Grey County, Ontario (Township that Village of Holstein is in)

Pets: Penney (horse), two cats – Squeak and Jasper

Group name: Right now my backup band doesn’t have a name – all the members of my band also back up other artists such as Jason McCoy, as well as top North American tribute bands like the Dixie Chicklets, etc.

Instruments played: Guitar

Started performing at age: Eight

Most memorable performance: Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario

What do you do to relax: Ride Penney and practice calf roping; attend Rodeos; lift weights and exercise; in the winter snowmobile.

Finished CD’s: Two

CD’s for sale: “When Dreams Have Wings” (just being manufactured at the moment – should be out by June 2002)

Management: Colt Productions/Moffet Management

Record Label: Colt Records

Website: http://www.meganmorrison.ca

When you think of younger performers these days you invariably draw comparisons to the ‘stars’ of similar age in whatever genre of music you’re dealing with. If it’s pop, you think Britney. If it’s country, you think LeAnn. You get the idea. But sometimes you meet someone who is SO different, SO talented and grounded that you quickly learn that preconceived ideas won’t wash in many cases. One of these situations is when you meet Megan Morrison. She’s been performing since she was eight years old (and we’re not talking about school plays here either). She is very smart, very athletic, tall, blonde, beautiful, incredibly talented and (gasp) she’s not yet old enough to drive. She’s been getting rave reviews for her performances all around Ontario and from the media for her recordings that have been released as singles up to now. With her full CD being released very soon the anticipation is growing, especially among her friends and supporters. You can’t help but wish her much success.

The recipient of all this admiration is a girl from a very busy working cattle farm, and we’re talking cattle – not a ‘few cows’. With over 800 head of cattle, three older brothers and another fledgling career – as a calf roper, believe it or not – Megan knows what it’s like to have to work for what you have. She’s an avid rider (of both horses and snowmobiles), she’s one heck of a dancer (due to Mom Pat being a line dance instructor) and she takes jiu-jitsu. She gets very good marks in school, she’s totally delightful to talk to and (as she’ll tell you herself) she’s always ready to shop!

Before you go off thinking Megan’s life has been all roses and pearls there have been some challenges to get through, like the loss of her younger brother, Colton. For a close-knit family like the Morrison’s, it’s made them all the more supportive and given Megan a philosophy beyond her years. She’s said it’s important “…to be the best that I can, and enjoy life to the fullest, because you don’t know which day will be your last”. As she travels for her performances she’s accompanied by a group of family, always Mom and usually a brother and sister-in-law. If country music is based on family you know Megan will be right at home, no matter where she is. And where she is, her family will be too. It couldn’t be any other way.

We first met Megan and her mother Pat back in November of 2000 and I remember seeing Megan perform for the first time in March of 2001, right around her 13^th birthday. To see that much self-confidence, showmanship and potential in such a young lady is surprising at first but as you continue to see Megan you realize that she gives her all no matter what she’s doing. It’s the way she is. It’s not enough that she’s on stage to sing; she incorporates the most amazing dance moves into her songs too. But, very similar to Reba, when she’s singing she’s not moving and when she’s moving she’s not singing – but they fit together perfectly to give you the most entertaining show. Plus, she always looks great…elegant enough to let you know she’s a performer, stylish enough to let you remember she’s a young woman who loves shopping and attractive without being ‘gaudy’…no gauze dresses with bikini’s underneath for this girl. She’d probably laugh at you if you suggested it.

We’ve been very fond of Megan since we’ve met her and have enjoyed hanging out with her and Pat when we end up at the same ‘gig’. You won’t get any more real than those two and the wonderful thing is that you know it will never change. Finding folks like that in the entertainment world can be such a refreshing thing, people who will speak their mind, hold on to their values and are always sincere…we hold on to those people and are pleased to say our closest friends come from this group. So many things race across my mind as I write this; comments we’ve shared at shows, seeing Megan in the parking lot of one of her shows (decked out in her ‘stage outfit’) trying to ‘rope’ the guys as they ran past, watching Megan and Pat backstage working on some dance steps (and knowing my knees would never survive the challenge).

And then there’s the time when I had asked Megan and two other young performers I know to be the ‘background dancers’ for another friend during his performance. Of course they all agreed, and when during his song my friend looked behind him and saw these three lovely young women doing their ‘routine’ he almost lost his place as he couldn’t help but laugh (probably at the big grins he got from the girls when he’d turned around). Support, camaraderie and fun, they are the things friends are made of. And when you’re a performer they mean the world to you and it’s so heartwarming to see.

Megan looks and sounds like a million bucks when she’s on a stage so I can’t wait to see her compete in a Rodeo as a calf-roper. When we had first heard that she’d been taking ‘roping lessons’ over the winter to prepare for the onslaught of the Rodeo season we were surprised, but as the seasons upon us now we’re looking forward to it. I mentioned to her not too long ago that Reba spent many years when she was young competing as a barrel rider. Megan, in true form, replied, “Barrel riding’s for girls. I want to do what the guys do.” For a young woman who accomplishes anything she sets out to do (and does it very well indeed) I think it would be safe to say that the guys will be facing some tough competition this year in the form of a tall, blonde, beautiful young lady who will probably have her songs playing on the radio stations they’d listen to on the drive home. And one question will probably be raised time and time again – “How does she DO all this?” For those of us who like and admire her the question has already been answered. She’s Megan…she’ll try, she’ll succeed. She can’t help it – she’s good. And we’re always proud of her.

Written by Kim Jamieson

June 2002

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