At 10:15 on Friday, a long line of people stretched down Baxter Street in Athens. They were waiting for rising country star and UGA alum Megan Moroney to arrive and start slinging chicken tenders at Raising Cane’s. It wasn’t just to recognize home grown talent — Moroney announced earlier this week that her album will be released early next year.
Corleigh Tyner was among the first 100 fans to line up. Her sparkly jean skirt, hot pink frilly tank top, and cowboy boots matched the Moroney aesthetic.
“I’m very excited for the upcoming release because, especially 'Am I Ok?,' when it first came out, was on repeat. I absolutely loved it, so I’m very excited for the next album.”
Fans didn’t have much time to prepare for Friday’s visit.
Moroney announced she would be teaming up with Raising Cane’s last night on social media.
“Very last minute,” said Tyner of her trip to Athens. “It was very spontaneous!”
Moroney graduated from UGA in 2020 with a marketing degree. She says her upcoming album 'Cloud 9' has an empowering message, an ethos that has developed over time since her days in the Kappa Delta Sorority house in Athens.
“Any time I come here, and I drive through downtown or down Milledge, I’m just reminded I used to just be the sorority girl who would just make up songs in my sorority house and didn’t have anyone to listen to them, really.” She said. “I feel like I’ve lived enough life and grown up enough to where not only do I feel qualified to tell myself you are worth it, I feel qualified to tell other people, too,” she said. “My feet feel firmly planted in my artistry.”
'Cloud 9' is set to be released in February.
