BY KAREN WAY
When the CLD team were asked to share their top gig, album, and single of the year, I wasn’t sure if us back-office heroes were included. But hey, when opportunity knocks….
Gig of the Year
Having seen my all-time favourite at BST this summer, Shania Twain, you’d think this would be a no-brainer. I was ready to lock her in, but later in the year…a gig pipped it. WHO could knock Shania off top spot? Drum Roll… Megan Moroney. Why Megan, you ask? She was pure joy from start to finish. Her energy was contagious and for a ‘new artist’ played tune after tune with lyrics the audience screamed back at her. Her transformation, from her relatively low-key performances the previous year to this show, was incredible. She has blossomed into a brilliant all-round performer and I feel she is going to keep on bringing us musical magic for years to come. Sorry, Shania—you’ll always be the one, but Megan took the gold this year.
Album of the Year
Full disclosure: I’m not really an “album” girl. (Shuffle exists for a reason, right?) but given the remit I’ve found a loophole and while it may be cheating, I’m going with ‘Twisters’. With Luke, Miranda, and everyone who is currently anyone on the track list, it’s like Now That’s What I Call Country 2024. Honourable mentions: Am I Ok? by Megan Moroney (of course), and Whirlwind by Lainey Wilson, who continues to be the Beyoncé of bell-bottoms.
Single Of the Year
Speaking of Beyoncé…. I did consider going with Texas Hold ‘Em but did not given I would like to remain on the CLD team…. in fairness, once you get past the controversy it is a catchy upbeat tune and it gave us all something to be up in arms about for a while… and we all love to be up in arms when it comes to country music right! But actual single of the year… ‘I Had Some Help’ because it’s a tune. Two of the biggest stars of 2024 with a huge album release (Post Malone) and an equally huge tour (Morgan Wallen) it was never going to not be good.
Honourable mention: Megan Moroney’s ‘Am I Ok?’, because yes, I will shamelessly bookend this entire review with her name.
Final Thoughts:
That’s it—my musical highlights of 2024. It was a bit of a strange year with TikTok being the new place for unknown artists to be catapulted into mega stardom some traditional ‘work hard, go far’ sense prevailed and my 2024 artist of the year: Megan Moroney, the people’s princess of country music!