LISTEN: Megan Danielle Shares A Powerful Message Of Perseverance With Debut Single, ‘Dream Girl’
“It’s just a reminder that you can keep tracing your dream and keep going,” the Georgia native explains.
Megan Danielle; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
American Idol finalist Megan Danielle is reminding fans to never give up on their dreams with her debut single, “Dream Girl.”
Penned by Season 17 Idol alum Laci Kaye Booth and Logan Wall, “Dream Girl” finds Megan Danielle sharing a positive message to always keep going no matter what roadblocks you may face along the way.
Debut Single Out Now
“Dream baby / Close your eyes and let your mind take you somewhere higher / Dream, baby / Paint your sky ’cause it ain’t like someone could paint it brighter / Don’t let nothin’ wake you up at night / ‘Cause it’s a mean world so go ahead and / Dream girl / Dream girl,” Danielle sings on the song’s chorus.
She also pays tribute to Jo Dee Messina and The Chicks on the track’s first verse, where she drops the names of their popular hit songs, “[Heads Carolina] Tails California” and “Wide Open Spaces,” respectively.
The tune, which was released on Friday (May 19), was produced by Chris DeStefano.
Listen
“Keep Going”
Ahead of the “Dream Girl” release, Megan Danielle took to social media to share the meaning behind her first-ever original song.
“‘Dream Girl’ just means just sharing a positive message with everyone because I feel like everyone can go through these dark times and it’s just a reminder that you can keep tracing your dream and keep going,” she explained.
She went on to say she hopes fans are really able to connect with the tune.
“I just hope when people hear the song, that they just feel the emotion and the love that I put into the song. Really, you can listen to Dream Girl anywhere, literally anywhere in the gym, in the car, when you’re sleeping, who cares? It’s, it’s such a positive song that I feel like anybody can rock out to it and just love it.”
Danielle recorded “Dream Girl” at The Sound Factory with producer Chris DeStefano.
“To be able to record my own song is honestly amazing,” Danielle admitted. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, which is just lead people in the right direction and touch their heart with my music.”
Top 3
The single comes just days after Megan Danielle made the Top 3 on American Idol alongside Iam Tongi and Colin Stough.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around making into the finale,” Danielle previously shared.
Memorable Audition
Megan Danielle turned heads when she auditioned for American Idol with Lauren Daigle’s “You Say.” While in Las Vegas, she received the surprise of a lifetime when Daigle joined her for her audition.
At the time, Megan Danielle recalled what led her to sing Christian music, “My childhood, I would always spend most of my time at the shop with my Grandpa. He was definitely one of my biggest fans. It’s just weird without papa, but very sad cause everything reminds me of daddy. My Grandpa passed about a year ago and he was the most important person in my life.”
She continued, “When I was 18, I had a band and we were singing at all different types of bars and venues. I didn’t like performing at bars because I felt like I had to act like someone I wasn’t just so the people would like what they were hearing. There was one show I had one night and my papa was there and he pulled me to the side and said ‘what are you doing baby? This isn’t what you’re supposed to be doing.’ He looked at me dead in the eye and said ‘how can you sing for God and sing for this?’ and then I finally decided to totally switch to Christian music.”
Daigle and Danielle teamed up for a performance of “You Say” and bonded instantly.
After her audition, Megan Danielle went on to sing songs such as “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)” by Patty Griffin, “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga, “Easy On Me” by Adele, “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, “Holy Water” by We The Kingdom, “Thank God I Do” by Lauren Daigle, “Angel from Montgomery” by Bonnie Raitt, “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill, “Head Over Feet” by Alanis Morissette, and more.
Most recently, Megan Danielle took to the American Idol stage during Disney night to cover Bebe Rexha’s “You Can’t Stop The Girl,” a tune that appears in the Maleficent: Mistress of Evil soundtrack.
Disney Night Performances
Her performance was a tribute to her mom, Monica, in honor of Mother’s Day.
“I feel like my mom can relate to this song because there’s been so many things thrown at my mama and I just want to tell her you can keep going and everything’s going to be okay,” she explained.
She also performed “Carried Me with You” from Disney’s Onward.
Her latest performances earned praise from the judges, who took time to compliment her soaring vocal range.
Finale
Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle and Colin Stough will face off for the title of American Idol champion during the three-hour season finale of American Idol on Sunday, May 21 at 8 pm ET.
Live from Hollywood, the finale will feature performances by the judges, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, as well as guest performers Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, Ellie Goulding, James Blunt, Jazmine Sullivan, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban (who is also mentoring Top 3), Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon, Kylie Minogue, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Daigle, Pitbull, and TLC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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