Megan Moroney Honors Uncle Lost on 9/11 With Emotional Song ‘Heaven By Noon’
“A lot of people don’t know this, but my uncle died on 9/11…”
Megan Moroney; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
September 11 is a painful day for all Americans, especially for those who lost loved ones in the tragic attacks of 2001. For Megan Moroney, the day carries deep personal weight. She lost her uncle, Dennis Gerard Moroney, on 9/11.
Today, on the 24th anniversary of the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives, Moroney shared a remembrance post on social media in his honor. The photo featured his name engraved on the 9/11 Memorial at the site where the World Trade Center once stood, adorned with a single white flower.
While Moroney has rarely spoken publicly about the loss, she poured her grief into her music with “Heaven By Noon,” a track on her latest album Am I Okay?
The song tells the story of someone grappling with the sudden loss of a loved one, reflecting on their final conversation and the words left unsaid. The lyrics capture raw anger and sadness as she sings: “I know where you’re at/ And there ain’t no time at all/ No heartbreak, no more pain/ Just streets of gold you get to walk/ When I talked to you this mornin’/ I said, ‘I’ll see you soon’/ Would have said so much more if I only knew/ That you’d be in Heaven by noon.”
During a conversation on Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country, the Georgia native briefly opened up about the loss of her uncle and the inspiration behind the song.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but my uncle died on 9/11, so I thought about my aunt when I was writing that song because… the last thing they talked about was an oil change. And so that’s probably not what she would’ve said, wanted to say to him if she knew it was going to be the last time,” Moroney shared.”It’s definitely a heart wrenching song, and I hope that it helps.”
In a separate interview with the LA Times, Moroney explained that she and her co-writers approached the song from a universal perspective, hoping that anyone who has experienced loss could find their own story within it.
“I think my loyal fans know what it’s about, and maybe that makes it more real to them. This was my first time writing a song about grief, but I kind of wanted it to be a universal song that wasn’t so hyper-focused on my situation,” she explained. “I wrote it with Jessie Jo Dillon and Matt Jenkins, and we talked about people they’ve lost, and I was like, ‘OK, this is how it felt for my family — is this lining up with your story, too?’”
Earlier this year, she performed the song in honor of members of the music industry who passed away during an in memoriam segment at Country Radio Seminar. It’s one of the few times she has delivered a performance of the song live.
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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