Red Hot Track Of The Week: Lori McKenna

Song

Happy Children

Artist

Lori McKenna

Lori McKenna backstory

Lori McKenna is on a roll following a hat-trick of heartfelt yet hard-hitting releases that have cemented the US star’s reputation as a key player on the country/Americana scene.

The Bird & the Rifle (2016), The Tree (2018) and The Balladeer (2020) served as telling reminders that the Massachusetts native possesses a special talent for storytelling.

And the release of new long player, 1988, later this month promises to add the latest creative twist to McKenna’s own compelling story.

In addition to her career as a solo artist, McKenna continues to enjoy soaraway success as one of the music industry’s most in-demand songwriters.

Her fingerprints are all over hit songs by Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, George Strait, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and more.

McKenna co-wrote Always Remember Us This Way, which was featured in the Academy Award-winning 2018 film, A Star Is Born.

And she’s won the GRAMMY for Best Country Song three times already (The Highwomen’s Crowded Table, Tim McGraw’s Humble And Kind and Little Big Town’s Girl Crush).

In Lori McKenna’s own words

“I heard someone say this once: ‘I wish you happy children’.

“Feels like the greatest wish of all time.

“This song was happily written with my son Chris McKenna.

“It went through a couple different variations until Dave Cobb brought it so beautifully to life in the studio with the band.

“If my heart could say just one thing, this song is what it would say.”

The verdict on Happy Children

Few artists capture heartfelt emotion in quite the way Lori McKenna does.

And although she continues to pen hits for some of the biggest names in Nashville, it’s her own voice that best articulates the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

Happy Children is typically McKenna: wholesome, thought-provoking, reassuring and real.

It’s a song offering hope, support and optimism.

But as is McKenna’s wont it taps into the ‘what if?’ – and happy children are far from guaranteed.

A simple, understated melody lays the foundation for that familiar vocal tone that tugs at the heart strings and teases out deep sentiment.

As McKenna builds towards the release of new album 1988 it’s good to know she’s still giving everything she’s got as a supremely gifted songwriter…and not always to someone else!