Georgia native Megan Moroney grew up in a music-loving household and studied digital marketing and music business at the University of Georgia. After opening for Chase Rice in a local concert while still a student, Moroney realized she'd found her true passion. The Georgia singer moved to Nashville in 2020 to start her music career and released her debut EP, Pistol Made of Roses, in July 2022. This song is her first Hot 100 hit.
Moroney sings of calling her mom to tell her she's fallen for a Tennessean boy who is a University of Tennessee football fan. She asks her mama not to tell her father because she's now wearing orange, the school's signature color, for him. As a fervent fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team, Moroney's dad would consider his daughter in Tennessee Orange attire sacrilege. But, the singer assures her mother she still roots for the Bulldogs.
I met somebody and he's got blue eyes
When Moroney self-released "Tennessee Orange," it sparked theories on social media that she's singing about her rumored boyfriend, Morgan Wallen. Moroney supports The University of Georgia and the blue-eyed Wallen is a University of Tennessee fan.
Moroney wrote "Tennessee Orange" with singer-songwriter Ben Williams, David Fanning (Parmalee's "
Just The Way" and "
Take My Name") and Paul Jenkins (Jason Aldean and Kelly Ckarkson's "
Don't You Wanna Stay," Chris Young's "
Who I Am With You"). Williams is a regular Moroney collaborator, having co-written half of her
Pistol Made of Roses tracks.
Sugarland's
Kristian Bush produced the song. Bush has also helmed tracks for the likes of Matt Nathanson, Lindsay Ell, and Boys Like Girls.
The song entered the Hot 100 dated October 14, 2022 after going viral on TikTok. Couples used a portion of the chorus of "Tennessee Orange" to soundtrack clips that showcase their love stories.
Morgan Wallen released a parallel song a few months later. On "
Tennessee Fan," he tells the story of a romance with a University of Alabama fan. Once they started dating, she changed her allegiance to the University of Tennessee.
So were Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen ever an item? Moroney clarified on the July 31, 2024 Call Her Daddy podcast that while the pair did have a romantic connection, they were never exclusively dating.
Moroney and Wallen's involvement began in early 2020, initiated through a mutual friend, singer-songwriter Jon Langston. Despite spending significant time together and sharing a close bond, their busy schedules and commitments prevented a serious, committed relationship from developing. Moroney emphasized their friendship and the respect they hold for one another.
Intriguingly, the inspiration behind "Tennessee Orange" remains a closely guarded secret. "I will not say what my songs are about ever," she told Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper, adding that she has "no idea" if any of Wallen's songs are about her, either.
"Tennessee Orange" was inspired by a real-life moment when Moroney found herself wearing a Tennessee Volunteers shirt. She thought, "My mom would absolutely kill me if she saw me in this gaudy orange," and that sparked the idea for a love song that combined affection with sports rivalry.
