Morgan Evans
Evans performing on stage at CMC Rocks 2016
Background information
Birth nameMorgan John Evans
Born (1985-04-24) 24 April 1985
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
GenresCountry, Indie Rock (early)
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2002–present
Labels
Formerly ofSolver
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2017; div. 2022)​
Websitewww.morganevansmusic.com

Morgan John Evans (born 24 April 1985) is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014, which peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Evans also had a crossover hit with "Kiss Somebody" in 2017. In 2019, he won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album for his second studio album, Things That We Drink To. In 2023 performed “long live the Newcastle Knights” live at the home NRL Finals game

Biography

1985–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Evans was born on 24 April 1985 in Newcastle.[1] He has a younger sister, Jane, and a younger brother, Tom, who is also a musician playing bass guitar.[2] At the age of 13, Evans performed his first gig.[3] Whilst attending Warners Bay High School he was in a local rock trio, Extortion, which won a state high school band competition, Youthrock, in 2002.[2]

Extortion were later renamed Solver.[2] As of 2006 Evans provided lead vocals and guitar in that group, Tom was on bass guitar and a friend, Nicholas Cook, was the drummer.[2] The band won Artist of the Year and Best Rock Act at the MusicOZ Awards of 2006.[3]

In 2007 Evans won the Road to Tamworth competition and for his prize he flew to Nashville to record a single.[3] He was signed to Sony BMG and released his debut single "Big Skies", in September 2007.[4] The title track received airplay on Australian country music radio stations.[3]

Evans toured with Brooks & Dunn, Gary Allan, Shannon Noll, Adam Harvey & was personally selected by Taylor Swift to open her first Australian tour.[3]

2012–2016: Debut studio album

In January 2012 Evans released his debut EP, Live Each Day, through Warner Music Australasia. This was followed in August of that year by a second EP, While We're Young. He was named the New Oz Artist of the Year at the 2013 CMC Music Awards.[5]

Evans released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014, which peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[6] At the 2014 CMC Music Awards he won the Oz Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Australian Video of the Year.[7] His track, "Like a Tornado", was short-listed for the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition of 2014.[8]

He hosted the CMC Music Awards for three consecutive years, from 2015 to 2017.[9] He is the 2016 Country Music Association Global Artist of the Year and has won five fan voted Country Music Channel Awards, including Male Artist of the Year.

2017–2020: Things That We Drink To

Following his relocation to Nashville, Evans signed with Warner Music Nashville in May 2017, which led to the release of his debut US single, "Kiss Somebody".[10]

Evans released a single, "I Do", on 8 December 2017. He explained via Instagram that it was written, "about his girlfriend, recorded it about my fiancée, releasing it about my wife" Kelsea Ballerini, whom he married on 2 December 2017 in Mexico.[11] In August, Evans released his third EP titled, Morgan Evans EP. Evan's second studio album, Things That We Drink To was released in October 2018.[12]

On 8 November 2019, Evans released a new single titled "Diamonds" which he says is a love song written for Ballerini.[13] At the global APRA Awards in March 2020, Evans won Outstanding International Achievement Award.[14]

2021–present: The Country and the Coast and Life Upside Down

In September 2021, Evans announced the released of EP The Country and the Coast (Side A)

In September 2022, Evans performed a new song titled "Over for You" at the CMC Rocks QLD Festival. The song was written in response to Evans' divorce from then-wife Kelsea Ballerini and the subsequent heartbreak he experienced.[15][16] Evans later shared on his Instagram that the song had been written only three weeks earlier and the show performance was only the second time he had played the song.[17] A studio version of "Over for You" was released on 17 October 2022.[18][19]

In April 2023, Evans released Life Upside Down.[20]

Personal life

Morgan and Kelsea being interviewed by Australian radio before the romance was made public
Evans and Kelsea Ballerini being interviewed by Planet Country with Big Stu and MJ before they hosted the 2016 CMC Awards together in Brisbane, Australia. The romance was made public by Ballerini shortly after.

Evans married American country pop singer-songwriter, Kelsea Ballerini, on 2 December 2017 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. [21] They had started dating in March 2016, and were engaged on Christmas Day of that year.[22][23] On 29 August 2022, Ballerini announced that she and Evans were divorcing.[24] On 3 November 2022, it was revealed that Ballerini and Evans had reached a settlement agreement, finalizing their divorce.[25]

Discography

Morgan Evans discography
Studio albums2
Music videos9
EPs5
Singles19

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[6]		 AUS
Country
[26]		 US
[27]		 US
Country
[28]
Morgan Evans 20 1 — —
Things That We Drink To 5 1 106 9

Extended plays

Title EP details
Live Each Day
  • Released: 20 January 2012[30]
  • Label: Warner Australasia
  • Format: CD, digital download
While We're Young
  • Released: 24 August 2012[31]
  • Label: Warner Australasia
  • Format: CD, digital download
Morgan Evans EP
  • Released: 10 August 2018[32]
  • Label: Warner Bros. Nashville
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Country and the Coast (Side A)
  • Released: 29 October 2021[33]
  • Label: Warner Bros. Nashville
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming
Life Upside Down
  • Released: 21 April 2023[20]
  • Label: Warner Bros. Nashville
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[6]		 CAN Country
[34]		 NZ
Hot
[35]		 US
[36]		 US
Country
[37]		 US
Country Airplay
[38]
"Big Skies" 2007 —[upper-alpha 1]————— Live Each Day
"Live Each Day" 2012 ——————
"Carry On" 2013 —————— While We're Young
"One Eye for an Eye"[40] 2014 —————— Morgan Evans
"Like a Tornado"[41] ——————
"Kiss Somebody" 2017 5320—53113 Things That We Drink To
"I Do" 72—————
"Day Drunk" 2018 2732——2921
"Young Again" 2019 77—————
"Diamonds" 94—10——52 Non-album singles
"All I Want for Christmas Is You"[47] 2020 —————51
"Love Is Real"[48] 2021 —————50 The Country and the Coast (Side A)
"Country Outta My Girl"
(solo or featuring Rivers Cuomo)[49]		 ——————
"Sing Along Drink Along"[50] ——————
"Christmas in the Sun"[51] —————— Non-album single
"Over for You"[52] 2022 ————4242 Life Upside Down
"On My Own Again"[53] 2023 ——39———
"Date Night"
(Kita Alexander featuring Morgan Evans)[54]		 ——32——— Young in Love
"Thank God She's a Country Girl"[55] —————— TBA
"Christmas in the Backyard"[56] —————— TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Big Skies"did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 28 on the physical sales.[39]

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Country
[37]
"Things That We Drink To" 2018 46 Things That We Drink To

Music videos

Year Video Director
2007 "Big Skies"[57] Myles Conti
2017 "Kiss Somebody"[58]
2018 "Day Drunk" (vacation diary)[59]
2019 "Young Again"[60]
"Day Drunk"[61] Colin Duffy
"Diamonds"[62]
2021 "Love Is Real"[63] Peter John
"Christmas in the Sun"[64] Chris Beyrooty
2022 "Over for You"[65] Peter John
2023 "On My Own Again"[66] Peter John

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. Evens has won a trophy from two nominations.[67][68]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Things That We Drink To Best Country Album Won
"Day Drunk" Song of the Year Nominated

APRA Awards

Since 1982 the APRA Awards are run by Australian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Country Work of the Year "Kiss Somebody" Won [69]
2019 Country Work of the Year "I Do" Nominated [70][71]
"Day Drunk" Won
2020 Most Performed Country Work of the Year "Young Again" (Evans, Chris DeStefano, Joshua Kear) Won [72][73][74]
2021Most Performed Country Work of the Year"Diamonds" ( Evans, Evan Bogart, DeStefano)Won[75]
2023 Most Performed Country Work of the Year "Love Is Real" (Evans, Parker Nohe, Jordan Reynolds) Nominated [76]

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[77]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Kiss Somebody Single of the Year Nominated [78]
2019 "Day Drunk" Single of the Year Won [79]
Song of the Year Nominated
"Kiss Somebody" (Director: Jeff Venable) Video of the Year Nominated
2020 Things We Drink To Contemporary Country Album of the Year Won [80]
Album of the YearNominated
Morgan Evans for Things We Drink To Male Artist of the Year Won
"Young Again"Single of the YearNominated
2021"Diamonds"Video of the YearNominated[81]
2022Nominated[82]
2023"Sing Along Drink Along"Single of the YearNominated[83][84]
Morgan EvansMale Artist of the YearNominated

CMA (America) Awards

The Country Music Association Awards (America) are the premier country music awards show which is held in Nashville every year. Winners and nominees are chosen for by members of the Country Music Association.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014HimselfGlobal Country Artist AwardWon

CMC Awards

The CMC Awards are awarded annually by Country Music Channel Australia.[85][86]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013HimselfNew Oz Artist of the YearWon
2014HimselfOz Artist of the YearWon
2014HimselfMale Artist of the YearWon
2014"Carry On"Australian Video of the YearWon
2015HimselfMale Artist of the YearWon
2018HimselfMale Artist of the YearNominated
2018HimselfAustralian Artist of the YearNominated

ASTRA Awards

The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association awarded 'Excellence in subscription television in production, programming and talent' from 2003–15.[87]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015HimselfMost Outstanding New TalentNominated

References

  1. ↑ "'A Song for the Radio' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 6 January 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  2. 1 2 3 4 Winterford, Brett (15 December 2006). "Solver Chair – Music – Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "2011 APRA Professional Development Awards: Country Finalists". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Redman, Melissa (8 March 2014). "Album Review: Morgan Evans – Morgan Evans". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Morgan Evans sweeps CMC music awards; photos". The Herald. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "Discography Morgan Evans". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Morgan Evans is fans' choice in CMC Country Music Awards". Daily Mercury. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "My Mixtape: Vanda and Young Shortlist". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 10 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "7TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS" (PDF). ASTRA. February 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Warner Music Nashville Signs Morgan Evans". 17 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Casey, Jim (11 December 2017). "Morgan Evans Drops New Single, "I Do" [Listen]". Nash FM 103.3. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  12. ↑ Liptak, Carena. "Story Behind the Song: Morgan Evans, 'Things That We Drink To'". The Boot. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Morgan Evans Talks Possible Duets Album With Wife Kelsea Ballerini, Debuts New Song 'Diamonds'". ET Canada. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Tommy Emmanuel, Morgan Evans, Seaforth, More Honored at the 2020 Global APRA Music Awards Nashville". American Songwriter. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Morgan Evans Shares the Story Behind 'Over For You'". 19 December 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Patton, Alli (24 January 2023). "Morgan Evans Goes Behind His Heartbreaking Hit, "Over For You"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Morgan Evans on Instagram: "I wrote this song 3 weeks ago and we hit record at our show in Melbourne, Australia last Thursday. It was only the 2nd time I ever played it. The videos, comments and messages I've received from you all since have been overwhelming. It felt like the right thing to share it like this. Over For You (Live In Melbourne) is out now, everywhere you find music. 📷: @goodguychady"". Instagram. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Morgan Evans Releases New Single "over for you"". Music and Tour News. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "Morgan Evans releases the heartbreaking 'Over For You' to Country radio". Entertainment Focus. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Morgan Evans' New EP Depicts His Recent Journey Which Can Only Be Described As, 'Life Upside Down'". Country Now. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (3 December 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Marries Morgan Evans in Mexico". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  22. ↑ Jeff Nelson (2 December 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Engaged to Morgan Evans – See the Ring". People.com. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Gets Engaged to Morgan Evans". Billboard. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Files for Divorce from Morgan Evans: 'Deeply Difficult Decision'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  25. ↑ Daniela Avila; Rachel DeSantis (3 November 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans Reach Settlement Agreement 2 Months After She Filed for Divorce". People. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Report issue 1256" (PDF). ARIA. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  27. ↑ "Billboard 200: October 27, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "Top Country Albums: October 27, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  29. ↑ "Things That We Drink To Morgan Evans". Sanity. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "Live Each Day (EP)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "While We're Young (EP)". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  32. ↑ "Morgan Evans EP by Morgan Evans on iTunes". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  33. ↑ "The Country and the Coast by Morgan Evans on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  34. ↑ "Morgan Evans Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  35. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  36. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: August 25, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  37. 1 2 Peak positions on Hot Country Songs chart:
  38. ↑ Peak positions on Country Airplay chart:
  39. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 97.
  40. ↑ "Morgan Evans Reveals Details Of Debut Album". The Music. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  41. ↑ "PREMIERE: Morgan Evans Causes Havoc In 'Tornado' Film Clip". The Music. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  42. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  43. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Morgan Evans – Kiss Somebody". Music Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  44. ↑ "American single certifications – Morgan Evans – Kiss Somebody". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  45. 1 2 "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2019 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  46. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Morgan Evans – Day Drunk". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  47. ↑ "All I Want for Christmas Is You - single". Apple Music. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  48. ↑ "Love Is Real - single". Apple Music. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  49. ↑ "Morgan Evans - Country Outta My Girl". newcountrysongs. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  50. ↑ "Morgan Evans - Sing Along Drink Along". newcountrysongs. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  51. ↑ "Morgan Evans Releases First Original Holiday Song Today". Warner Music Nashville. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  52. ↑ "Morgan Evans Releases The Heartache Song He Wrote Amid Divorce". iHear Radio. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  53. ↑ "Morgan Evans To Release 'On My Own Again', Follow Up To 'Over For You'". Country Town. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  54. ↑ "Kita Alexander and Morgan Evans Have a Country 'Date Night'". Rolling Stone Australia. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  55. ↑ "Platinum-selling singer / songwriter Morgan Evans is taking his turn at reimaging a country classic with his latest track "Thank God She's a Country Girl,"". Warner Music. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  56. ↑ "Morgan Evans Drops New Festive Song 'Christmas In The Backyard'". Country Town. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  57. ↑ "Morgan Evans "Big Skies"". YouTube. September 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  58. ↑ "Morgan Evans - "Kiss Somebody" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  59. ↑ "Morgan Evans - "Day Drunk" (Vacation Diary)". YouTube. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  60. ↑ "Morgan Evans - "Young Again" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  61. ↑ "Morgan Evans - "Day Drunk" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  62. ↑ "Morgan Evans - "Diamonds" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  63. ↑ "Morgan Evans - Love Is Real (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  64. ↑ "Morgan Evans - Christmas In The Sun (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  65. ↑ "Morgan Evans - Over For You (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  66. ↑ "Morgan Evans - On My Own Again (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
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  79. ↑ "NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2019 TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS". TCMF. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  80. ↑ "And the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists Are..." TCMF. November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  81. ↑ "NOMINEES FOR THE 49TH ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS OF AUSTRALIA – THE TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED". TCMF. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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  85. ↑ "CMC Music Awards: winners". TV Tonight. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  86. ↑ "2018 CMC Music Awards". Country Music Channel. March 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  87. ↑ "ASTRA Awards 2015 Finalists & Winners". ASTRA. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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