Biography
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Born
27 July 1949 (age 75)
Maureen McGovern (born July 27, 1949) is an American singer and actress best known for her 1973 Billboard #1 hit "The Morning After" from the film The Poseidon Adventure, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. McGovern's career has spanned over five decades, during which she has achieved success in pop music, musical theatre, and recordings of American standards and show tunes. Known for her powerful and versatile soprano voice, McGovern has been active both on stage and in the studio, delivering critically acclaimed performances and albums throughout her career.
Maureen Therese McGovern was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and grew up with a love of music. Her singing career began in her early 20s, performing in folk bands and local venues. In 1972, she recorded a demo that caught the attention of record producer Russ Regan, leading to her big break. In 1973, McGovern recorded The Morning After, the theme song from The Poseidon Adventure. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, catapulting McGovern into the national spotlight.
Following her success with The Morning After, McGovern recorded several other movie themes, including "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno (1974) and "Wherever Love Takes Me" from Gold (1974), which earned her another Oscar nomination.
In 1979, McGovern released her self-titled album Maureen McGovern, which included the breakthrough single "Can You Read My Mind," the love theme from the 1978 Superman movie. The song became a hit, gaining popularity on the Billboard charts and showcasing McGovern’s ability to bring emotion and depth to cinematic music. "Can You Read My Mind" became one of her signature songs, recognized for its connection to the iconic film and John Williams’ famous score.
McGovern's work also extended to television, where she performed the opening theme song, "Different Worlds," for the Paramount Television sitcom Angie. The song, released in 1979, became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 18.
One of McGovern’s most beloved songs, particularly among her Filipino fan base, is "Very Special Love." Released in 1979 as part of her self-titled album, the song became a staple of romantic playlists in the Philippines. Its heartfelt lyrics and gentle melody resonated deeply with Filipino audiences, and it has since become a standard love ballad. Over the years, "Very Special Love" has been covered by several Filipino singers, further cementing its status as a cherished favorite in the region.
In the 1990s, she released several albums that showcased her versatility and vocal skill. One of her notable works from this period is Baby I'm Yours (1992), a collection of McGovern’s favorite songs from 1955 to 1970. This album includes the first-ever recording of the lost Gershwin song "A Corner of Heaven With You," which was written circa 1917 but never previously recorded.
Her album Out of This World (1996) is a tribute to Harold Arlen, featuring some of his best-loved songs. In the late 1990s, McGovern received two Grammy Award nominations: one for The Music Never Ends (1997), a collection of songs by lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and another for The Pleasure of His Company (1998), an intimate voice-and-piano collaboration with pianist Mike Renzi.
In 2003, McGovern’s albums Out of This World and The Music Never Ends were re-released by Fynsworth Alley Records, each with bonus tracks, providing fans with additional material from these iconic collections.
In recent years, Maureen McGovern has been open about her health challenges. In 2022, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare form of dementia that affects vision and cognitive abilities. McGovern shared this news with her fans, stating that while it has impacted her ability to perform, she remains committed to advocating for brain health and awareness of neurodegenerative diseases.
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