Maureen McGovern is an American singer and Broadway actress, known for her renditions of Oscar-winning songs and a prolific career in music and theatre. After recording ‘The Morning After,’ the iconic theme from The Poseidon Adventure, Maureen McGovern achieved international acclaim. Released in 1972, the single soared to number one on popular charts in 1973, selling over one million copies and earning a Gold Disc from the R.I.A.A. that August.
Her extensive discography continued to garner critical acclaim, including a Grammy nomination for The Music Never Ends in 1997 and another for The Pleasure of His Company in 1999. In 2000, she lent her voice to the character of Rachel in DreamWorks’ animated feature Joseph: King of Dreams. McGovern further cemented her presence in musical theatre by originating the role of Marmee in Little Women The Musical in 2005. She released A Long and Winding Road in 2008 and premiered her one-woman biographical musical Carry It On in 2010.
McGovern continued her robust recording career with You Raise Me Up: A Spiritual Journey in 2016, while also maintaining a strong advocacy for musical therapy and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Her significant contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate from Youngstown State University in 2004, the 2007 Imagination Award, the Mabel Mercer Award, Playbill’s Nightlife Legend Award, the MAC Award, and the 2008 AMEE Award in Sound Recording. In 2022, McGovern publicly announced her retirement from touring due to a diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy, with plans to continue focusing on musical projects for children and her ongoing advocacy efforts.