Allison Moorer was born into a musical family and raised in the small southern Alabama town of Frankville; when
Moorer's father shot her mother and then turned the gun on himself, older sister
Shelby Lynne -- soon to become a
country singer herself -- took charge of raising
Allison. After attending the University of South Alabama,
Moorer moved to Nashville, hoping to get her start as a studio backing vocalist. She struck up a songwriting partnership with musician and future husband Butch Primm, and soon signed a publishing deal.
Performances of
Walter Hyatt's "Tell Me Baby" at benefit shows for the late singer's family landed
Moorer a contract with MCA Nashville.
Moorer's big break came when "A Soft Place to Fall," a track she had co-written with
Gwil Owen, was tapped for inclusion on the
soundtrack of The Horse Whisperer; it garnered rave reviews, as well as an appearance in the film itself for
Moorer, and set the stage for the singer's 1998 debut album, Alabama Song. She returned with another solo effort in 2000 with The Hardest Part. Two years later,
Moorer had a new deal with Universal South and released a third album,
Miss Fortune, later that summer. Show, which was recorded in January 2003 at Nashville's 12th & Porter, appeared in June. Her sister and
Kid Rock joined
Moorer for this first-time live recording. Not slowing down,
Moorer found a new label home with Sugar Hill in early 2004. The Duel, recorded with a new studio band in less than two weeks, was released in April of 2004. Two years later her sixth album, Getting Somewhere, came out, followed by
Mockingbird in early 2008. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
