7 Fun Facts About Country Pop Star Anne Murray

Lori Acken March 19, 8:40 am

ANNE MURRAY: SOUNDS OF LONDON, Anne Murray, 1983, — CBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Canadian songbird Anne Murray is about to make history once again. Murray — who scored her first hit with the 1970 crossover smash “Songbird” — will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Juno Awards (Candian’s version of the Grammys) on March 30. The honor marks her 26th Juno over the course of 50 years.

Murray, 79, is only the second artist to receive the lifetime honor. The first, Canadian film and television executive Pierre Juneau, is the namesake for the awards.

The honey-voiced Murray earned Grammys for her hits “A Love Song” (1974), “You Needed Me” (1978), “Could I Have This Dance” (1980) and “A Little Good News” (1983). Though she stepped away from touring in 2008, Murray’s impact on music — and her devoted international fanbase — remain as strong as ever.

Anne Murray’s cozy alto voice is truly one-of-a-kind. But here are a few more unique things to know about Canada’s most treasured gift to popular music.

1 Murray was a gym teacher before her music career took off

Murray was a physical education student in New Brunswick when she tried out to be a regular on the ’70s CBC television series Singalong Jubilee. The show had a multitude of singers with Murray’s vocal range, but two years later, she was working as a PE teacher when the Jubilee producers offered her a spot on their new show, Let’s Go. Leary of the offer, Murray took the job, but kept her day job, too. The Let’s Go musical director asked Murray to record an album and its first single, “Snowbird,” became a smash on both the country and pop music charts in 1970. Murray finally left Phys Ed.

2 She was a reluctant celebrity

Murray loved singing, but wasn’t a fan of the pop star lifestyle. After several years of touring and TV appearances around the world, Murray realized that she didn’t want her career to be the focal point of her life. In 1975, she stepped away from the spotlight to marry Singalong Jubilee producer Bill Langstroth. The now-divorced pair have two kids, William and Dawn, who are also talented musicians.

3 She’s one of just four ladies to win Grammys for solo vocals in pop and country music categories

The others are Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt and Murray’s fellow Canadian k.d. lang.

4 “Miss Anne Murray” was the subject of a Family Guy episode in 2013

In the Season 12 episode of Fox’s Family Guy titled “Chris Cross,” baby Stewie and the Griffin’s dog, Brian, become enthralled with Murray’s music. Song after song sends the pair into fits of rainbow-colored rapture until they get into a ferocious argument about why Murray’s snowbird spreads its tiny wings and flies away. The pair head to Canada to find out from the songbird herself, which serves to enrage Stewie further. Murray agreed to voice her animated self, leading Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane — whose dad played Anne Murray in the family car — to label her an enchantress, according to Paste magazine.

He wasn’t the only brand-new Murray fan to come from the episode. According to the same article, Google Analytics for the day the show aired saw searches for “Anne Murray” hit an all-time high.

5 She hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart with three Beatles covers

According to Billboard, Murray’s versions of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me,” “Day Tripper” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” all made the Hot 100 chart. Murray and the Fab Four were both signed to Capitol Records, but the Beatles broke up just as Murray was becoming a star.

6 Murray’s rendition of “Danny’s Song” bested the guy who wrote it

Though Loggins & Messina’s 1971 version may be better known to pop music fans, Murray’s 1973 cover cracked the Top Ten on Billboard’s pop, country and easy-listening charts

7 She helped carry the Olympic flag in 2010

A vocal fan of her homeland, Murray was one of eight Canadians who carried the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony of the XXI Olympic Winter Games, which were held in Vancouver. The others were hockey pro Bobby Orr, race car driver Jacques Villeneuve, figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, Romeo Dallaire, former astronaut Julie Payette and actor Donald Sutherland.