Lorrie Morgan Is Broadway Bound

Lorrie Morgan is headed for the Great White Way! The singer is set to star on Broadway in 'Pure Country,' a musical based on the 1992 George Strait film. Joe Nichols has been cast as Rusty, the role originated by George in the movie (though in the movie, he was named Dusty). Lorrie will portray his ruthless manager, Lula.

"They asked if I'd be interested in coming up and trying out, and I thought, 'I ain't going to get it, so yeah, I'll go up and try out. I'll go play around and have a little New York time.' And then I got it!" Lorrie tells The Boot. "Now I'm on the internet looking for an apartment."

When asked what she was doing to prepare for the role, she laughs nervously and responds, "Praying!"

Lorrie will be taking up residence in the Big Apple prior to the play's debut in early 2010. "It will be about a three-week rehearsal," she says. "It's going to be a lot of work, eight shows a week. I'll be living in New York for a year and hoping my boyfriend will come up to see me, and my mom and my children. I'm taking two of my dogs with me, so I'm happy about that."

Lorrie says the project came along at a good time, as she recently wrapped two recording projects and will have time to focus on the play. "We actually are selling one of them only at my shows right now and it's called 'I Walk Alone' -- that's the album that I wrote all the songs on with my co-writers Mark Olivarious and Kelly Lang," says Lorrie, who recently celebrated her 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. "The other album for Stroudavarious that we recorded is called 'A Moment In Time.' It's country standards. I'm very excited about them."

It's been a busy season for Lorrie. Her Stroudavarious Records project is due for release in October and she's also been working with Alabama entrepreneur Ronnie Gilley on plans to open a new Lorrie Morgan Hot Chicken restaurant at the Country Crossing entertainment complex in Dothan, Alabama. The grand opening is slated for December 1.

Of all the ventures she's involved in at the moment, Broadway represents a brand new challenge. "I never thought my life's path would take me to Broadway, but when I heard they were creating a musical based on one of country music's best-loved films, I knew I had to be part of it," Lorrie says. "I'm very excited about making my Broadway debut and becoming part of the theater community. I'm also looking forward to working with Joe Nichols. He's an amazing talent and I hope country fans come on up to the big city to see us!"