Morna Anne Murray CC ONS (born June 20, 1945) is a Canadian retired singer of pop, country, and adult contemporary music, who has sold over 55 million album copies worldwide during her over 40-year career.

By age 15, Murray took a bus ride every Saturday morning from Springhill to Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, for singing lessons.

After receiving her degree in 1966,[11] Murray taught physical education at Athena Regional high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, for one year.

[13] In 1965, Murray appeared on the University of New Brunswick student project record "The Groove" (500 pressed).

[14] While there, she was encouraged to audition for the 1960s CBC musical variety television show Singalong Jubilee, but was not offered a singing position.

After a summer of singing in local venues across the Maritimes, Murray began teaching physical education at the high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

The show's musical director, Brian Ahern, advised Murray that she should move to Toronto and record a solo album.

"What About Me," the lead single and title cut on Murray's debut album, was written by Scott McKenzie and was a sizable Canadian radio hit.

Murray was briefly mentioned in the Oscar-nominated satirical song "Blame Canada," which appeared in the 1999 film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

Although the tune contained the line "With all their hockey hullabaloo/And that bitch Anne Murray, too", the singer indicated that she was not offended by the song (although she did turn down a chance to sing it at the Oscars telecast that year, pleading a prior commitment).

[22][23] The studio album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends was released in November 2007 in Canada and January 2008 in the U.S.

The album comprised 17 tracks that included many of Murray's biggest hits over her four-decade career, re-recorded as duets with other established, rising, and – in one case – deceased female singers.

lang, Nelly Furtado, Jann Arden, Québec's Isabelle Boulay, Murray's daughter Dawn Langstroth, Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, Shelby Lynne, Amy Grant, Carole King, the Indigo Girls, Irish sextet Celtic Woman, Dusty Springfield, and Sarah Brightman.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends was recorded in four cities – Toronto, Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles.

2 on the Canadian pop album charts and was certified Double Platinum in Canada after merely two months, representing sales of over 200,000 units.

[10][page needed][27] Murray retired from both recording and performing after the issue of her final Christmas album in 2008, later explaining, "I did it for 40 years and that's long enough to do anything...I wanted to go out still singing well, and not having to make excuses.

Her 2008 television special, Family Christmas, garnered a 43 per cent share on CBC with 4.2 million viewers.

Her 2005 CBC special Anne Murray: The Music of My Life broke ratings records for a Thursday night, with more than 7 million Canadian viewers tuned in.

[31] Anne Murray: Full Circle, a documentary film by Adrian Buitenhuis and Morgan Elliott, was broadcast by CBC Television in 2021.

The tour also included a special In Conversation interview with Michael Posner at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto on October 30, 2009.

Dawn is a singer-songwriter and artist who has recorded with her mother a number of times, including the duet "Let There Be Love" in 1999 for Murray's What a Wonderful World album.

[39] In January 1998, Murray and Dawn performed at a benefit concert for Sheena's Place, an eating disorder treatment centre in Toronto.

The Anne Murray Centre, located in Springhill, opened on July 28, 1989, and houses a collection of memorabilia from both her personal life and professional career in a series of displays.

A registered Canadian charity, the centre aims to foster tourism in the area and promote awareness of the music of Nova Scotia and Canada.

She served as the honorary chair of the fundraising campaign to replace the town arena that collapsed after a peewee hockey game in 2002.

In addition to being the Honorary National Chairperson of the Canadian Save The Children Fund,[43] she served as a spokeswoman for many charities throughout her career – most recently Colon Cancer Canada.

On May 20, 2009, Colon Cancer Canada launched the inaugural Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic.

[47] On May 11, 2007, Golf For Women magazine named Murray the world's best female celebrity golfer, noting her 11 handicap.

[53] On June 29, 2007, Canada Post issued the limited edition Anne Murray stamp.