Maren Morris Is Ready To Risk It All To Make Country Music More Inclusive!

Country singer Maren Morris recently revealed the lengths she would go for country music to be more inclusive. Famous for her ability to blend pop, R&B, and rock while still deeply rooted in the country music genre, Morris has received adequate accolades in the awards department, including a Grammy award, five Academy of Country Music Awards, plus several others.

The country artist received another Grammy nomination in 2020 for a song inspired by Black Lives Matter. Morris has since remained consistent in voicing out racial and gender inequality in the industry. During a particular speech, she praised Black female country artists in the industry.

Morris recently revealed that she had no issues taking a step further in her pursuit of equality in the industry. In an interview, she mentioned wanting to see the industry change for the better and fans from all walks of life feeling at ease and accepted during her shows.

Country singer Morris is slated to release her third major-label studio album, “Humble Quest.” She recently appeared in an interview with People and disclosed the impact her son had on her career and her intention to make country music more inclusive.

Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd welcomed their son Hayes in March 2020, just weeks after her iconic performance on the Houston Rodeo stage. During her interview, the singer revealed that having her son marked a turning point in her personal and creative life.

The 31-year-old said, “He’s already taught me so much about how to be a person. It helped me see things in a deeper way and just feel more empathy for my fellow human beings, having to raise one.”

Further in the People interview, the musician talked about her image as an activist in country music and what prompted it. Morris became famous back in 2016 when her single “My Church” became a massive hit.

Since then, the 31-year-old wasted no time talking about sexist double standards and racial inequality in the music genre. During a particularly iconic moment, Morris used her female vocalist of the year speech in 2020 to appreciate and celebrate Black female country singers worldwide.

That same year, she notably released a Black Lives Matter inspired song in October called “Better Than We Found It.” The song got her a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song and was her 13th nod.

When speaking on what drove her to be an activist, she said, “I didn’t start making music to become an activist. I think it was a byproduct of just seeing the inequality in the genre I happened to come up in. Once you become aware of it, you can’t really shut your eyes again.”

Morris is apparently ready to do more than just sing and give speeches on the topic. Via People, the artist mentioned that she was prepared to dedicate her life and “put [her] own a** on the line” for more inclusivity in the traditionally conservative industry.

“It’s not going to be an overnight thing to feel like it’s more inclusive, but I am seeing it change for the better,” Morris said. “Even if I’ve lost fans along the way, I’m truly willing to put my own a** on the line to stand up for what’s right.”

The “My Church” singer added that she wanted everyone who came to her show to have fun and feel safe. “And anyone from any walk of life can show up that night and know that they will be accepted. So if I have to slap off some random along the way, it’s honestly for the betterment of country music,” she added.

“Humble Quest,” Morris’s third studio album via Columbia Nashville and sixth in total, is slated for release on March 25. The lead single, “Circles Around This Town,” was released earlier on January 7. According to the singer, the song was mainly inspired by her abundant self-confidence at the start of her music career.

The 31-year-old revealed that she was still trying to get that confidence back but in a “more mature” way. “I think in a lot of ways I had more of my s*** together back then than I do recently because you just have all of that blind confidence when you don’t know what you’re doing,” she said.

“But I’m learning to be that fearless, no-holds-barred girl again, and I am getting back to her in a lot of ways — but also in a more mature, give-zero-f***s way,” the “Chasing After You” singer added.