Maren Morris Says She Feels More at Ease in Country Music Today and Has No Regrets About Speaking Her Mind
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During a 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Morris discussed her choice to distance herself from certain aspects of the country music scene.
Maren Morris says she has no second thoughts about the choices she has made throughout her career.
In a Rolling Stone interview published Thursday, Sept. 3, the singer-songwriter reflected on her complicated relationship with parts of the country music industry and discussed whether political disagreements and her decision to distance herself from certain aspects of the scene affected her career.
Morris, 36, said she has never looked back and wished she had remained silent or simply followed the expectations of the industry in order to achieve greater career success. Instead, she said she feels increasingly comfortable with the path she chose and believes her views have remained consistent.
The singer also reflected on a period when she felt compelled to respond to nearly every controversy and defend herself against critics. That included the widely publicized dispute involving Brittany Aldean, whom Morris called “Insurrection Barbie” after Aldean made comments online that Morris considered transphobic.
Following the controversy, Morris also turned the situation into a charitable effort. She sold a “Lunatic Country Music Person” shirt, referencing a description Tucker Carlson had used while discussing the dispute, and raised $150,000 for LGBTQ+ organizations.
Morris acknowledged that constantly engaging in public arguments eventually took a toll on her. She said the relentless cycle of confronting critics and trying to win every argument ultimately left her burned out and in need of time to recover.
When discussing the “Insurrection Barbie” nickname, Morris said she is comfortable standing behind what she said. Rather than viewing the phrase as offensive, she considers it humorous and believes that may be precisely why some people reacted so strongly to it.
She also joked that the incident was relatively minor compared with some of the more inflammatory language that has appeared in political discourse.
Morris previously addressed her relationship with country music in a 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Times. Her comments about stepping away from certain parts of the country music world were interpreted by some fans as meaning that she intended to leave the genre altogether, which prompted considerable backlash.
Earlier this year, Morris attempted to clear up that misunderstanding through videos shared on TikTok and Instagram. She explained that her original comments were directed at the business and industry culture surrounding country music, rather than the musical genre itself.
Morris emphasized that she still has a deep affection for country music and considers it an important part of who she is. Growing up in Texas, she was surrounded by the genre and took pride in the many country artists who came from her home state.
She credited that early connection with helping inspire her to become a songwriter. Her father gave her an acoustic guitar, and she taught herself to play and write songs while growing up. Eventually, she moved to Nashville and pursued the career she had dreamed about since childhood.