MAREN MORRIS THINKS SAYING SHE LEFT COUNTRY MUSIC IS “A LITTLE BIT HYPERBOLIC,” BUT SHE HAD TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR HER HEALTH

MAREN MORRIS: “I REALLY WASN’T TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE. I JUST HAD TO DO THIS TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND BE A GOOD MOM AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR MY FELLOW SONGWRITERS AND EMPLOYEES.”

Maren Morris used her hourlong interview with the New York Times Popcast podcast to further explain her comments about stepping away from country music. While her statement made headlines then, clarification on what she truly meant and the depth of the years-long motivation behind her frustration were hard to find.

Morris explained on the Popcast that she had faced pushback for her progressive sound since her second single, “80s Mercedes.” In 2020, she used her acceptance speech at the CMA Awards to promote other women in country music by encouraging people to listen to them. A turning point came in 2021 when she used social media to speak against Morgan Wallen’s use of a racial slur.

She wrote on social media: “We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse.”

Then, her infant son received death threats, as did she and other members of her family.