Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The former couple, who finalized their divorce in 2024 after five years of marriage, reunited to record the previously written song for the 10th anniversary edition of Maren Morris’ Hero album.
Maren Morris is revisiting one of the most meaningful chapters of her career.
Earlier this month, the 36-year-old singer released a special 10th anniversary edition of her 2016 debut album, Hero, featuring two previously unreleased songs. One of those tracks, “We Can’t Be Friends,” was originally written with her former husband, Ryan Hurd, and the pair reunited to finish the recording after their 2024 divorce.
Speaking with Apple Music’s Kelleigh Bannen, Morris acknowledged the irony of returning to the song years later.
“What a hilarious song for us to be revisiting… This is why we can’t be friends, and it’s, like, this hookup song,” she said, referring to one of the lyrics. Morris added that she has always loved the track and remembered how much fun she, Hurd, and songwriter Caitlyn Smith had while creating it. Rather than letting it remain unheard, she wanted fans to finally experience a completed version.
Morris and Hurd were married for five years before ending their marriage in January 2024. They share a 6-year-old son, Hayes Andrew, and collaborated on numerous songs during their relationship. Morris said Hurd was happy to return to the studio to help bring “We Can’t Be Friends” to life for the anniversary release.
According to Morris, Hurd recorded background vocals on the track alongside Smith, making the session feel like stepping back in time despite everything that has changed in their lives.
She noted that while they now focus on co-parenting and have built a healthy relationship, revisiting such personal material still carried emotional weight. Morris explained that songwriting naturally requires vulnerability, making creative collaborations deeply personal, especially with someone who was once a spouse.
The Grammy-winning artist described the experience as authentic, emphasizing that she and Hurd continue to respect each other as musicians. She said their admiration for the songs they created together has remained intact over the years.
Morris admitted there were moments when the situation felt a little unusual, particularly while working on lyrics about romantic encounters. Even so, she said they have reached a place where they can appreciate the music they made together instead of letting their past overshadow it.
She also said she feels grateful they still share a creative connection through songwriting.
Although she and Hurd regularly spend time together while raising their son, Morris explained that this marked their first musical collaboration since their divorce. She believes enough time has passed for both of them to find peace, allowing a genuine friendship and successful co-parenting relationship to grow.
Looking back, Morris said returning to music with Hurd felt like reconnecting with the foundation of their relationship. She praised his talent as a songwriter and said she was happy they could share the song with listeners. Morris added that while some people may find the collaboration surprising, she is proud of how they have handled it.