Maren Morris released two new songs last week, both of which appeared to announce her departure from country music. In a post on Instagram on Wednesday (Sept. 20), Morris’ husband, Ryan Hurd, praised his wife for her choice and defended her against criticism, writing that “she deserves to be celebrated, not just tolerated.”
“I love the response from people who don’t just love these two songs, they needed them,” he wrote, referencing Morris’ new releases “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here.” “I knew it would strike a chord.”
He also pointed out that despite any dissatisfaction with the country music genre, some artists “would just shut up and keep collecting the paycheck, because the wave of vitriol is real and it’s hard.”
Hurd expressed that he was proud of his wife for taking the stance she did, adding that he is “so sick of watching my wife get the s— kicked out of her by the internet.”
“I’m sick of every talking head having some kind of stupid opinion about what she says,” he wrote. “It’s the same every time, why are you surprised when she calls out something racist or homophobic, I’m sick of people getting rewarded for it.”
Ryan Hurd Is Standing Up For His Wife Maren Morris
Over the past few years, Morris has publicly disagreed with multiple country artists and called out their behavior online including Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean and Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean.
Her new songs are part of a two-track project titled The Bridge, which Hurd called “beautiful and so rock and roll.”
“She deserves a little sunshine for the burden she has carried for every artist and fan that feels the same way,” he added of his wife. “I can’t wait for that first tour and to see all of the smiling and beautiful people who needed these songs and also need HER. I can’t wait to make music that follows the same path, whatever that is.”
He invited readers to “Feel free to leave a comment below to express your hatred or love for whatever I said, they will be duly noted, filed, sorted, and discarded,” concluding, “Love you, MM. Keep on keepin’ on.”
“Here’s To The Next Chapter Of Our Life”
On Saturday (Sept. 16), Ryan Hurd took to his Instagram stories to cheers to the “next chapter of our life.”
“Out here listening to The Bridge, pouring one out for what was and cheersing to whatever’s next. Couldn’t be more proud of your bravery, eloquence, and conviction,” he wrote at the time. “Taking a stand is hard and it’s scary, it doesn’t get easier, but you are an inspiration to so many people, including me, who hear hope in what you sing and what you say.”
Hurd continued, “I love you and am happy that after all this time you get the time in the sun you deserve. It’s been a long couple years and this is the period at the end of the sentence. Never stop growing. Wherever you go, I’ll be right there with you. Here’s to the next chapter of our life, whatever it has in store.”
Maren Morris Explains Why She Left Country Music
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Maren Morris explained that she “thought I’d like to burn [country music] to the ground and start over,” but “it’s burning itself down without my help.”
Though both “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here” fit right at home in the country genre both sonically and with their honest lyrics, Morris shared that she feels “very, very distanced from” country music. The LA Times confirmed that Morris has moved to Columbia Records from its Nashville division, and the singer shared that The Bridge serves as a marker between her country success and whatever is next for her.
The Texas native explained that as she got further into her career, she began to see “the cracks” in country music, alluding to the genre’s deeply-entrenched beliefs, and “once you see it, you can’t un-see it. So you start doing everything you can with the little power you have to make things better.”
“I’ve kind of said everything I can say,” she shared. “I always thought I’d have to do middle fingers in the air jumping out of an airplane, but I’m trying to mature here and realize I can just walk away from the parts of this that no longer make me happy.”
See Maren Morris’ full explanation on why she left Country music HERE.
