Singer Maren Morris, known for her success in the country music genre, has made a bold statement by announcing her decision to distance herself from the industry she once thrived in. In recent years, Morris feels that modern-day country music has lost its authenticity and has instead become a platform for political posturing.
Key Takeaway
Maren Morris has decided to separate herself from country music, citing political posturing and a lack of connection with the stories portrayed in contemporary mainstream country music as her reasons for the departure.
Morris, who rose to fame in Nashville and was considered a darling of the country music scene, has not held back in expressing her frustrations. This week, she released two new tracks that reflect her anger and disillusionment with the current state of the industry.
One of the music videos accompanying her new songs portrays Morris walking away from a burning town, symbolizing her sentiment towards the industry. In a subsequent interview with the LA Times, she further elaborated on her decision.
Morris expressed, “I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over. But it’s burning itself down without my help.” She admitted feeling detached from many of the narratives presented by mainstream country artists today and emphasized her attempts to avoid conforming to those themes.
Furthermore, Morris conveyed her dissatisfaction with the traditional country music paradigm. She finds the genre stagnant and disconnected from current trends and issues. Reflecting on the recent political climate, she stated, “After the Trump years, people’s biases were on full display. It just revealed who people really were and that they were proud to be misogynistic and racist and homophobic and transphobic.”
Using strong language, Morris concluded by saying, “All these things were being celebrated, and it was weirdly dovetailing with this hyper-masculine branch of country music. I call it butt rock.”
Although Morris did not explicitly mention any names, her comments suggest dissatisfaction with songs like Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ and others she perceives as excessively political or hateful.
The decision made by Maren Morris to step away from country music highlights the clash between artistic expression and political ideologies within the industry. It raises questions about the evolving landscape of country music and the role it plays in societal conversations today.
