Maren Morrisis taking a step back from country music after years ofadvocating for marginalized voicesfrom inside the industry.
But its burning itself down without my help.
For starters, the 33-year-old Grammy winner will now release music through Columbia Records instead of its Nashville branch.
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Youre scrutinized more than your male peers, even when youre doing well.
So Ive had to clear all of that out of my head this year and just write songs.
A lot of the drama within the community, Ive chosen to step outside out of it.
Maren Morris was awarded GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award in May 2023.
Morris says she became disillusioned with the industry afterDonald Trump’spresidency.
After the Trump years, peoples biases were on full display, she said.
All these things were being celebrated, and it was weirdly dovetailing with this hypermasculine branch of country music.
I call it butt rock.
So it wasnt really even a choice.
I didnt think of myself as a political artist.
I just wrote songs about real life through a lens of deep respect for my country heroes.
But the further you get into the country music business, thats when you start to see the cracks.
And once you see it, you cant unsee it.
Maren Morris was awarded GLAADs Excellence in Media Award in May 2023.
So what’s next?
Maren Morris is currently working on an album with famed producerand longtimeTaylor SwiftcollaboratorJack Antonoff.
The people Im working with now have no idea whats going on or the names Im talking about.
