Singer-songwriter Maren Morris, 33, just released two new songs, “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here,” on Friday – and announced that she will be moving on from the country music industry.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Morris explained that she feels the need to explore a new genre and will release future music on Columbia Records, as opposed to her old record label, Columbia Nashville.
The Grammy winner said before that she plans to take a step back for a little while, as she’s felt “very, very distanced” from the industry and its politics as of late.
“I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over,” she said. “But it’s burning itself down without my help.”
Of her experience in the country music industry, Morris said, “I’ve always been an asker of questions and a status quo challenger just by being a woman. So it wasn’t really even a choice. The further you get into the country music business, that’s when you start to see the cracks. And once you see it, you can’t un-see it.”
Studies show that only 16% of country singers are female, and their music makes up just 10% of the songs aired on country radio stations.
“I have heard the term ‘Shut up and sing’ more times than I can count – that’s always the cutesy little threat that they like to make,” she said.
The singer has long been outspoken about her progressive beliefs, despite her views frequently clashing with her target demographic’s politics.
An avid supporter of the LGBTQ community and the Black Lives Matter movement, Morris has critiqued many oppressive comments from other artists in the past. She further explained the scrutiny female country music writers must endure from their male peers for the same kinds of songs.
“I don’t think any of us got into this art form to be an activist, but that’s ultimately thrust upon you to exist in this space and to feel like you can sleep at night,” she said.
