Maren Morris Rejects 'Pop Star' Label Following Critique of 'Toxic' Country Music Industry
Maren Morris dismisses the notion of becoming a 'pop star' following her criticism of the 'toxic' country music industry
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
Maren Morris isn’t transitioning into the “pop” music world anytime soon.
“Absolutely not – that’s really funny,” Morris, 33, expressed in an interview with Variety on Tuesday, November 28, as she was honored as Changemaker of the Year.
“I’m not leaving Nashville. I adore living here, and I don’t see myself as away from country music,” she added. “There are countless talented individuals here creating meaningful music. I am a part of this community, and I aim to contribute to its improvement, just as I strive for positive change in the music industry.”
Since becoming a star, Morris has been a vocal advocate for social issues in the country music industry. She has consistently pushed for better representation and fair treatment for the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, she made headlines for her public disagreement with Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Aldean, over gender-affirming care for young people. When Tucker Carlson insulted her for her support of trans people, Morris responded by selling T-shirts with the insult to raise funds for GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program and the Trans Lifeline. "I don’t see myself as a badass or anything; I just got tired of being a yes person to get ahead," she told Variety. "I've been successful, but I think it has come at a moral cost. I couldn't keep playing along with the same old game."
Morris has also advocated for improved diversity in the genre. Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Morris remembered the moment she received an award at the CMA Awards and was taken aback by the lack of diversity in the audience.
"I looked around and foolishly realized for the first time that the audience was predominantly white," she stated. "I regret not having realized this sooner."
Morris is now distancing herself from the country music industry. In a September interview with the Los Angeles Times, she expressed a desire to see the industry reinvented, stating, "I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over. But it’s burning itself down without my help." However, she later clarified that her previous remarks were exaggerated and called the idea of leaving country music entirely "ridiculous."
"I don't want to bid farewell, but I can't engage in the toxic environment of this institution any longer," she shared during an October episode of The New York Times' "Popcast" podcast. She revealed that she will no longer be submitting her music to country music-based awards shows.
"I'm not sure if it's permanent," she added. "I'm not turning my back on country music fans, or that's not my intention. It's just certain aspects of the music industry that I need to step away from."
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Morris revealed that her activism has faced strong opposition in the past few years. The singer recounted being told, “You’re not welcome here,” which made her realize that her future may be in jeopardy.
“When I take a step back and look at the stark reality … the situation is deteriorating each year for marginalized communities, particularly for women,” she expressed on the "Popcast" show. “It’s not getting better, it’s not even stabilizing. It’s deteriorating.”
