Ryan Hurd Caught Off Guard by Maren Morris' Unexpected Divorce Filing

Maren Morris’ unexpected divorce took both country music fans and husband Ryan Hurd by surprise, as revealed exclusively in the latest issue of We magazine. The decision to end their marriage seems to have come completely out of nowhere for Ryan.

The reason behind the couple's breakup, according to an insider, is that Morris, 33, and Hurd, 36, have contrasting personalities, which may have caused challenges in their relationship.

On October 17, it was confirmed by Us that Morris and Hurd decided to end their marriage after being together for five years. According to court documents, they officially separated on October 2, the exact day Morris filed for divorce in Nashville. They have a prenuptial agreement in place and are parents to a 3-year-old son named Hayes.

Neither Morris nor Hurd have openly discussed their separation, but Morris appeared to allude to her emotional state with a mysterious quote. On Friday, October 20, she shared a message on her Instagram Story that read, "Everything will be okay. It will simply exist, and when it does, you will confront whatever is necessary."

Later that day, Morris shared the same quote in a series of photos on her Instagram grid, alongside a caption that said, "Welcome to The End, where you may lose some friends…" Among the pictures was a mirror selfie of Morris, conspicuously without her wedding ring, as she held her phone with both hands.

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT

Prior to the announcement of her divorce, Morris made solo appearances at various events. On October 11, she graced the red carpet at the premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Los Angeles, donning a stunning black leather mini dress. Notably, her wedding ring was conspicuously absent once again.

Morris' left hand was bare in photos from a show she performed in Chicago on October 5 to celebrate her new EP, The Bridge. After the concert, she captioned an Instagram post saying, "First fan club show ️. Chicago, you sold it out in 1 minute and you held me through that hour and change last night. You screamed and cried with me on the deep cuts and even got me back on stage for a few more songs I hadn't planned to play. I couldn't leave you. Thank you for always reminding me why I do this."

She added, "It'll be hard to top, but I knew we had a good, historical reason for starting this in Chicago."

The musicians became close friends before they started dating in 2015. In 2017, Hurd proposed and they got married in Nashville the following year.

Prior to their breakup, Hurd fiercely supported Morris in the public eye. When Morris got into a public conflict with Jason and Brittany Aldean last year, which started over a disagreement regarding gender-affirming care for transgender youth, Hurd promptly sided with Morris.

In August 2022, he tweeted, "It is not courageous to score cheap points by targeting transgender children. I commend Maren for standing up for them. The concept of 'shut up and sing' only applies to those you don't agree with."

Hurd persisted in his endorsement of Morris even after she announced her intention to divorce. On September 20, he posted an Instagram tribute with the caption, "She deserves recognition, not mere acceptance," following Morris's announcement that she was ready to move on from country music. (Her departure from the genre was symbolized by her album, The Bridge.)

Hurd expressed his frustration with witnessing Morris being targeted by online trolls, stating that he was fed up with it. He acknowledged the weight she carries as an artist and for the fans who share the same sentiments. Hurd expressed his eagerness to create music that aligns with Morris' journey, whatever that may be. He concluded by sending his love to Morris and encouraging her to continue persevering. For further details about the couple's challenges and successes, watch the video above and grab the latest issue of We magazine, available now at newsstands.