Few country stars celebrate as much as Maren Morris.
The 32-year-old Arlington, Texas native has some of the biggest CMA awards to her name: 2019’s album of the year for “Girl”; 2020 Song and Single of the Year for “The Bones”; new artist of the year in 2016; female singer of the year 2020.
But while his major third studio album “Humble Quest” was in the running for CMA awards again this year — his tour in support of the album stops in Milwaukee on Saturday at the BMO Harris Pavilion — Morris criticized the organization, according to his list of nominees. , not yet announced, will lack diversity.
“They’re definitely making strides,” Morris told the Journal Sentinel when asked about support for black country music artists. In her 2020 CMA Awards acceptance speech she recognized several black female country artists.
“Breland is dying, and Brittany Spencer and Mickey Guyton and the Black Opry and these amazing organizations in Nashville that are really doing the work … But institutionally, I don’t see a lot of progress,” he said. “We’ll see if there’s any representation when the CMA nominations are announced, but I doubt it.”
Does Morris think the mainstream world of country music — long criticized for its lack of diversity and stark gender disparity when it comes to supporting artists on the radio — can change for the better?
His answer was sharp and striking.
“I may have a different answer tomorrow,” he said. “Some days I have hope, some days I don’t.”
“I don’t even say that to be mean or negative,” he continued. “I have gone against these institutions, trying to scream in front of them that change must happen now, and not tomorrow, not in five years, and nothing changes. Everything remains the same.”
Maren Morris speaks her piece
Next March, it will be 20 years since Morris’ Texans Dixie Chicks (renamed the Chicks in 2020) suffered a career setback—including blacklisting from country radio—after Natalie Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush and the invasion of Iraq. at a concert in London.
In the decades since, country music superstars have remained mum on controversial issues. On the same subject : Moonshine, Music and Makers Festival returns to Pikeville in 2022.
But not Morris, who has spoken out about gun control legislation, racism and sexism in country music, and in June Roe v. He was criticized by the Supreme Court for overruling Wade.
“I’m not here to talk politics, I’m here to make music, and when something is terribly offensive I’m going to talk about it,” Morris said. “And I expect the same for any person I believe in or spend money on or help.”
“I feel like my heroes in country music were always bucking the system, and they were rebels and they were always calling the shots, and I think that’s why they were respected and they’re still like these outlaws. They didn’t play by the rules.”
Morris admits that his stance “certainly made it hard for me to quote fans without quotes,” but that speaking out “overwhelms the risk.”
“You’re making a safer environment for your people and your children and the next generation that comes into this business,” Morris said.
“I certainly don’t take my ability to do that at a successful level for granted,” Morris said. ” … But honestly, I don’t see any point in doing that unless you’re going to do a show and everyone’s safe and they’re having fun and you’re not worried about seeing a Confederate flag in the parking lot or someone being homophobic.”
“Keeping your mouth shut at the expense of your dollars at the cost of real people’s lives and I don’t see the point in that if you have a limited time here.”
‘Humble Quest’ recorded during pandemic
So Morris is making the most of his time in the limelight, with his platform powered primarily by the power of his music. This may interest you : With HBO Max and Netflix retiring, what’s a library really worth these days? (blooming).
And “Humble Quest” contains some of Morris’ most nourishing songs to date. Overall, he offers an uplifting performance despite the fact that most of the songs were written and recorded during the pandemic, but the songs touch on his achievements and continued determination (“Circles Around This Town”); finding comfort with her husband, country artist Ryan Hurd, in the face of an uncertain future (“Background Music”); and a beautiful tribute to her son Hayes, now 2, that Morris wrote the day she found out she was pregnant (“Hummingbird”).
“(Making the record) is definitely a therapy process, coming to terms with my feelings without distraction for two years, and I think that’s why I was so strict with the lyrics,” he said. “I had nothing to keep me from the honest truth, and it ended up being an amazing way to write songs.”
“I had a lot of support from my husband, my therapist, my son, a lot of friends. It definitely got me to a place where I felt worthy again, even without being able to tour,” Morris said.
And now that he’s able to tour, “all the songs on the album resonate so beautifully live” — especially the album’s title track, Morris suggests, which taps into his empowering candor (“I was so nice until I woke up. up/Polite I was until I spoke”).
“Seeing the crowd’s reaction to ‘Humble Quest’ and seeing people kind of let loose, it definitely comes back on stage,” Morris said. “That was the song where the writing process took me out of a feeling of hopelessness and gave me a glimmer of hope.”
Maren Morris is back on tour with her new album
Country star Maren Morris didn’t want to make the leap to playing arenas this year after a long time on the road. Morris will release his third album, “Humble Quest,” in March and embark on a 41-date tour beginning in June. (March 11)
Focusing on change on her own
But Morris’ hope runs out when he becomes a more progressive country music establishment. See the article : Blu and Exile’s tips for building a lasting career in music through faith and authenticity. He has come to accept the limits of his influence.
“I rewired my brain to think that all I can do is focus on what my power is,” he said. “Maybe I can’t roll that rock up the hill.”
“As a woman in this genre who’s been here since I was 12 and still hears songs on the radio, I’m very privileged to be in this club because they’re the ones. Only a few of you are allowed in and they all get locked out.”
“While I’m here, I can only focus on my actual independent change, not so much on trying to change an entire industry,” he continued. “I look at what I talk about, the songs I write, the people I hire, the people I take out on tour. … These are all very influential to me and my orbit. I have every hope that those consequences of my actions in the world will create a better environment for others. But I can’t pretend that all these giants of industry are going to trade their comfort for a little more equality.”
Despite frustrations with industry giants — and proven genre-bending success with the pop single “The Middle” with Zedd — Morris is committed to staying in country music, fueled in part by “the artists and writers and creators who are taking it.” now it’s up to them to create a new template for what this could look like.”
“It sounds like you’re in a bad relationship and you’re trying to put on a brave face,” Morris said of being a country artist. “Ultimately, I feel most at home in country music. I like the small community. The Nashville songwriter community is the most talented group of real people.”
“When I was going through a dark time with COVID and wanted to hang it all up and go do something else, a good friend told me, ‘If you quit, nothing changes,'” Morris said. “I’d rather stay here and do a better job than leave the ship.”
If you go
Who: Maren Morris with Natalie Hemby
Where: BMO Harris Pavilion, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive
How much?: $23 to $200 at the box office and bmoharrispavilion.com.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or on Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
Our subscribers make this report possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
