Maren Larae Morris, also known as Maren Morris was born on April 10, 1990, in Arlington, Texas, to parents Greg and Kellie Morris. From a young age, it was evident that Maren possessed a unique talent and a deep passion for music. Her father owned a hair salon, and it was there that Maren’s interest in popular music began. When she was 12 years old, her father gifted her a guitar, a moment that Maren has often cited as the true beginning of her musical career since that guitar would inspire her to write her own songs.
Growing up, Maren was influenced by various musical genres, from classic country to rock and pop. Artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Patsy Cline, and Shania Twain played pivotal roles in shaping her musical taste and style. Her talent quickly became apparent as she began performing at local honky-tonks and bars around Texas, honing her craft and gaining experience on stage.
Maren’s initial foray into the music industry was not without its challenges. She released her debut album, Walk On, in 2004, followed by All That It Takes in 2007, and Live Wire in 2011.
Morris then moved to Nashville and began writing songs for other artists, including Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson, which helped her make a name for herself in the industry.
In 2016 the release of her major-label debut album, Hero, became Maren’s breakthrough moment. This album was a critical and commercial success, blending traditional country with pop and R&B influences. The lead single, “My Church” (2016) became a massive hit, earning her a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance that same year.
Following this successful entry in her professional career, Maren continued to evolve as an artist, releasing soon after her sophomore album Girl (2019), whose title track became an anthem of empowerment for many. And immediately after, her next single “The Bones”(2019) topped the charts and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her highest charting solo single to date.
Maren has collaborated with various artists, including Zedd and Grey on their hit single “The Middle” (2018), which became a global phenomenon.
She has been very vocal about issues such as gender equality, LGBT rights, and mental health.
In 2022, Morris was called a “lunatic” by internet menace Tucker Carlson after vocally opposing transphobic posts and comments originally made by Brittany Aldean (wife of Jason Aldean). Shortly after, her “lunatic” t-shirt line was born and raised over $100,000 for trans organizations.
All proceeds will be split between @TransLifeline & the @glaad Transgender Media Program 🌈https://t.co/Xtru7LgHIP pic.twitter.com/6ndkbNkWbc
— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) September 2, 2022
Her song “Dear Hate” (2017), featuring Vince Gill, addressed the tragic events that took place during the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and served as a poignant commentary on the state of the world. Morris’s next major studio album was Humble Quest, released in 2022 to great acclaim from critics and fans for its introspective lyrics and innovative sound.
Maren’s impact on the music industry extends beyond her recordings. She has been a champion for diversity and inclusion within country music, often calling out the genre’s historically conservative nature. Her efforts to promote a more inclusive environment have resonated with many fans and fellow artists. In fact, in 2023, Morris announced her departure from the country music genre with intentions of continuing to collaborate with acclaimed music producer Jack Antonoff, who along with Greg Kurstin helped her produce her iconic EP with a new sound titled The Bridge with Columbia Records.
In 2024, Maren contributed two songs, “Kiss the Sky” and “Even When I’m Not” for the animated film The Wild Robot, and the former was nominated at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song, and also shortlisted for an Academy Award under the Original Song category.
In 2018, Maren married fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. In March 2020, they welcomed their first son, Hayes Andrew Hurd. Maren has often spoken about the joys and challenges of balancing her career with motherhood. The two were well-known country musicians widely known in the field. In 2023, the couple announced their separation.
In June of 2024, Maren nonchalantly came out on Instagram by wishing the world a Happy Pride and stating that she was “happy to be the B in LGBTQ+.”
Maren told music podcast host Sophia Bush of Work in Progress (who is also bi) that she wanted her coming out to be lighthearted,
I was like, I’m just going to put it in like an Instagram caption, like on a tour photo, so like it could literally just look like, oh, here’s where we played last night. Oh by the way, like, yeah, I’m this letter…
She credits part of her decision to come out inspired by her collaboration with MUNA in the incredibly queer banger “Push Me Over”. With the song being released on August 2, 2024, Maren came out at the beginning of Pride Month, later clarifying that she didn’t want people left wondering or confused about her sexuality and that she wanted to celebrate it.
She has since made several statements about her bisexuality, sharing that she has known this about herself since she was young and that she is not ashamed or afraid to claim the bi label.
“It was something I always knew about myself,” Morris said, adding that she has especially formative memories of high-school sleepovers and summer camp friendships.
From [the] age of eight to now, it’s really hard sometimes for me to delineate my sexual attraction or just my like love of women”