Maren Morris
Biography
Maren Larae Morris was born on April 10, 1990, in Arlington, Texas. Her parents, Greg and Kellie Morris, owned a local hair salon. Morris began her public performance career in her preteen years, playing at bars and clubs throughout Texas. At the age of 15, she released her debut independent album, "Walk On," in 2005, followed by "All That It Takes" in 2007 and "Live Wire" in 2011.
Nashville and Songwriting
At the age of 20, Morris moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to further her music career. Initially, she focused on songwriting, penning tracks for artists like Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson. Her perspective shifted after writing "My Church," a song she felt a deep personal connection to, which sparked her desire to return to performing her own music.
Breakthrough with "Hero"
In 2015, Morris self-released a self-titled EP on Spotify. The EP's success, garnering 2.5 million streams in a month, led to a record deal with Columbia Nashville. Her major-label debut album, "Hero," was released in June 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album's lead single, "My Church," became a hit, earning Morris a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance. "Hero" received multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Country Album, and Morris won the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year in 2016.
Continued Success and Collaborations
"Girl" and "Humble Quest"
Morris released her second major-label album, "Girl," in March 2019. The album's single "The Bones" was a significant crossover hit, spending 19 weeks at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart. "Girl" won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards. Her third album, "Humble Quest," was released in 2022 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album.
The Highwomen
In 2019, Morris joined with Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby to form the supergroup The Highwomen. Their self-titled debut album was released in September 2019, with the goal of increasing the representation of women in country music.
Pop Crossover
In 2018, Morris collaborated with Zedd and Grey on the pop song "The Middle." The track became a global hit, reaching the top ten in various countries and earning a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.
Personal Life
Morris met fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd in 2013 during a songwriting session. They married in March 2018 and have a son, Hayes Andrew, born in March 2020. The couple divorced in January 2024. In June 2024, Morris came out as bisexual.