Marren Morris Says Modern Country Music Has Been “Scrubbed Clean Of Any Edge & Nuance”

Maren Morris' second album GIRL is inspired by her love of “outlaw” country music that takes risks, something that she told GQ she feels is absent from the genre as a whole right now.

In the interview, she cited artists like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, the Dixie Chicks, and Shania Twain as having pushed the envelope with their music, noting that the old notion of country being “wholesome” back then was inaccurate. She actually compares country from previous decades unfavorably to the music being made now, saying:

Now it feels like it’s been so scrubbed clean of any edge and nuance. Sometimes even humanity is just completely seen through this weird lens that I don’t understand. I’ve never really understood the blond, virginal, but loves to drink beer and watch football archetype of women in country music that are saintly, and love Jesus. All of that shit, I don’t know where it came from. Because my favorites were outlaws. They were country music heroes. They were anti-establishment.

Morris performed alongside artists like Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, and Dolly Parton herself as part of the 2019 Grammy Awards' tribute to Parton. She was also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Duo/Group performance, and Best Country Song, in addition to a slew of major awards for her work on “The Middle” with producer Zedd.

The 28-year-old Texas native said that while she was writing GIRL she tried to make sure she was living up to the standard set by some of her favorite artists in the genre.

“I kind of look back at the history of the women I’ve looked up to in country music and I think to myself, like, is what I’m doing that rebellious?” she said.

Morris wrestles with some weighty topics on GIRL, including singing about our fractured society and her own uncertain views towards religion on the Brandi Carlile collaboration “Common.” She sings:

But we got way too much in common
So what’s the point in fighting?
We got way too many problems if I’m being honest
I don’t know what God is

In an interview with Esquire, Morris revealed the touching personal note Carlile sent her which inspired Morris to reach out to collaborate.

“She wrote me a letter saying that she’s so thankful that her daughters are going to get to grow up in a world where there’s a woman like me in country music,” Morris said. “I was just bawling my eyes out.”

Morris said that while she still thinks positively of her debut, 2016’s HERO, she wanted to make bolder, more ambitious sonic decisions on GIRL.

“I love my first album but also want to take leaps and bounds and do things that are weird and maybe not the middle of the road path kind of choices,” she said.

Elsewhere in the GQ interview, Morris discussed Zedd] flying to Nashville to record her vocals for their hit “The Middle,” and being inspired by Ariana Grande releasing two hit albums in the span of six months.

Morris appeared on genius' series Verified to break down the album’s title track “GIRL.”

Read the full lyrics to “Common” and the rest of Maren Morris' discography on Genius now.