Maren Morris Has Been 'Deeply Creative' amid Divorce and Pivot Out of Country Genre: 'There's a Lot to Write About'

"I don't have to serve this machine of what I think country music was or what it expected me to be. I can just do my thing now," said the musician

Maren Morris attends the premiere of "The Wild Robot" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 08, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario
Maren Morris in Toronto in September 2024. Photo:

Emma McIntyre/EveryStory2024/WireImage

Major personal and professional shifts are inspiring Maren Morris' new music.

The "My Church" singer-songwriter, 34, appeared on the Sept. 25 episode of Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast and opened up about how creative she's been feeling after her divorce from ex-husband Ryan Hurd and pivoting out of the country genre.

Morris spoke about tapping into a new creative space following "a huge 180 in my life in the last two years," telling the podcast host about her move from Columbia Records' country-focused Nashville label to the company's New York branch.

"I think just retooling this genre shift kind of away from country and more so, like, in every realm, genre-less space, has been really tough but necessary and scary — just to walk away from something that I built for so long," she said. "I didn't fit it anymore. It didn't fit me."

The Grammy winner then touched on her changing relationship to Hurd, 37, with whom she shares son Hayes Andrew, 4. "We're getting it together, but the co-parenting thing has been going well, and we're trying our best in this way, but it's still pretty fresh," she explained. "I have just been so deeply creative the last year because, probably, of all this transition."

"There's a lot to write about, but, like, a freedom too," continued Morris. "I don't have to serve this machine of what I think country music was or what it expected me to be. I can just do my thing now."

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Maren Morris performs on Opening Night of her RSVP Redux North American Tour at The Masonic on May 29, 2024 in San Francisco, California.
Maren Morris performs in San Francisco in May 2024.

Steve Jennings/Getty

The "Cut!" performer expressed feeling "lucky" to have the support of fans and "freedom" to work through the changes in her life. "But now it's like, the sky's the limit. Where do we go from here?"

Morris released a new EP, Intermission, in August, and she has tour dates scheduled through the rest of the year, including opening slots for Pink. However, she doesn't want to spend all her time working.

"I also know when I have to say no sometimes to opportunities because I don't wanna be gone all the time. I don't wanna be touring 280 days a year. Like, I want to be home," she told Shepard, 49. "I wanna be a good mom and also have a social life because then I really don't have anything to write about."

 Maren Morris visits SiriusXM Studios on August 09, 2024 in New York City.
Maren Morris New York City in August 2024.

Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"If I'm not going through the s---show of dating, there is no album," added Morris, who publicly came out as bisexual in March. "The well has to be filled in that way."

Recently, PEOPLE learned the "Circles Around This Town" artist was newly dating Justin Assada of Netflix's Perfect Match, though their current relationship status is unknown.

Comments
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. PEOPLE does not endorse the opinions and views shared by readers in our comment sections.

Related Articles