If Maren Morris Thinks Country’s Too Restrictive She Can Get The Hell Out
Maren Morris is a victim. Just ask her, or her surrogate toadies carrying her water in the media who want to paint her as so put under and oppressed by this draconiously restrictive genre known as country music, it’s tantamount to a humanitarian atrocity, stifling her incredible creativity, and insisting that she cover up her absolutely spectacular body.
“I don’t know who’s made these scriptures but it’s like women in country music need to to be super religious and they need to be super conservative and never show their body,” Maren Morris said recently. “And I’m like, ‘Are you giving me like a run for my money right now?’ Because like Dolly’s outfits back in the day were amazing. There’s just such a stupid mold that, even ourselves, are attempting to fit into, and it’s just bullshit.”
Well, Maren Morris, if you feel like country music is too restrictive in it’s “stupid mold,” then you can get the hell out!
Nobody asked or told Maren Morris to be a country star. There is absolutely, positively, certifiably nothing whatsoever that is country in any way, shape, form or manner about Maren Morris’s new album, GIRL.” Nothing. Period. On the contrary, Maren Morris is exploiting country as a stepping stone to a pop career, while not caring a hoot about whatever troubled wake she may leave in her path, and everybody knows it, including Maren. She rode into the genre on the Trojan Horse that was “My Church,” professing a religious affinity for the traditions of country music, and now she’s running down both the religious and traditional aspects of country because she feels they’re too restrictive. Well then by all means Maren, don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!
What’s the difference between Dolly Parton and Maren Morris? Gee, let us count the ways, starting with the 3,000-plus songs that Dolly Parton has written over her career that are actually country. How about paying dues with Porter Wagoner and other legends for many years before she struck out on her own. How about respecting the traditions of country music, even when incorporating pop elements into the music, or delving into risque subject matter.
Dolly Parton never bared her midriff to attempt to distract you from how terrible or non country her music was, or how mediocre of a singer and a songwriter she was. Dolly never tried to make up for the fact that she had absolutely no style of her own by falling back on sexual imagery. Dolly Parton would have been Dolly Parton even without all the shimmer. That’s what makes her Dolly Parton. The reason that Maren Morris is holding on so dearly for her right to post risque photos on social media and face no reprisal is because that’s all she’s got. Otherwise folks wouldn’t pay attention to her, and attention is what she craves.
This is country music, not pop or hip-hop. Dolly Parton and many other artists over the years may have worn revealing clothing or put their image out there proudly. But they also balanced it with humility, were appreciative of the attention they received, and even were self-deprecating. Maren Morris comes across like she thinks she’s better than every other person on the planet and deserves to have a red carpet rolled out for her wherever she goes, and verifies that whenever she opens her mouth. That’s not confidence, that’s arrogance, and that’s not country music. Perhaps in pop and hip-hop, people want to see their favorite stars flaunting their money, their body, and their fame. But in country, Maren posting pictures of herself in sports bras on private jets, in sports bras at a big sporting event, in a sports bras at some landmark, or in a bikini on the beach comes across as down-looking, and pandering for acceptance.
Maren Morris was complaining about the food in country music immediately after she got here. But the problem is she showed up to a steakhouse expecting sushi. She showed up to church in a 2-piece thong and immediately wondered why everyone was judging her. Then she acts like she’s being body shamed for posting photos of herself on social media. No Maren Morris, you’re body shaming others. Maren is saying, “Hey, look at me. I’m better than you, prettier than you, thinner than you, and I get to go to all these cool places you don’t.” And no, the criticism Maren Morris is receiving is not from the men of the country music patriarchy trying to subjugate her to a 2nd class citizen because she’s a woman. The negative reaction to Maren Morris is coming from women specifically. This is supposed to be an artist women are rallying behind, but instead they see her as tearing down other women with her arrogant social media presence and her arrogant pronouncements in both interviews and her music that work to tear down other women in country who deserve the attention Maren Morris is receiving.
Miranda Lambert fans, Carrie Underwood fans, fans of the scores of country women who’ve devoted their lives to the genre and doing it right and are more than happy to adhere to the rules and traditions of country music are coming out in full force against Maren Morris because she’s taking attention away from their favorite artists, and under the veil of “exploring her sexuality.” Supporting Maren Morris is not supporting a woman in country music. It’s taking away support for the women who actually make country music. And when Maren makes her inevitable leap to pop, she will leave a gaping hole in country, and no return on investment for all the attention and press and awards given to her at the expense of actual country women, just like Taylor Swift did.
Carrie Underwood has always incorporated pop sensibilities into her country music, but she’s also always honored the traditions of country, and respected it as a family friendly place on the radio dial. This includes once again being the only major country music star in 2018 to pay her proper dues to the Grand Ole Opry by performing at least ten times. Miranda Lambert has built an entire career out of being a “badass,” but has always gone out of her way to pay tribute to the greats of the past, and to help shine a light on the songwriters of the genre who never receive enough attention. With Maren, any praise to others is lip service, immediately undercut by her own words exposing that her true loyalty is to herself, and her career, country music be damned.
Yes, country music is more traditional. But let’s not also portray it as “super religious” or “super conservative.” These are just more aberrations from Maren Morris to act like she become a victim, because in today’s society, what makes you cool is not what you’ve done, but how much victimhood you can claim across a wide variety of grievances. The true victim here is the integrity of country music and it’s traditional fans. Kacey Musgraves won the CMA for Song of the Year with “Follow Your Arrow” five years ago. Johnny Cash won it in 1970 with “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” The idea that country music is this closed-minded bastion of ultra-conservatism that won’t let a woman or someone with an open mind succeed is ludicrous.
However country music in the mainstream has always been family-friendly, and respectful to people of all stripes, including ones who happen to be of a religious leaning. Meanwhile Maren Morris has released two consecutive radio singles that include the word “shit.” Yes, country music is more restrictive than pop or hip-hop when it comes to the radio, and that’s okay. There should be a place on the radio dial for people who happen to be religious, or that want to listen to music with small kids and not blush or expose them to something they probably shouldn’t hear.
Maren Morris wants to portray herself as some pioneer or trailblazer tearing down these restrictive boundaries around country music, but in truth what she’s doing is homogenizing the genre with the same pop sounds and themes prevalent in all types of popular music. Country music is different, and that’s okay. That’s not something that should be resolved or torn down. It’s something that should be celebrated, just like the differences in all popular genres should. The “diversity” people clamor for doesn’t need to be represented by all genres sounding the same, it should be represented by all genres collaborating together to make an overall diverse sound, with each genre offering a vibrant alternative to the others.
Country music fans don’t want to hate on Maren Morris, or judge her for her style or her lack of modesty, or her pop sound. In truth, GIRL is probably a pretty good pop record. But it’s completely inappropriate for country music, creating a conflict where Maren is having to face harsh judgement for her music and style that she probably isn’t deserving of. Maren Morris isn’t bad for playing pop or putting herself out on social media, she’s just not country. And like Taylor Swift before her, as soon as she starts being honest with the public about the true nature of her music and her underlying intentions to be a big pop star, the conflict and judgement ceases immediately, and both country music and Maren Morris can move forward.
Until then, the conflict will rage one. But make no mistake, Maren Morris is not a victim of country music’s restrictive environment that is trying to change her from being something unique. It’s country music that’s a victim of Maren Morris from her trying to change country music into something that’s the same as everything else.
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P.S. – A proper review of Maren Morris’s “Girl” album is forthcoming. This matter was handled separately to clear the decks for a discussion exclusively on the music.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:15 am
This is an interesting take, Trigger. It’s interesting how she used “traditional” country to get into the industry and then decides to bitch about how restrictive it is. This whole diversity for diversity’s sake is really getting old. Why can’t she, and the countless other wannabes, focus on the music, the actual music that they are getting paid to produce? The answer to that question is because they aren’t country. They see a group of people who are easier to exploit and a stepping-stone for a broader pop career. It’s really getting ridiculous to see all of these “country stars” complain about the very people who gave them a platform to begin with.
February 14, 2022 @ 9:40 am
Not a fan! Not nearly as hot as she perceives herself to be! Super prissy! No desire to see her in her barely there underwear!
October 1, 2022 @ 5:32 am
I’m a little late here, but with all Maren’s recent attacks against country music culture, I thought I’d chime in. I agree with this writer, but I’ll take it further. Maren Morris, in my opinion, honestly doesn’t have much talent. I don’t enjoy listening to her singing, whatever type of music it is. It sounds like fake country to me. A phony imitation. As for her whiny and mean elitist wokeness and her victimhood nonsense, she reminds me of Meghan Markle. Nothing is ever good enough for either of them because they just have to play victim. The sooner Morris gets out of country music the better.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:21 am
They used to ban Loretta Lynn’s songs from the radio, so please tell us again how unfairly you’ve been treated, Maren.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:23 am
Yeah, I wouldn’t mind the ego and styling if her music wasn’t so middle of the road and bland. I kind of like when stars act obnoxious & entitled & messy (it’s funny) but Morris doesn’t commit to it!
I liked her debut album enough but this new one is SO boring. I mean if you’re gonna butcher country music at least have some fun with it? Releasing a ballad heavy bland Adult Contemporary album and playing the victim is the most boring way to go about this.
Watching Maren & Kelsea flub their pop crossover potential with non-event 2nd albums makes me a lot more impressed with how Taylor handled all this. These girls should takes notes from ‘Red’.
March 8, 2020 @ 9:48 pm
about Maren Morris>>>>Anyone remember what she said when she won her very first award for the song MY CHURCH??? She talked about the year before she won this award she was sitting across the street from the awards show in a bar watching the show and saying she would give anything to make that dream come true and now here she is accepting this award for her song. I was impressed at how humble she was and I really liked what she had to say and I also liked that song!!! she really has not cut a song that equals MY CHURCH since then. She has become a product of the PR department of her record label and the CIURRENT INDUSTRY OF MUSIC.I agree with many of you that she is ARROGANT and she does think a little too highly of herself. If you do not want NEGATIVE ATTENTION OF ANY KIND DO NOT GIVE THE SUBJECT AMMUNITION!!! Maren please keep your clothes on while carrying a child and posing for PLAYBOY just makes many more NOT like you at all .
March 12, 2019 @ 11:27 am
BOOM! Hear, hear!!
March 12, 2019 @ 11:28 am
Great article. I remember when My Church came out. I was really impressed with it. Loved the sound, thought it was one of the most country songs on the radio at that time and a female no less. However everything I have heard from her since then is purely pop. I wont intentionally listen to her. I am a female that loves to listen to women country singers but Maren ins’t country in the slightest.
As far as how she is presenting herself. I don’t have social media so I really have no opinion cause I just don’t see that stuff.
She is doing much harm to country music and I am looking forward to her officially jumping ship to Pop. Come on Maren just pull a Taylor already.. It would be a win for country music for her pop songs not to be played on ‘country’ radio let alone not be nominated for awards in the country genre.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:39 am
Maren just stop okay. And stay away from Australia, we have enough dickheads here and don’t need you coming over corrupting more with your silliness. Gosh.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:46 am
– “Dolly Parton would have been Dolly Parton even without all the shimmer. That’s what makes her Dolly Parton.”
While I get what you’re trying to say (Dolly Parton was about the music/voice/story first), I don’t really love the way you articulated this point. If the aesthetic was unrelated to her artistry, then it actually WAS potentially exploitative. As an artist, everything about you – your voice, your songs, your look – should communicate your identity, your feelings, and the story you want to tell.
– As for the Maren discussion, I don’t think you can conflate a conservative approach to sound with a conservative approach to dress or style.
Maren absolutely deserves to be called out for the generic pop music she’s releasing to country radio. And that’s not just some “conservative” critique – it’s showing up in the numbers. Her single is struggling at radio, and her new album is actually on track to sell worse than her debut, all because she’s alienating the core country fanbase yet not visible enough in pop to sell to those fans.
But the style argument is a bit much. The reality is that country actually stands to benefit from someone who talks, acts, looks and dresses like Maren. We need an outspoken female artist who will assert herself, while also making people say “goals” on Instagram. That’s the type of person who can meaningfully rally young fans (particularly young female fans) and build meaningful support at radio.
The key is that we need that person to not only make COUNTRY music but WANT to make country music.
– Upon reading this, let’s hope the blue check people settle for “He’s probably wrong to tell a woman how to dress, but he’s right about her music.”
But we know we’re getting “He’s a misogynist who won’t accept that country’s changing.”
March 12, 2019 @ 1:23 pm
First off, I have never directly criticized Maren Morris on how she dresses, aside from maybe a passing quip during an awards show live blog or something. I think Maren can dress however she wants. My problem is how she will post a racy photo, and in the caption of that very photo claim how much of a victim she is for being judged for “exploring her sexuality” before anyone says a word. She is trying to market herself as a victim in order to garner herself even more attention, and to act like she’s being so put under by country music’s conservative culture. This is the common, if not prevalent theme in many of the articles and interviews she has done on “Girl,” making it the primary concern beyond the music. That’s why I began and ended this article addressing this whole victimhood role that she’s trying to play. Where her quote came from at the top of the article was the very first thing she said when being interested by Genius about the inspiration behind the song “Girl.” This is what she’s putting towards the forefront, not her music.
“As for the Maren discussion, I don’t think you can conflate a conservative approach to sound with a conservative approach to dress or style.”
I think it’s Maren is the one who is doing this. I didn’t include the quotes here (because it felt redundant), but Maren has over and over again complained about how sonically restrictive country music is, and blamed it on the same conservative elements. I will have more about in the actual review of “Girl.”
March 12, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
A) To be fair, I never accused you of specifically focusing on her dress. But you have suggested her overall presentation (look, attitude, style, etc) is rooted in pop or hip-hop, and clearly presented that in a negative light.
All I’m saying is her presentation would actually be positive, not negative, if she were making country music.
B) That said, don’t be ridiculous. You criticized the way she dresses in this very article.
“But in country, Maren posting pictures of herself in sports bras on private jets, in sports bras at a big sporting event, in a sports bras at some landmark, or in a bikini on the beach comes across as down-looking, and pandering for acceptance.”
Are you telling me I’m supposed to read that sentence and NOT notice “sports bras” or “bikini.”? If so … why did you mention “sports bra” so many times. And you preface the discussion with “in country,” so this is independent of the point about false victimhood (which is a bad point anyway, because you don’t have to spend more than two minutes on Instagram to find women criticized for flaunting their bodies).
March 12, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
At the risk of defending Maren’s comments (I’m neither a fan nor a detractor of her; she’s okay, not spectacular but not terrible), let me just say that, while her comments about country music being “super-religious” and “super-conservative” are extreme to a point, the truth is that country music has historically been the most politically and socially conservative of all American musical genres. It’s definitely less so than it was in, say, the late 1960s. but that conservatism does still exist to a certain degree.
Should she tamp down what she said about the country genre if she expects to remain a part of it? Absolutely–although it’s kind of hard to expect her to do this when country radio seems to treat women as the “tomatoes” of the salad that is supposedly the genre, or, worse, when the genre itself, thanks to corporate record labels, has devolved into what no less a legend than Linda Ronstadt calls “mall-crawler music”.
But here’s a suggestion for Maren, who, like so many female artists, considers Linda a hero: Go back and listen to the way Linda crossed between country and pop during the height of her powers in the 1970s, doing so without damaging the country genre but in fact enhancing it in a lot of ways, and make an album along THOSE lines instead of going for a fickle “current pop” audience that doesn’t give a damn about country music in any way, shape, or form. Forget how such an album might sell, just do it for the hell of it, and not the money, the prizes, the fame, or the attention.
March 14, 2019 @ 2:02 pm
While I appreciate and encourage your consistent criticism of fluff music, the Morris quote you reference was related to the expectations that the industry has for women and their appearances. Clearly progress has been made both nationally and within Country Music in eroding rigid expectations, but it goes without saying that plenty of sexism remains (which to your credit you’ve commented on repeatedly).
However my real issue here is that we need to get to a place where women can just do whatever the hell they want when it comes to their clothes and their bodies. Maren Morris should be able to dress in any way that pleases her and shouldn’t receive criticism for her dress. Let’s not pretend that this article wasn’t an explicit attack on her penchant for posting scantily clad photos which you then used as a pivot to attack her music.
And while I’m skeptical that her alleging to be a victim is purely to leverage attention, by vilifying her appearance as you’ve done here, you’ve personally substantiated her claims of being the victim.
I am in total agreement that her music leaves a lot to be desired, but let’s just make that point – drop the attacks on her appearance.
And all the people shaming her appearance in this thread: anyone that attacks a woman for her physique is a pathetic excuse for a human.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:59 pm
”The key is that we need that person to not only make COUNTRY music but WANT to make country music.”
nailed it
and its SO bloody obvious that many do not want to…Urban , FGL , Carrie , and those 25 other interchangeable male ‘country’ singers polluting the genre …THEY DO NOT WANT TO MAKE COUNTRY MUSIC !
March 12, 2019 @ 11:50 am
Blah…
Why do these wanna be pop ssingers think they are so entitled to something?
Let’s see her spend some time in Brandy Clark, Ashley McBride, or Sarah Shook’s shoes..
These artists have more freaking talent in their big toes and have not caught the break this fake has.
March 16, 2019 @ 8:21 pm
Not just her, but also Lucinda Williams, and perhaps a ton of others.
March 12, 2019 @ 11:53 am
Meh, don’t really follow anything about her, but that album cover makes her look desperate. Besides, between Dolly and Maren there’s a huge talent difference, and 5 cup sizes
March 12, 2019 @ 12:16 pm
Not PC Black…but someone should have to say it..
March 12, 2019 @ 1:28 pm
I get that Maren Morris is making herself an easy target here. But I generally think it’s unhelpful to attack Maren Morris for her physical appearance here. It just adds fuel to the fire that it’s overly-judgemental people keeping Maren down. She gives us plenty to criticize for HOW she presents herself, and her music. None of us can help how we’re made.
March 12, 2019 @ 3:16 pm
Agreed
March 12, 2019 @ 3:25 pm
Sure we can, silicone has changed how many girls are made.
So can diet and exercise, which seems a basic right, but not many people have the time and money to live healthy.
Her makeup artist and hair stylist etc.
There is not really any part of her picture that is Maren in any way that she can’t change, so why not fire at will?
I’m being tongue in cheek here, but no sympathy for her.
March 12, 2019 @ 5:18 pm
Trigger,
I get what you’re saying, and if she was a sweetheart, nobody would say a word about how homely she is. But here she is, acting like a spoiled, rotten b!@ch, and posing in photos that are trying to portray her as sexy; how can we not criticize her appearance?
March 13, 2019 @ 3:20 am
Yeah and if she came on to you somewhere your jeans would be stained before you left the place.
March 13, 2019 @ 7:25 am
Me,
It’s all I can do to get it up anymore. It would take a lot more than that trailer park face to cause the kind of reaction you speak of.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:07 pm
You do know she took Margo Price’s spot in the Highwoman group with Shires and Carlile you wrote about a month ago?
March 12, 2019 @ 1:25 pm
Margo Price was never supposed to be named as part of the Highwomen project. I corrected that in the original article, and offered the context. But the rest of the media continued to spread the wrong information.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:39 pm
Some people speculate that Price’s pregnancy is the only reason she’s not part of Highwoman. Regardless, Morris is in … pics from Cobb’s studio …
https://www.jambase.com/article/brandi-carlile-amanda-shires-maren-morris-highwomen-supergroup
March 12, 2019 @ 1:31 pm
SAY IT AIN’T SO!
March 12, 2019 @ 12:07 pm
Woman calls men sexist pigs for exploiting them and looking at them as sex objects. Next day same woman posts nearly naked pictures of herself. Stupidity.
March 12, 2019 @ 2:09 pm
at the risk of pissing folks off ….I have often wondered if many women aren’t their own worst enemies when it comes to complaining about being exploited . no one , I’m sure , is holding a gun to shania’s or maren’s head to use their physical attributes to sell their music . shania may have felt she needed to . but maren has the vocal talent to ‘ just say no ‘ and yet still chooses to .
yeah yeah …I get it ….her choice …all good . but ya can’t have it both ways ….that’s just TOO confusing for everyone …..but particularly guys ………no ??
March 13, 2019 @ 4:46 am
You are right. We also need to stop whining about this stuff. I’m so tired of it and it makes us look bad.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
That’s a lot of flaunting considering she has a flatter chest than most guys 🙂
March 13, 2019 @ 6:44 am
Nothing wrong with celebrating a flat chest, I guess. I’m not a woman but I know women who are insecure about their cup size, but they shouldn’t be.
March 13, 2019 @ 7:09 am
I understand she can’t help her breast size. A flat chest is ok. She’s just made herself such an easy target here. If you’re gonna flaunt yourself like this you might as well be able to back it up. I wouldn’t have said anything if she wasn’t taking pictures like this so obviously trying to show sex appeal. And yeah I get what you’re saying about women and cup size insecurity. Comments like I made are not the best way to go about this, as it just feeds the fire. This chick is just annoying and draws it on herself.
March 13, 2019 @ 4:20 pm
Another difference between her and Dolly that Trigger neglected to mention.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:17 pm
Agree with every word. She is doing what so many others do: claiming to be a victim, while simultaneously selling sex.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:33 pm
If her music career flops, perhaps she could get a gig modeling bras for pre-teens.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
I guess Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires think she’s ok, and I respect the both of them. I actually really like the Brandi Carlile collaboration on Morris’s new album. Maybe there is more to Morris?
March 12, 2019 @ 1:04 pm
I guess so. For me, it’s a little like if Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty had teamed up with George Michael. Morris to me is a popster and they’re genuine article roots artists that are in my wheelhouse. But yeah, maybe the project will show that there’s more to her.
March 31, 2019 @ 11:20 am
Why couldn’t that happen?
March 31, 2019 @ 1:29 pm
I’m not saying that it couldn’t have worked. Just that two of them were from my music world and one of them wasn’t. Similar to The Highwomen.
March 12, 2019 @ 12:52 pm
Blech.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:04 pm
Great take. What do you think about her involvement in Highwomen? Seems out of left field to me. The criteria for being in am Americana all girls group should be more than just being a girl. Her music seems near antithetical to the kind of projects Shires and Carlile are working on. I just hope Maren doesn’t leave too many fingerprints on their work.
No need to take the shots at Taylor– Taylor is a great songwriter, like her music or not. She was never ultra country, but she made a graceful transition and was always respectful to those who came before her, and she brought a lot of people to the genre (for the right reasons or not). She paid her dues. We can’t both demand that pop artists stay out of country and shame and blame them when they transition to pop.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:32 pm
I can’t speak for others, but I was definitely not taking any shots at Taylor Swift here. Later in Taylor Swift’s country career, I became a Taylor Swift apologist, and I have tons of respect for her coming out and officially declaring herself pop. That was a very important moment for country and Taylor Swift, and one artists such as Maren Morris should learn from. Still, why should country devote a ton of resources to an artists that’s eventually just going to leave the genre high and dry?
As for her work with the Highwomen project, I’ll wait and see. It’s not who I would have picked, but I’m not going to trounce on something I haven’t heard yet. I hope it turns out well.
March 12, 2019 @ 5:21 pm
Taylor Swift is a horrible songwriter, a horrible singer, and a horrible, fake person. There is not one redeeming thing about her
March 13, 2019 @ 3:47 pm
I have to disagree with you there Honky. I understand why many hate her, but I’ve always been a big fan. And before you think terrible thoughts of me I ask you to listen to her song The Best Day and see if it evokes any sort of emotion within your soul.
March 16, 2019 @ 8:48 pm
@SwingingAxe, there are a ton of women artists a billion times better than either this Maren Morris or (as I like to call her) Swift Boobs in country and other genres, many of whom deserve more attention from the press, the radio industry, and everybody else over people like Morris or Swift.
March 13, 2019 @ 8:04 am
I’ve wondered that myself AJP. Brandi can do whatever she wants and I’ll still be a fan,but I have zero interest in this project. So many others she could of joined forces with. Shires sounds like a goat and Maren is, well, Maren. Hell,give Norah Jones a call,she’s always up for a side job,and her projects are usually awesome.
Maybe they’re thinking Maren will get them in the mainstream more or at least get a fat check much like the two pistol annies that aren’t named Miranda did.
March 16, 2019 @ 1:25 pm
There is nothing honorable in using country for building up pop fan base. She is terrible song writer especially when being compared to real ones like Sara Jarosz, Agnes Obel ect. Don’t know why people say you have to find her talented song writer when she is below average.
March 16, 2019 @ 7:23 pm
Scarlettide, I’m not convinced Taylor was in a position at 16 to have malicious intent to manipulate country for a pop career. She liked country at the time, Big Machine threw her there, and there she was. Sure, she never really made country in the traditional sense. Is she the best writer ever? Certainly not. But she is a great writer to have reached the audience she has. Few in pop or mainstream country have the chops she does. She strikes a chord with so many—this can’t be ignored. Hearing Treacherous, Sad Beautiful Tragic, or even White Horse is evidence of this. It’s best to judge artists in context
March 17, 2019 @ 9:27 pm
It was intentional. She didn’t just wake up one day and decide go go to pop genre. Her successful pop career did not come out of thin air with 1989. If she didn’t use country music to build pop fan base then she would have not bothered catering to pop while being in country genre then after years of going between two genres finally go to pop. I have heard those songs when trying to see what makes her talented. They are not so good I have to admit to her being talented writer. Her reaching people with her subpar writing are not impressive to me especially when you consider none popular artists who eclipse Taylor in talent. Those songs sound like typical pop singer/songwriter to me. They are nothing special.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:09 pm
I listened to that album expecting it to be complete garbage and utter pop. Not as pop as i expected it to be. There’s some pretty rich production on a few of the tracks. Of course, no one wants to hear a song like “Make out with me” on a COUNTRY album. But I think this album is a better effort than recent FGL, Jason Aldean, and Keith Urban albums, and all the other forgettable bs that spews out of Nashville daily. Still not great but she’s being honest with who she is on the record, and I will take that over FGL’s abomination called “Swerve”. Not a terrible album, but could be much better
March 12, 2019 @ 1:22 pm
I’d like to see what a “2 piece thong” looks like! 🙂 Maren was barely country on her first album and got away from the genre as soon as she could, by collaborating with Zed or Calvin Harris or whomever. Even though a lot of country websites/writers gave her high marks for ‘My Church’ and her writing ability, I wasn’t overly impressed (not that I have any sway or anything). I don’t have any issues with her following T. Swift’s footsteps in using country as a stepping stone to pop, where she always wanted to be, but she shouldn’t disparage country as a ‘ticket out.’
March 12, 2019 @ 1:22 pm
I remembered back in 1993 when Reba wore that red dress at the ACMs. The world went crazy and my mama said she had probably ruined her career. I laughed and told her that was hogwash.
Country music fans are more traditional, conservative, and religious than most other music fan bases…but… Many, MANY artists have been swept up in morally questionable behavior and were forgiven and embraced. The difference with Morris is that she has zero respect for country fans or country traditions or country history. She just steamrolled in and started shaking her thang and trumpeting her greatness. Most people take no notice of her revealing outfits, it is her revealing behavior that gets under our skin.
Country music fans love our artists…and one of the reasons for that is because REAL country artists show respect for both fans and for tradition. That’s Morris will be kicked out the genre if she doesn’t leave her self and why Lambert will be forgiven her messy love life and salad flinging. One is a show girl, the other is an artist.
March 12, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
Yet Miranda’s messy love life has collateral damage. Other women who don’t know her get hurt. Their families. Friends. But she’s an “artist “ so she gets a pass. She can have public temper tantrums but hey that’s ok. So that’s the Country way is it?
March 13, 2019 @ 6:10 am
Yes, that’s the country way.
Just like when June and Johnny were forgiven and embraced for leaving their spouses for each other. Or Hank Jr. for his drug addiction. Or George Jones for his alcoholism and bad behavior. Or Glen Campbell for his abusive behavior toward women. Or Vince Gill for leaving Janice for Amy Grant. Or Garth Brooks for leaving Sandy for Trisha Yearwood. Or Tammy Lynette for faking her own kidnapping.
ALL of that behavior caused “collateral damage” and hurt a lot of people. All of it was forgiven…and not just because of the music, but because most people understand no one is perfect and no one else has any right to sit in judgement of another.
Miranda has a disadvantage that none of those other artists did though – social media and the rise of “Stans.” She will have a harder time shaking this off, but still I think most fans will come around…not the hardcore haters of course; they have too much of an emotional investment in hating and judging her.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:23 pm
What the hell are the Brothers Osborne & Brandi Carlile doing on a b-league middle-of-the-road pop album?
Too say it with the title of the new Thomas Rhett single…”Look What God Gave Her”…the answer is…not much.
March 13, 2019 @ 3:36 am
Brandi Carlile and her and good buddies now, I think she’s gotten a big whiff of famedon with the last year she’s had so she’s doing and saying anything she can to appeal to the masses of fans MM has. Brandi’s music is good enough on its own that she shouldn’t need to jump on this bullshit girl power movement.
March 13, 2019 @ 1:39 pm
Jesus Christ, you dolt.
“bullshit girls power movement”
Do you know anything about Brandi Carlile?
March 13, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
Calm yourself. I’ve been a fan of Brandi Carlisle’s music for years, and it is leaps and bounds better than anything Morris has put out which baffles me as to why she’d align herself with someone so far below even mediocrity. Brandi is the real deal, Maren Morris is a fucking joke
March 15, 2019 @ 10:26 am
I think these women genuinely admire Maren. During her first interview after the divorce, Miranda mentioned how much she loved Maren’s first album. Maybe they just feel differently than we do because they know Maren.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:32 pm
Okay kids… how many times can the entitled whiny millenial say the word “like” before she finishes her sentence?
Good Lord people like her need to be ostracized.
Her quote doesn’t even make sense
“run for my money” WHAT
There should be a law that people have to make sense before they speak.
I am so sick and tired of seeing kooks quirks and freaks like this
Let’s just burn Nashville down and be done with it
March 12, 2019 @ 1:44 pm
I also think pop singers like Morris and Ballerini are incredibly harmful to women in country music as a whole. It’s been clear for several years that there is only enough room on country radio for two or three women. These pop princesses come in, get a big push, and shut out real women country artists.
I was excited when I heard “My Church” for the first time. After listening to the rest of the album, I was terribly disappointed. I did start off as a Morris hater. Even though her music didn’t appeal to me, I recognized the power of her voice. But with every interview, every accusation of unfairness and misogyny, every smart assed comment about oppression, I like her less and less.
She should just move on to pop and make room on country radio for real country artists.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:52 pm
Her new single “Girl” is a completely passable pop song. A little grungy with a “dirty guitar”, intro I don’t hate it..(She actually played an electric Les Paul on Kimmel the other night) . HOWEVER, it has no business within 100 miles of my country station. Send that stuff over to POP 107.5 . – Leave that spot in the Country rotation for Ashley McBryde.
March 13, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
You mean she held a Les Paul on Kimmel.
March 12, 2019 @ 1:55 pm
Trigger ..your article is mostly dead-on particularly when it comes down to the obvious and overt motus operandi of almost all current comers to the ‘ country’ genre since T.S : selling pop music , pop trends , pop lyrics and sensibilities to a ‘country ‘ audience which is HARDLY a country audience when the Urbans , the Kruise Kids , the Kane Browns the ( your top 10 country chart artist’s name here ) are supported as ‘ keepers of the flame ‘ by folks who couldn’t give a damn about ‘ the flame ‘ . MAREN MORRIS is a pop artist in every respect . And more power to her on that count .
”The reason that Maren Morris is holding on so dearly for her right to post risque photos on social media and face no reprisal is because that’s all she’s got.”
This is my ONE point of contention to your comments above , Trigger . It is very sad , if in fact she’s relying on these ‘ risque ‘ photos to promote herself because in my not- so- humble opinion in this instance ( is it ever really humble ..?? ) the woman is an amazingly gifted vocalist who , with the exception of a handful of tracks , doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge , focus on , promote or share that gift on material that would allow her to showcase that . I’m a fan of that gift …I’m a fan of her first full length album ..and ultimately I’m disappointed that her vocal talents can’t or refuse to find a home in a straight up country genre .
But the woman has chosen her direction . She’s today’s Shania …or Taylor Swift . NOTHING country past the first single or two . After that it all became promotion based on physical appearance , suggestive videos , capitulation to pop music trademarks , trends , and promoting through gimmicks and marketing to impressionable young girls who buy into whatever popular image and sentiment is deemed cool and ‘ now ‘ .
Again …the sad part of all of this nonsense , for me , is that MM didn’t have to make ANY of those concessions Shania and TS and others do because she CAN sing …she DOES have a unique voice and I believe she could have found a huge audience WITHOUT ‘ selling out ‘ to the pop Gods . Unfortunately , and as with so many other culprits in the ‘country’ genre far too numerous to list , she is becoming just one more performer disrespecting the genre by taking advantage of its current weakness and lack of confidence by taking time and attention from the many talented COUNTRY artists keeping the genre honest and being ignored for doing so .
March 12, 2019 @ 2:10 pm
I think Maren Morris is super talented and this album even had some solid tracks. But you’re spot on that there’s nothing country about her or it. I just hope that this is more like Red by TS which set up a legitimate move to pop music, rather than Graffiti U that was just second-tier pop songs masquerading as country. Let’s be real, Keith Urban isn’t ever changing formats, no matter how much we wish he would. Maren, however, will and hopefully in the near future.
March 12, 2019 @ 2:33 pm
Dear Maren. I loved “My Church” when it came out a few years back. I loved your different sound and thought you MIGHT be the future of country music post Miranda and Carrie. Next, you released “80s Mercedes,” which had to grow on me. Since then, it appears the attention you have been given has gone to your pop tart brain. You flaunt your body on Instagram and album covers, but still yet you want to play the victim about sexism in country music. If a male country singer was constantly posing in their swim trunks, eventually the backlash would hit him too. It can’t be both ways. Let your talent be what people are talking about, not your ill attempt to be the next crossover artist and sex symbol.
March 15, 2019 @ 9:29 am
I will go further to say the entire reason she posts those sexy pics is that she knows there will be negative comments. She will then often attack the commenter. It will then be all over the internet “Maren Morris claps back at body shamer”. This is calculated on her part. She loves playing the victim.
March 12, 2019 @ 2:58 pm
Definitely not country . That’s the reason I no longer listen to radio
March 16, 2019 @ 9:17 pm
Good man (or woman); I stopped doing that with regards to non-country music (pop and rock) a long time ago (the only one I support is a station here in Toronto named Indie 88 that plays modern and new rock music, not past rock and roll already heard ad nauseam everyplace.) I wish tha there were more stations like it as well, but that’s an impossibility.
March 12, 2019 @ 4:22 pm
You are going to catch some hell on the twitter from the MM stans for this, my friend.
March 12, 2019 @ 4:53 pm
Who’s the little boy in the photo?
March 12, 2019 @ 5:10 pm
She’s not attractive enough to be taking photos like that.
March 12, 2019 @ 5:24 pm
“The “diversity” people clamor for doesn’t need to be represented by all genres sounding the same, it should be represented by all genres collaborating together to make an overall diverse sound, with each genre offering a vibrant alternative to the others.”
Billboard material. Trig, hammer away. This is the soft spot in the wall. They will lose on it.
March 12, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
She’s not country, and she’s not pop. She’s just Maren Morris, and i’m a big fan. I love the new album.
March 13, 2019 @ 9:12 am
“She’s not country”
Then she needs to quit taking up precious space under the umbrella of “Country Music.”
March 13, 2019 @ 10:43 am
She doesn’t call herself country so don’t blame her.
https://youtu.be/LVceOAJCjuc?t=1149
March 13, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
She doesn’t?
If that is so, then why is she complaining about “fitting into a mold” of country music?
“…but it’s like women in country music need to to be super religious and they need to be super conservative and never show their body,” Maren Morris said recently. “There’s just such a stupid mold that, even ourselves, are attempting to fit into, and it’s just bullshit.”
“…even ourselves, are attempting to fit into…”
March 13, 2019 @ 2:23 pm
But she releases her music to country radio so I do in fact blame her.
Oh, and she has a disproportionately large head. Just thought I’d throw that out there so it’s in your head every time you look at her.
March 13, 2019 @ 2:48 pm
Then, and I don’t know how many times this point has to be reiterated in this comments section before you and the other MM stans get it… she should STOP SENDING SINGLES TO COUNTRY RADIO. Or if not that, target country and pop stations with different mixes of the same song. Shania, Faith and LeAnn did that in the late ’90s and it worked well for them.
Not wanting to be “restricted” by country radio’s “parameters” and yet continuing to seek country airplay smacks of hypocrisy. Comments like “If it’s not country enough for you, change the station” don’t suggest to me that she doesn’t want to be considered country; they suggest to me that she wants to have her cake and eat it too. “Don’t blame her”? Sorry, but I do. She can’t talk out of both sides of her mouth and expect to be exempt from criticism.
I’m not buying the suggestion that she’s this poor, innocent puppet with no say in her own career. No one is holding a gun to her head forcing her to post pictures of herself in sports bras on Instagram or forcing her to release songs like “Girl” and “Rich” to country radio. Maren Morris is a grown woman with lots of talent, and can make her own decisions. Unfortunately for country music, she’s making the wrong ones.
March 13, 2019 @ 11:22 pm
You guys get awfully sanctimonious about a woman just singing the hell out of some tunes
March 12, 2019 @ 6:52 pm
This girl can’t hold a candle to Kristina Murray, who conveys more wounded vulnerability in a single honest phrase than all the chest-beating pop tart belting Maren throws down like a hard-won Prada purse because she goddamn deserves it from you blinkered, unappreciative yahoos in all that, like, outdated and downmarket wherever.
Take a hike, Maren.
March 12, 2019 @ 8:41 pm
The grass is always greener over in Pop Land, isn’t that right The Band Perry??
March 15, 2019 @ 10:36 am
LOL
March 12, 2019 @ 9:55 pm
Unless you’ve written a song specifically called/about “Shit,” there really is no reason to use the word in a country song. It’s a desperate grasp at attention or relevance.
Also…Shania bared her midriff and no one really complained or tried to opress her. The difference is, she (like Dolly) is a beautiful woman with a sexy image, but her music is front and center. Maren has become known for her disdain for the genre, and an entitled sense that we should all just accept her hypersexualized image “because” she’s a woman. Her music is secondary at this point. She just can’t slap a country label on it and demand acceptance. Dolly, Shania, and even Taylor knew when to specifically market their music as “pop” (Shania even released albums mixed for both audiences). Other artists such as Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell and Carrie Underwood, steadfastly marketed to country and enjoyed natural crossover success.
So Maren, record pop records all you like, but don’t complain because country music isn’t bending to your will. Just be honest about the artist you want to be; your fans will follow.
(And stop swearing in your songs).
March 13, 2019 @ 4:52 am
I agree with the above statements pretty much. I think Maren is very talented and I’ve defended her quite a bit here. But enough with the whining. Kacey Musgraves has the right approach–she’s grateful and humble and happens to be incredibly beautiful and talented. This victimhood thing is getting old, and not just with her.
March 13, 2019 @ 5:33 am
I do not like the so called “new” country music!!!!! Give me Dolly, Tammy, Merle, and all those from the 70-80’s that I grew up listening too!!!!
March 13, 2019 @ 6:03 am
I do think she has a great voice, but with the pop leanings of her debut and the massive success of The Middle, it’s hardly surprising that her new album is entirely pop.
And given her age, it’s also not surprising that she’s burning bridges and getting caught up in the social media trend of young female artists flashing skin on Instagram.
Maybe she’s making mistakes that she’ll regret when she attempts to return to the genre down the road, or maybe this is her exit strategy from a genre she was never meant to call home. Many young women in country seem to attempting an abbreviated version of Taylor Swift’s rise and departure from country to pop. It’s hard to imagine it will work for all of them as well as it’s worked for Swift, but we can’t pretend to be surprised that her success inspired younger artists to follow in her footsteps, or that some, like Morris, are attempting to distance themselves from the platform that launched their careers by publicly bashing it. It’s a shame, but country hasn’t survived this long by being thin skinned.
March 13, 2019 @ 6:30 am
Pop-“star” Maren Morris will crawl back to “country” music when her 15 minutes of pop-fame are over. She will sing some half-ass pop-“country” tracks produced by busbee or the next hot no-so-country-producer & with enough photoshop she will look like a much younger MM on the cover again.
Much Better Music:
Kathryn Legendre (Singer/Songwriter born in Austin) – “Sit Here & Cry” (Single – Released 02/19)
Released her first album in 2013 (Old Soul), a single in 2014 (“Have You Forgotten Me”) & an EP in 2016 (Don’t Give A Damn).
Slow, traditional & fiddle.
Kris Bradley (Singer/Songwriter born in L.A. & living in Nashville) – “Sad Songs & Cigarettes” (Single – Released 03/08)
Mixing country, americana & pop elements with a song on Music Rows “Country Breakout Chart” in 2016.
Indie GoGo campaign, slow & Bruce Bouton playing steel guitar.
March 16, 2019 @ 10:17 pm
The sad thing is, these women most likely aren’t as sexy enough as Ms. Morris to be able to get noticed to be heard on the radio or seen on CMT, so unless a DJ (assuming there are are still human DJ’s at most of these Clear Channel/iHeart/whoever else media conglomerate-owned radio stations) can get a hold of a song from any of these ladies, likes it, and then plays it, nothing will happen.
March 13, 2019 @ 7:41 am
“I was changing into my jammies when I fell out of the upper canopy and landed here on the jungle floor. This accounts for the reason I’m only wearing a bra, athletic pants, and Elton John’s duck costume. I best be getting up off the ground before those stinging ants get here.”
March 13, 2019 @ 8:33 am
The country genre is restricted for women. And it is restrictive in a way that it is not restrictive of men. You don’t see these things because you don’t hold women and men in country music to the same standards either. The overtly conservative standards that are pushed upon women in country music are not applied to men. And they never have bee,n going back for all of country music’s history. That’s why Loretta Lynn was getting banned from the radio for talking about issues of sexuality that matter to women while men were all over country radio talking about sexual things. That’s why K.t. oslin got her songs banned “younger men are starting to catch my eye” at the same time that Mr “don’t the girls all get prettier at closing time” was playing. This is a genre that is called women “girl singers” for a long time and while you’re quoting Dolly Parton it’s the genre where Porter wagoner’s old wrinkled ass wanted Dolly Parton in a secondary position next to him instead of having a career.
The idea that you honestly believe that women are not treated differently and oppressed in any way in this genre is laughable. This isn’t about what Maren said; this is about what you think about her music and you’re letting it bleed over into this nonsensical article. Where once again you show your misogynistic bs.
One last thing: for you to sit there and honestly say the Dolly Parton never used her sexuality to help her? That’s laughable best. Even Dolly tells you over and over again that that’s not true… even dolly is admitted repeatedly that her sexuality helped her career. And unlike you I’m going to take a woman’s word over stupid man. And let’s be sure when it comes to talking about women in country music you repeatedly show that you’re nothing more than a stupid man.
And if religion was that important this wouldn’t be in genre where everybody used to be so proud of cheating on their wives. It wouldn’t be a genre where Men get up and shake their ass all the time. And it wouldn’t be a genre where people like George Jones continue to be praised. Religion is not the issue. oppressing women is.
March 13, 2019 @ 10:01 am
“The idea that you honestly believe that women are not treated differently and oppressed in any way in this genre is laughable.”
Kate, I have never said, nor would I ever say that women don’t have a harder time in country music than men. That is an irresponsible and wholly incorrect assertion to make. In fact I have published over 50 articles dedicated to how women have it harder than the men on this very site, not to mention the scores of mentions this issue has received in other articles. If you believe this to be true, it’s because somebody lied to you, likely on Twitter. Saving Country Music has done more to fight for women in country music than any other publication, and this article is an extension of that ongoing coverage.
“One last thing: for you to sit there and honestly say the Dolly Parton never used her sexuality to help her?”
Again, I never said that. What I said was that Dolly was a talent beyond the sexuality of her image.
Folks need to stop bringing their preconceived notions about these articles run through the filter of others people’s biased opinions, and join the discussion being had.
March 13, 2019 @ 10:06 am
From Esquire ““I remember having to really define my role in the beginning [of my career],” Morris says. Not anymore. “If it’s not country enough for you, change the channel,” she says. “If you’re wanting to hear me with no production, then [watch] YouTube videos of me as a teenager at coffee shops.”
Okay – channel turned.
Quit bitching about people bitching about Maren. I’m happy for her that she has found a fan base that’s into that look at me I’m perfect and I’m sexy Instagram culture. But, this isn’t about the misogyny in the country music industry. This is just about people who don’t like Maren any more than they like FGL or Luke Bryan. It’s not about her gender. It’s about people who just don’t like her, her attitude, her whatever, but mostly her music.
Shitting all over country isn’t going to make her successful in pop. She’ll keep her toes on the country side of the line, though, because she has to. If she wants to change the misogyny in country, she needs a new strategy.
March 13, 2019 @ 10:49 am
good points , kate .
no matter the times ,in the entertainment business there will always be a ‘play the game ‘ factor involved . the artist makes the choice knowing that to succeed by established ‘standards’ its almost a must . how badly do you want an entertainment career under those circumstances ?
in country music , buffed , bearded , chiseled, tatted, fashion-centric male singers who are willing to be molded musically are forced upon us by the dozens . all image ..all marketing tactics …..all the same .
although traditionally a male-controlled business ,female entertainers have the same choice to make …..will you play the marketing game ( or whatever OTHER game may be required to play ) or not ? the choice is yours and EVERY entertainer becomes aware of the options early on. NO ONE forced dolly to be the dolly we see in her image but dolly . no one forced shania to sell sex ….she made the choice . no it isn’t right that either sex should have to make those concessions …..BUT NO ONE HOLDS A GUN TO YOUR HEAD TO MAKE THOSE CONCESSIONS .
is it right ? is it wrong ? ….those aren’t the right questions to ask as long as an artist still has the choice of whether or not to play the game by THOSE rules ….to completely capitulate for money and fame .. too many REAL artists are choosing not to and have become successful on their own terms .
I think its time to stop blaming ‘ the business ‘ for the concessions artists CHOOSE to make . don’t wanna play the game ?……find another career or play YOUR game by YOUR rules . live or die by your OWN sword , as it were .
March 13, 2019 @ 11:37 am
Dang Kate. You don’t read this site much, do you?
Trigger is the most ardent “pro-woman” propagandist in the music journalism realm. He’s posted dozens of pieces of misinformation about the supposed oppression of women. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool feminazi if there ever was one.
Instead of criticizing him, you should be thanking him for his contributions to your make-believe cause.
March 13, 2019 @ 12:53 pm
The country genre is more restricted by the industry than other genres. But the real restriction is by the fans.
March 13, 2019 @ 2:34 pm
“That’s why K.t. oslin got her songs banned “younger men are starting to catch my eye” at the same time that Mr “don’t the girls all get prettier at closing time” was playing.”
Those songs were released five years apart. And “Younger Men” wasn’t banned, it was just a bad song that received no label support.
March 13, 2019 @ 4:36 pm
“The overtly conservative standards that are pushed upon women in country music are not applied to men.”
Wrong. SCM and is commentariat ruthlessly mock aging country men who pose as sex symbols. Read up, girl.
Btw, that’s an idiomatic expression to ventriloquate slang usage, chosen for figurative color and insouciance, not for denotative or hegemonic effect.
March 13, 2019 @ 5:45 pm
This is a talking point that is being driven home my rival journalists on social media that is completely unfounded, and woefully uninformed. The idea that I am being harder on Maren Morris than Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, and a dozen other men over the years is absolute lunacy, with their only response to that certifiable fact being “You’re Gaslighting! You’re Gaslighting!”
If anything, Maren was let off the hook here compared to the men. It just doesn’t fit the social norm where we’re supposed to lie about women now to pretend they’re equal, instead of actually dealing with them equally as the men for the sake of equality.
The reason I criticize Maren Morris is not to pick on her. It’s to give her guidance in her career so she can thrive. If she rolled off all the polarizing social media posts and/or declared herself pop, all this conflict would go away. Until then, it persists.
March 13, 2019 @ 5:54 pm
“this is a talking point that is being driven home by rival journalists on social media”
Lol, well, your mistake may be in using “journalist” and “social media” in the same sentence. It must chap your hide to be so much criticized and so little understood, or even *read.* Math is hard, but so is reading comprehension beyond whatever the Tweeter character limit is these days. Take some comfort in knowing there are plenty of people out here who don’t give a rat’s ass about journalistic by-lines or company affiliations. All that really matters is independence and integrity. We can sort the wheat from chaff. And Trig, you’re at least in the wheat field.
lol
March 13, 2019 @ 11:22 am
Victimization is the new currency in America as long as you don’t get busted like that dummy from Empire.
March 13, 2019 @ 11:27 am
When you sound this deranged already, I really wish you wouldn’t bother reviewing GIRL. It’ll get those clicks, though, so I guess I’ll just brace myself.
“Supporting Maren Morris is not supporting a woman in country music. It’s taking away support for the women who actually make country music.” Music fandom is not the zero sum game that you want to trick your readers into believing it is. When I’m in the mood for Lee Ann or Sunny, I play Lee Ann or Sunny. When I want something more poppy, maybe I throw on my copy of HERO. If you look at the charts, you can’t tell me that Maren is taking away anyone else’s shine because 1) No one who sounds like Ashley McBryde is anywhere near even their lower reaches and 2) “Girl” is tanking because it’s really not very good. If you can’t figure out why Maren Morris scans as country to the casual music fan (which is how I’d describe most music fans), surely you’re not being honest with yourself.
I also just looked at her Instagram for the first time. It pretty much looked like what I imagine the Instagram of a successful and confident young woman might be like. Shrug.
March 13, 2019 @ 12:42 pm
Hey Kyle –
I don’t know that I would exactly classify Country Music as a “family-friendly place on the radio dial” given the subject matter that characterizes most of the music longtime readers of this site consider “Classic Country.” You’re talking about a genre built around songs about infidelity, crime, and alcohol/substance use and abuse.
If people don’t approve of the way an artist presents themselves and their songs, those people are free not to listen to that artist or look at photos of that artist, or whatever. The idea of a genre of music as a “club” that only certain people gain access to is certainly not new, nor is it exclusive to this site, but it has always kind of puzzled me.
The context is different now. The world is different now. It’s impossible to know how any artist would have been marketed, or marketed themselves, if their career began now as opposed to a decade, two decades, fifty years ago. It’s also somewhat specious, to me, to make inferences about what Maren Morris, or any artist, is trying to “say” with any photo or any bit of marketing, or self-promotion. I think it’s really a stretch to assume or infer that Maren Morris posting a picture, or pictures, on Instagram is in any way a slight to other women, or to anyone else. That may be your interpretation of things – it may be other people’s interpretation, I don’t know – but to express those interpretations and inferences as fact is, as I said, pretty specious.
I know that you have been supportive of Jaime Wyatt, Jamie Lin Wilson, and a bunch of other artists who you believe embody “Real Country Music” (Jaime’s album, Felony Blues, while excellent, is hardly ‘family friendly’), and I do hope that in the future you’ll focus more on the elements of the music that you think give one song, or record, more artistic “weight” than another. I think there are definitely interesting conversations to be had around that.
For me, as a reader, covering artists in the way you have here with Ms. Morris is not engaging. It comes off as crass and mean-spirited. Not every review has to be glowing — I’m rarely a fan of reviews or profiles that fawn over any given artist, whether I love the artist or not — and all art benefits from a dialogue about its quality and merits, but pieces like this, while they undoubtedly drum up some traffic and get people fired up, don’t really serve the music in any way. And it’s my understanding that your intent is to serve the music, right?
March 13, 2019 @ 2:43 pm
Kasey Anderson,
I just want you to know that after you were found guilty of bilking music artists and fans for nearly $600,000 and went to prison for it, I was one of the people who stood up and told people to give you a second chance (https://savingcountrymusic.com/tarnished-songwriter-kasey-anderson-is-back-making-no-excuses-for-himself/).
When you started recording and releasing music again, you reached out to see if I would cover it, smiling in my face, telling me how much you respected what I do. Even in this comment, you’re trying to act like you’re taking the high road. When you started releasing new music, I had MANY people reach out to me, publicly and privately, concerned that you were up to no good again. I put my professional name behind you and told those people we were giving you a second chance, and to let it go.
Then a few weeks ago, I find out that, lo and behold, on Twitter, you were running my name down, and spreading lies and misnomers in an effort to ingratiate yourself to the Twitter blue checkmark journalism and aspiring Nashville artist groupthink echo chamber who looks at Saving Country Music with jealousy and spite. If you don’t like what I do, I respect that. I’m a hard critic and throw my opinions out there, and it would be hypocritical of me to not be able to take return fire. But the fact that you smiled in my face when you wanted me to write about your music, and even take a civil tone here when you’ve been running my name down on Twitter, exposes a two-faced compromise of character that is very troubling, especially given your felonious past.
I appreciate that you want to still do stuff in music, and I appreciate the efforts you’re making to support important artists on Farce the Music and such, which is one of the reasons I’ve been reluctant to call you to the mat. I respect Farce The Music, and anyone who takes the time to write about music. But I think you still have work you need to do on yourself before you’re back to 100% trustworthy.
Notice that in the 80+ comments on this article, there is not a single Maren Morris fan complaining about the content. Compare this with articles on Kane Brown, Zac Brown, or any other pop country artist I may criticize. The reason is because Maren Morris fans don’t care. Instead, this article is attempting to be exploited through a misinformation campaign specifically and exclusively on Twitter, by rival journalists and aspiring artists pissed off that I haven’t talked about their music. You happen to fit in both of those categories. You and others are completely mischaracterizing the opinions of this article in irresponsible and exploitative ways. On Twitter. But it will not stop me. I don’t give a fuck.
Also, in response to when you said on Twitter recently, “I wish artists/publicists/mgrs would stop courting and promoting, and lending credence to, that blog and writer.”
https://twitter.com/leasdef/status/1095002465492131840
Just understand, I don’t need ANY manager, ANY publicist, ANY artist, or anyone else’s help to do my job, or to give me “credence.” This tweet, along with the concerted effort of other rival journalists to exclude me from professional communication with the industry has not only been 100% ineffective, it exposes what I have been saying for years now about the problem with modern music journalism, which it is just a promotional arm of the industry.
Most, if not all “journalists” now wait for marching orders from publicists to procure their content. I have never, nor would even engage in that practice. That’s why people come and read this site, even with the lies and misinformation rival journalists and artists angry their careers haven’t taken off tell them. It’s the reason why as a one man operation, my traffic numbers challenge and often beat newsrooms with multiple full-time staff employees and a dozen freelancers to pull from, and the power of a parent company behind them. I am the last honest motherfucker out here. And no matter what kind of lies you or anyone else spread about me, it will not stop me, or alter my behavior.
There is no bigger critic of Saving Country Music than myself, and sometimes I make mistakes. But I stand 100% behind every single word in this article. And so would you probably if you had not read it through the filter of Twitter—aka, the scourge of the internet.
Regards,
–Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos
March 13, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
“I am the last honest motherfucker out here.”
I threw my fist up in the air and shouted!
March 13, 2019 @ 3:27 pm
I have not said anything publicly on Twitter that I would not say directly to you, which is why I posted here, on your blog. I also have not, to my knowledge, spread any false information about about you publicly or privately. If there’s a comment or statement I made regarding you or this site that is false in any way, please point it out to me and I’ll absolutely publicly retract it and apologize. I mean that sincerely. If you can point me to a statement I made about you, or this site, that is false, I’ll absolutely publicly retract it and apologize.
I have no doubt that my decision to record music again has been viewed skeptically by some people – maybe many people. That does not surprise me. I appreciate that you spoke up on my behalf, though I have to say I’m very much at peace with the way I’ve lived my life over the last several years and the work I’ve done to make financial and direct amends to people. The opinions of people who don’t know me personally — who have little to no experience with me beyond knowing that I made records, and then committed a crime and went to prison for it — those aren’t opinions that carry a lot of weight with me. My responsibility is to the victims of my crime, and to my friends and family. To people I’ve hurt directly or indirectly. If people think my making records again means I’m “up to no good,” then they’re absolutely entitled to those opinions, based on my past. Those people are not obligated to forgive and/or forget. One of the consequences of my actions is I no longer have the right to the benefit of the doubt, so those dissenting opinions, those concerns, they make sense to me. In terms of my needing to do “more work on myself,” I mean yes, definitely. I’m only 3+ years out of prison and just over 6 years sober and in treatment for Type I Bipolar Disorder. I have plenty of work still to do but, again, I’m proud of and at peace with the work I have done to get to where I am.
I do think that when bands share links to your positive reviews it’s an implicit endorsement of some of the content on this site that I believe to be damaging, and so I do wish other artists would be more careful about that but what other artists or their teams do is not up to me.
And you’re right, you did write about Sideways, and you did not cover my last record. For you to assume that my response to this piece, or to any of the content on this site, is in any way connected to whether or not you write about me, personally, is false. It’s patently false.
I can say that future releases of mine will not be serviced by my publicist to your site. Which, really, is not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, right? It’s not like I have much of an audience left so that doesn’t effect you or me especially but if I’m going to tweet out that I wish people would not promote your site than I should walk that talk in my own career, and I intend to do so.
As for me being a “rival journalist,” I have written, I think, three pieces for Farce the Music, per that site’s request, for free. I am about as far from being a rival, or a journalist, as one can be.
I don’t know you personally. In my previous comment I did not say anything about you, personally, beyond saying that pieces like this one read *to me* as crass and mean-spirited. That is my opinion about this particular piece. As I said, I think there is plenty to be gained by a conversations about genres and what they represent to people, and how artists do or don’t fit into those genres. And, also as I said, I think you are at your strongest as a writer when you’re fostering that dialogue and exposing people to artists they may have missed. That’s my personal opinion.
And, for what it’s worth, my comment here was largely about the categorization of Country Music as “family friendly” when the subject matter is anything but, and about trying to square the way artists are promoted/promote themselves with how things were years ago. I don’t think you’re the “scourge of the internet” or whatever. As I said, I’m also unaware of any lies I spread about you though I will reiterate that if you can point out to me where I made a public statement about you, personally, I will absolutely publicly apologize and retract that statement/those statements. If I’m operating on bad information about you, and if I have then in turn spread bad information, please do point it out so I can rectify that.
March 13, 2019 @ 3:56 pm
Blahhhhh blahhh blah.
March 13, 2019 @ 5:55 pm
“I do think that when bands share links to your positive reviews it’s an implicit endorsement of some of the content on this site that I believe to be damaging, and so I do wish other artists would be more careful about that but what other artists or their teams do is not up to me.”
Again, the vast majority of media depend on these retweets and sharing of links to their coverage of bands for their traffic, which is the reason actual criticism and objective opinion has completely evaporated off the internet when it comes to music. I don’t give a fuck if anyone shares my content on social media, and it is reflected in both the business model for the site, the SEO strategy, and the social media strategy to be completely autonomous of links from bands or other entities. Furthermore, this idea that this would bleed the site dry is stupid, just as is boycotting Chick-Fil-A or Hobby Lobby, or the NFL. For as many people who complain about the site, there’s three more that are avid readers. And trust me, my most avid readers are the ones who profess the most to hate Saving Country Music. Everybody reads it. They’re just too cowardly to admit it in the free-speech impinging and socially-restrictive environment of Nashville popularity politics.
As for the family friendly aspect, I agree this can be in the eye of the beholder. But like I said in the article, if 2 of 2 of your last radio singles violate FCC rules and require a radio edit, I think we can pretty universally agree that is not family friendly. If Maren Morris or anyone else feel this is too prudish, they can switch formats. Nobody is telling Maren Morris she must be country.
March 13, 2019 @ 6:12 pm
I agree with you on a couple of things here:
1. My saying, “I wish bands wouldn’t… blah blah blah” was not meant to be equivocal to “boycott this music site!” though absolutely, I can see where it could be taken that way, so that’s on me. That’s a longer conversation and I’m already far enough away from what my original intent was in posting today so I’ll leave it at that for now.
2. Journalism as a form of analysis or criticism is dying, and it sucks. There’s a lot of music writing out there that purports itself to be journalism but is really just fawning over one artist or another. It’s not all writers or publications/outlets, but it’s a lot of them. And this is fine with some people. I don’t enjoy reading that kind of thing. That’s something your site doesn’t really engage in and I do appreciate that about the way you cover artists/albums. It’s clear to me you care about the music/artists and not just ingratiating yourself.
I appreciate that you and I can have this discussion here. As I’ve said, I do think there’s a lot of “meat” to the discussion about genres and how people fit into that, how traditions are kept alive, etc. I absolutely think all that stuff is worth discussing.
March 9, 2020 @ 11:29 am
KASEY THE LIAR, THE FRAUD, THE INSTIGATOR AND YOU ARE NOT ANYONES FRIEND !!!! YOU ARE SO TWO FACED NO ONE WITHIN TWO INCHES OF YOU WILL TRUST YOU. YOUR HISTORY COMES IN THE ROOM BEFORE YOU DO !!!!!
March 13, 2019 @ 3:51 pm
Sorry to double-up on replies but I’ll also say this:
I have had multiple conversations about this site and some of the content that I personally object to with a number of people and there are absolutely people who have assured me that I’m misinterpreting your writing. People whose opinions I very much respect. So I’m not going to pretend that my interpretation of your writing is the *only* one. It’s also not accurate to assume that my opinion is formed in an echo chamber where everyone is in vehement opposition to every opinion you express. That’s not the case at all.
There may indeed be a group of people who consider you the “scourge of the internet” or something like that but I personally am not hanging on every word you say waiting to pounce or publicly criticize you. I did today because this particular piece didn’t sit well with me. There have been other times when other pieces have not sit well with me personally. Not because I hope to ingratiate myself with some other journalist or blogger – as I noted previously, my audience is no longer at a size where that matters to me any longer, the press I got for the last record was minimal and I would imagine future records will see a similar amount of coverage – but because the writing didn’t sit well with me, personally.
That also doesn’t mean my mind is beyond changing, nor is it closed to people whose opinions may be different from mine.
March 14, 2019 @ 1:20 pm
Weird flex, but okay
March 13, 2019 @ 6:17 pm
This is an incredibly interesting little scene.
Can we get some links in chronological order to see what exactly is going on here?
March 13, 2019 @ 4:39 pm
Well, that escalated quickly.
March 13, 2019 @ 12:48 pm
She’s hot. Her music sucks.
March 13, 2019 @ 1:43 pm
“who’s the little boy”
“she’s not attractive enough to be taking pictures like that”
“her chest is too flat”
“bullshit girl power movement”
Yeah, sure, Maren Morris is the problem here fellas.
March 13, 2019 @ 2:36 pm
I prefer to believe that there are two problems, and Maren Morris is one of them.
March 13, 2019 @ 9:51 pm
To be fair, go read the comments women write on a Luke Bryan fan page. People talk about artists like they’re meat.
March 13, 2019 @ 2:54 pm
And MIranda Lambert can do no wrong
March 13, 2019 @ 4:27 pm
“P.S. – A proper review of Maren Morris’s “Girl” album is forthcoming. This matter was handled separately to clear the decks for a discussion exclusively on the music.”
Good Lord, what a fucking incredible waste of time lol.
March 13, 2019 @ 9:07 pm
Thank You Trig, I said this in the last article about Maren Morris….There’s sometning about her that just pisses me off. She is a no talent with no substance. She wants so bad to be the next BEYONCE she is now gone full hog bashing country music. We know damn well she would never make it as a pop singer because L.A and N.Y would destroy her. WTH is she even about?
As far as I’m concerned, Maren can go shake hands with the idiot BEBE REXA. They’re one in the same at this point.
March 14, 2019 @ 6:20 am
I thought I was just crotchety and old for thinking Maren could do with covering up just a smidgen in that album cover, but apparently she’s older than me…
I don’t deny that she works hard and that her music is catchy and often well-written (and I loved My Church) but she needs to stop acting like a whiny sixteen-year-old. It’s not empowering in the slightest.
That said, yes, of course she’s entitled to wear whatever the heck she wants and live her life on her own terms. I’d just like more of the country singer we were promised than the pop singer with the slight hip-hop persona.
March 14, 2019 @ 6:26 am
I’ll reserve judgment on her involvement with the Highwomen supergroup until I’ve seen what they come out with. I’m cautiously optimistic.
If Morris wants to continue to dabble in both pop and country, more power to her, but stop acting the victim and complaining about feeling restricted and show some gratitude for the warm welcome.
March 14, 2019 @ 6:59 am
Here’s something that I’ve been wondering after hearing that Maren Morris was joining the Highwomen. Maybe her musical heart might be more in the Americana/Roots world. Sort of how like David Cassidy apparently really wanted to ROCK and didn’t like the music he was singing. There are numerous women artists in that world that don’t seem to feel stylistically inhibited when it comes to fashion. I’m thinking of Elizabeth Cook, Amanda Shires, Lindi Ortega, and Nikki Lane, for starters. But they all bring the musical goods, at least as far as I’m concerned. And they have to if they want to make in that world, however modestly. I mean, I enjoy looking at an attractive woman as much as the next heterosexual, but I’m not going to buy albums or go to a concert to see a pretty face if the music isn’t cutting it for me.
March 14, 2019 @ 9:32 am
This may be considered by some to be off-limits, but why does she wear a bra? To show it off, shouldn’t their logically be something to show off? If you want to explore your sexuality, why must there be pictures for public consumption? Can this not be done privately?
March 14, 2019 @ 10:25 am
Definitely agree
March 14, 2019 @ 1:34 pm
So much for saving country music. Seems like you’re much more interested in preserving the culture, which means conflating a sound with an ideology and then shaming women for daring to think something else.
March 14, 2019 @ 2:28 pm
@ SavingMisogyny – Getting a little bored now that the women’s march is over and you have nowhere to wear your little pink p hat?
March 15, 2019 @ 10:42 am
It really doesn’t take much to be for women expressing themselves. You have exactly as much Maren Morris in your life as you want.
March 16, 2019 @ 11:59 pm
The fact is, the amount that we do have is too much, and takes away attention from more talented ladies who most likely can sing rings around this clown and her contemporaies, but who can’t get attention from the music industry, the radio industry, or the media in general.
March 14, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
I see why, now, she invited Miranda Lambert on stage. Lol. Man, these girls need to follow their real dreams… Pornography!
March 14, 2019 @ 4:34 pm
Miranda Lamber could sing circles around Maren….There is no comparison except being female. Miranda is a badass, and has WORKED for all her achievements in COUNTRY music.
March 14, 2019 @ 2:47 pm
Trigger,
It’s never been on my heart to comment on anything like this before,but this piece really hurt me.
You can call me a victim if you want to! It’ll only prove my point.
Maren is a person. With feelings and a family and a deep and abiding love for country music. She’s proudly from Texas and she’s one of the finest and most skilled singers that country music has ever seen.
If you don’t believe me come to the studio and listen to her absolutely flatten me when we’re singing together.
The feelings that she’s expressing about her evolving place in the genre are fluid and gentle and nothing overtly negative or mean spirited has ever passed her lips! Also since we’re talking Dolly the feelings aren’t that far removed from a time Dolly split and went Hollywood. She was the recipient of devastating criticism for her perceived abandonment of country music…. only women get labeled as “uppity” or “too good” when they step outside their station.
Maren loves country music with all her heart and so do I! Let’s make that clear.
It’s fine and absolutely acceptable if you don’t like Maren’s music! I think criticism is a healthy thing…. but among other demoralizing insinuations- who are you to use the word “bra” multiple times to describe the character of a young woman? It’s creepy. As a mother of two daughters who love their sparkles and rainbows I can only feel viscerally protective right now. I’m just being honest…Do you have kids? You can’t and still talk like that.
Look at the comments this degrading article inspired? Comments about “cup size” and “bust” calling this woman a “spoiled little bitch” and even WORSE. Do you feel proud of it now?
I have hope for you yet because I can tell you’re a smart man who loves music. But you can do better and I believe you will.
With respect
Brandi Carlile
March 15, 2019 @ 5:34 pm
Hello Brandi,
I’m not sure this is the actual Brandi Carlile, but I will proceed under that assumption, if for nothing else than sport.
First off, congratulations on your recent Grammy wins. It is attention long overdue and well-deserved. I most certain appreciate your feedback and perspective on this matter, but I do have to offer a few respectful and important clarifications.
“Maren is a person. With feelings and a family and a deep and abiding love for country music.”
If this is the case, then why has Maren never said this herself? She’s been interviewed and featured some two dozen times surrounding the release of “GIRL,” and the talking point thread binding all of these features together is that she finds country music too conservative, too religious, too constricting, and unoriginal in its native form. Ad nauseum she has underscored this in a litany of interviews. She even included songs on “GIRL” that address this specifically. If she has professed her love for country music to you, that’s great. But all I’ve seen and heard her do is run it down, despite her receiving awards from the CMAs, ACMs, Grammys, radio play, tour and festival opportunities. Country music has given her a platform to launch a pop career with “The Middle.” And instead of gratefulness, we get more characterizations of victimization from the genre when Maren has received more fame, opportunities, and personal wealth than 99% of the actual country artists out there now plying the trade.
“nothing overtly negative or mean spirited has ever passed her lips!”
Frankly, that’s ridiculous. Again, I can’t speak to your personal experience with Maren, but mine is her calling me, and I quote, “some cowardly basement dweller (no disrespect to basements) with a keyboard.” The very crux of this article was Maren lashing out at the religious and conservatives, which I understand some may feel need to be lashed out at and I respect that. But the idea that Maren has never had anything negative to say is fairy tale. Feeling judged by the down-looking and better-than-thou attitude that Maren Morris oozes is the very reason she is addressing why she is repulsed by country culture in countless interviews.
As for the “bra” statements, these have been misconstrued by many. When I started Saving Country Music 11 years and 5,200 articles ago, I did it to give voice to the disenfranchised music fans who had been abandoned by the format’s move to pop. I don’t follow Maren Morris on social media. In fact she’s blocked me on Twitter. But if you follow country music feeds, you cannot get away from Maren Morris not just in an arrogant manner flaunting her body for no apparent reason, but jawing off to the people who would judge her for it. It’s not me who is offended or repulsed by this activity by Maren, it is thousands upon thousands of women country music fans specifically, including many who liked, shared, and commented on this article, many who were afraid to say anything from fear of retribution, but hate to see their favorite artists get downgraded by Maren attempting to exploit both her body, and the victimhood she characterizes for attention. This includes many dedicated Carrie Underwood fans, Miranda Lambert fans, fans of Ashley McBryde and others who believe in those artists, and appreciate that they respect country music as opposed to running it down while also exploiting its opportunities like Maren has. If you don’t believe me, just sift through these comments, and scan through social media. It’s women who hold this grievance.
The reason I broached the issue was not to run down Maren Morris—though I understand that in this music media environment that is completely bereft of honest criticism, this is how any criticism is commonly construed. I made these points to help explain to Maren and the public why she is receiving this backlash from so many country fans, to hopefully help guide her constructively to a better outcome, which is my job as a critic. I did not start this criticism by any stretch. I simply responded to Maren’s own answers when the subject was broached in interviews.
“Look at the comments this degrading article inspired? Comments about “cup size” and “bust” calling this woman a “spoiled little bitch” and even WORSE. Do you feel proud of it now?”
No, I don’t. I am disappointed in them, and I challenged them when they first came up. That said, I inspired nothing. Those comments were out there way before I said a word. That is why Maren is constantly making an issue of how people are judging her by how she dresses in interviews. I don’t like these comments, but I run an open forum and believe in free speech. So unless someone crosses a serious line, I won’t censor them.
Lastly, I know that among all of us, you probably can populate a list of grievances and victimization more than most. That is what has imbued your music with such spirit, impact, soul, and resonance. I would never look at another human and believe they’ve had it better off than myself, because everyone’s story is pock marked with adversity, including my own. Nor would I ever judge anyone on their success. But in my opinion, country music has always been a place of humility, and the ever-present arrogance many feel from Maren is creating conflict in a genre that frankly her music doesn’t belong in. I want Maren Morris to be successful in all her endeavors, just like I want for all humans. But I don’t want that success to be at the expense of others, or of the institution of country music that we all love.
Respects,
–Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos
March 20, 2019 @ 8:59 pm
“’Maren is a person. With feelings and a family and a deep and abiding love for country music.’
If this is the case, then why has Maren never said this herself?”
Have you not heard “My Church”? She had been playing country music since 10, and wrote songs for Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson (not total bonus points for her, but she did cut her teeth writing and singing country).
March 20, 2019 @ 9:16 pm
“My Church” was a Trojan Horse, a bait and switch, a scam, and Maren Morris knows it. Produce the quotes for me where Maren professes her loyalty and love for country music. And if you can produce one, I can produce a dozen where the opposite is professed.
Maren Morris doesn’t give a fuck about country music except as a vehicle for her to make money and garner fame. And she’s exploited it quite well. The least she could do now is leave it to let it lick its wounds, and let an actual country music woman enjoy the spotlight she’s soaking up.
March 20, 2019 @ 9:48 pm
If you are disregarding her words in song, it’s just as easy to disregard her words in an interview. You’ve literally come to a conclusion, anything I say cannot sway you. You also disregarded the fact that she has played country music all her life, and that she started her career as a songwriter.
If you want me to comb through her interviews to find comments on country music, I will, but only if you actually follow up with a dozen negative ones for each. And just criticizing some part of country music today doesn’t necessarily count, or people could say you are against country music, which we both know couldn’t be further from the truth.
March 14, 2019 @ 8:29 pm
I have a lot to say but won’t waste my time or yours with a long paragraph. Bottom line is:
1) Maren’s first album was good (not necessarily country but had it’s moments and had some good songs)
2) Her new stuff is not even close to country in any way
3) Trigger sounds like such a prude little man who gets offended by the word “shit” or a midriff of a woman. Get over it. I agree with you on some of your articles but you really come across as a pretentious guy who thinks he is the ultimate judge of country music and sometimes you end up just sounding like the old “get off my lawn” man next door who thinks his way is the only way.
4) You need to realize almost all social media is a “look at me” outlet and if you’re offended by bikinis and daisy duke shorts then quit following the artists on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
March 15, 2019 @ 1:43 pm
Jim,
I never said or implied I was offended by Maren Morris. What I did was explain why Maren Morris continues to face criticism from individuals for the way she dresses. The point of criticism is not to indict, but to guide artists and music towards better outcomes for all parties. It is a constructive application that has become lost in the PC culture, and one that has been valued in art for centuries.
I never said I was the ultimate judge of country music. I simply share my opinions, and then offer a forum for everyone, including yourself, to share theirs as well.
March 19, 2019 @ 5:21 am
She’s cute and you say she sings, too? A manager’s dream! Seriously though she is made for top 40 pop. She doesn’t need us.
March 20, 2019 @ 8:44 pm
“Then she acts like she’s being body shamed for posting photos of herself on social media. No Maren Morris, you’re body shaming others. Maren is saying, “Hey, look at me. I’m better than you, prettier than you, thinner than you, and I get to go to all these cool places you don’t.” … The negative reaction to Maren Morris is coming from women specifically. This is supposed to be an artist women are rallying behind, but instead they see her as tearing down other women with her arrogant social media presence and her arrogant pronouncements in both interviews and her music that work to tear down other women in country who deserve the attention Maren Morris is receiving.”
I think this whole paragraph is ridiculous. A woman being proud of her body and wearing what she wants is not body shaming others, that’s ridiculous, and slut-shaming. I also find it surprising you claim to be speaking for women, without even bothering citing anything for your claim. You say the criticism is coming from women, but it seems you are only speaking for yourself.
March 20, 2019 @ 9:11 pm
” I also find it surprising you claim to be speaking for women, without even bothering citing anything for your claim. You say the criticism is coming from women, but it seems you are only speaking for yourself.”
I am not the genesis point for saying that women are constantly feeling either alienated or attacked by the way Maren Morris presents herself. It’s Maren Morris. Read the quotes from Maren near the top of this article. This is what Maren Morris offered up at the very first of a video about the lyrics behind the song “Girl.” It was a complete non sequiter side tangent. In the dozen or so interviews that came out with Maren paralleling the release of the “Girl” album, Maren’s victimhood at the strong judgement of country women was the centerpiece of the interview in many cases. All I was doing was responding to Maren’s own words about how she feels restricted by the conservative and religious environment of country music. And even though folks want to focus on the image components of this article because they feel like it’s fertile ground, it’s just one of many elements that makes Maren Morris come across as arrogant and down-looking. And again, these criticisms are offered not to create conflict, but resolve it. Maren Morris has no place in country music. She is not country whatsoever. If she feels restricted and overly judged in the country music environment, then she should leave for a genre that will better suit her sensibilities, whether that’s sonically or sociologically, as opposed to expecting an entire genre of music to bend to her will. That would be conceit.
March 20, 2019 @ 9:22 pm
Also, if you don’t think Maren Morris is not being criticized en masse by female country music fans, you need to poke your head out of your bubble. It’s absolutely everywhere.
March 20, 2019 @ 9:40 pm
Country music fans of all genders criticize all sorts of people. I’m sure plenty of female country music fans criticize her fairly for her music being too pop. If you’re saying you can point to a few people complaining on twitter about how she dresses, then you really aren’t saying anything of value. What women in the industry have criticized the way she dresses, and said that it is shaming them, as you claim?
March 20, 2019 @ 9:37 pm
““I don’t know who’s made these scriptures but it’s like women in country music need to to be super religious and they need to be super conservative and never show their body,” Maren Morris said recently. “And I’m like, ‘Are you giving me like a run for my money right now?’ Because like Dolly’s outfits back in the day were amazing. There’s just such a stupid mold that, even ourselves, are attempting to fit into, and it’s just bullshit.””
Those are her words. Nowhere does it say that women are the ones criticizing her like the paragraph at issue suggests. I listened to the entire Genius interview, and I don’t see how you can extrapolate that the criticism is by country women in general. Her comments mention nothing about other women being attacked by how she presents herself, and even if they did, someone feeling alienated because you are proud of your body doesn’t mean you should hide your body (something, something, light shine). You quoted her simply saying that she feels women in country must fit a mold, and that women feel a need to fit into that role. Do you think it’s a good thing that women (or men) in country have to dress or behave a certain way? The comments on this page seem to suggest that many of your viewers expect her to look or dress differently (including a shameful amount commenting on her bust size). The image components of your article aren’t just “fertile ground” for criticism, but clearly an issue in the community, if the comments here are any measure. You focused significantly on her image (“sports bras etc”). While I agree much (most?) of he music fits better in pop, I don’t think that’s true for all of her music (and I don’t think she should be defined by “The Middle”).
Country music is incredibly conservative, but I don’t think every part of the culture is without fault. You’ve been open about criticizing some of the worse parts about country (leaving aside the way pop is ever influencing it, which I wholeheartedly agree with you, but think is not important for this conversation), like sexism and the political nature of Nashville. Parts of country music should be criticized, while what makes it special should be celebrated. That said, I don’t think shaming a woman for posting pictures on instagram is a part of country music that should be valued.
Normally, I think your commentary is pretty spot on, but I can’t agree with what you’re doing here. Including the section I quoted, you focus at least three paragraphs on how she dresses and her appearance. I think that’s extreme overkill, and cheapens the point you may be trying to make about how she is, like many other country-pop singers, blowing past the borders of country into pop, but still trying to use the country label for her benefit.
May 29, 2021 @ 6:13 pm
Found the White Knight! ^^^^^
March 20, 2019 @ 8:53 pm
Hey Trigger just wanted to point out that the outfits Dolly wore may not have bared her midriff but her breasts were certainly on display and given their rather generous size were often a focal point so to imply sexual imagery never played a part is slightly incorrect. You can’t tell me that people didn’t notice and it never factored into things, even if it was only small. Jane Fonda even explained it was the idea of Dolly trying to type with her big bosom in the way that put her in in Jane’s mind to be in 9 to 5. Everyone knows Dolly not just cause of her music but because of her breasts and she knows this, she jokes about it.
Also you also said “Maren posting pictures of herself in sports bras on private jets, in sports bras at a big sporting event, in a sports bras at some landmark, or in a bikini on the beach comes across as down-looking, and pandering for acceptance” what’s wrong with sports bras? Jessie Graff often posts on SM in only a sports bra and shorts and she’s an incredible, strong, inspiring women whose also one hell of a Ninja Warrior whose probably stronger than most men in the world. She’s not pandering to anyone. You can wear a sports bra and be an inspiration, the two don’t tie together. Beyoncé often wears figure-hugging clothes and shows skin, uses sexual imagery because that’s the business and she is massive inspiration to people all across the world. She has literally saved people on the brink with her music and has helped many overcome issues in their lives. Even Carrie has shown skin and worn figure hugging outfits and posted bikini selfies. It’s not what you wear that makes you an inspiration, it’s who you are as a person, how you act and react to things, how you treat others and what you say. And for the part about women tearing her down, it’s called jealousy and it is a real thing. Go on Daily Mail every once in a while and read what the comments section says on an article posted about Carrie. They are awful to her, like just disgusting in the things they say. They do attack her on SM as well. It’s because they hate her and they want to tear her down because like a bully they need to make themselves feel better cause of their own sad lives. That’s why we call the trolls Trigger, they’re not fans they are trolls.
That’s all I wanted to say, I don’t listen to Marren or follow her on SM to speak on the other parts of the article.
April 7, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
I’m watching the ACM awards and I just cringed when she sang… If you can call it that. If she was a kick ass singer, quite frankly I could overlook her blatant use of country music as a stepping stone to her desired pop career. But she has minimal talent at best and I actually feel embarrassed for her. Believe me, I have no problem appreciating the female form, but her obvious hair extension, hair flipping, crop top wearing performance was just sad. For the love of God just cross over to pop and put me out of my misery.
January 30, 2020 @ 5:52 am
Maren Morris is hot!!! Gtfoh all you “holier than thou” fuckers.
January 30, 2020 @ 5:53 am
To the writer of this article, you need to get the fuck of this country.
July 20, 2020 @ 9:45 pm
So much whining here from such fragile butt-hurt little boys! The fact that you all feel so threatened and TRIGGERED by this young woman reveals what weak-ass pathetic little broflakes you crybabies really are. Go back to your mommies’ basements if you can’t handle a grown up life.
October 5, 2020 @ 2:55 pm
LEAVE MAREN ALONE SHE IS A GREAT SINGER! SHE IS PROBABLY BETTER THAN YOU GUYS AT SINGING, maren is an amazing singer and if you can’t see that then don’t listen to her music,if you don’t like what she sounds like turn off the radio,if you don’t like her don’t talk about her its that simple!
April 1, 2021 @ 5:30 pm
She is talented. What she is NOT is country.
April 20, 2021 @ 6:57 am
I wanted to stand up and applaud when I read your article. I am TOTALLY turned off by Marin Morris. She is so smug, so arrogant, so know-it-all, so attention-seeking, so “I think I’m better than everyone else”. This latest thing she did where she posted a picture of herself … on a bed … in nude underwear … and then claimed she was standing up for post-pregnancy bodies made me want to hurl! It was obvious that what she was REALLY wanting is for all her followers to tell her how great she looks after having had a baby! Also, she took the idea for “The Bones” from that HGTV show, “Good Bones”! Wow, Maron. HOW ORIGINAL! ???? I’m a life-long country music fan and lover of all sorts of musical genres. Women like her are a turn-off, whatever the genre, because if their ATTITUDES. And for the record, I am female.
January 9, 2022 @ 1:03 pm
Agreed. I don’t have a problem with women using their sexuality as part of their image. I have a problem with people like Maren who just want someone to say “yaass queen” on Instagram. I’m turned off by her posting sexy pictures on social media and then crying out like she supposed to be some kind of victim like she’s the first woman to show her body. She’s not even the first woman in Country Music. I don’t see anybody saying the same things about Shania Twain that they say about Maren. I don’t have a problem with Maren’s style. I have a problem with her smug arrogant demeanor.
September 2, 2022 @ 3:11 pm
POS
October 8, 2022 @ 4:48 am
I call her Karen Morris, the woke hall pass monitor.