Maren Morris Says Next Album Will Go Back to Texas Roots

You know how this drill works. Make sure your tray tables are in their full upright position, make sure all electronic devices are set to airplane mode, and don’t believe a pop country star when they say they’re going back to their roots until you actually hear it.
Now granted, never say never, lest you have to eat those words later. As has been evidenced by numerous mainstream projects lately, country is actually hot right now in country music. Thomas Rhett of all people just turned in a surprisingly country record and new single. Granted, just because something is country, doesn’t mean it’s good. But this isn’t 2015 anymore. Things are changing, and for the better, however achingly slow and with notable setbacks.
But remember when Sam Hunt told us he was going to get more traditional, and then all he had to show for it was one song that was kind of country, and a terrible sample of Webb Pierce’s “There Stands The Glass” on the single “Hard to Forget”? Yeah, so when it comes to stuff like this you got to make like a Missourian and say “Show Me.”
All that said, backstage at the ACM Awards, Maren Morris apparently told the virtual press scrum after the awards that she’s got most of the songs ready to go for her next album, and it’s just a matter of getting into the studio.
The Arlington, Texas-native also said, “My last record was very pop-leaning. I think with this one, I’m coming back to this Texas, rootsy style that I grew up in. I think it’s got a lot of Americana elements, a lot of rootsiness. It feels like me, but a very stripped-down version of me, and it’s still extremely fun and energetic. There’s a little bit of everything!”
Immediately the cynical country music brain starts to compute this information as either being a smokescreen, or tries to spot the marketing angle with this, or decries it as outright bullshit. Hey, we can’t be blamed. How many times have we been at this very spot before and burned? And with how pop her last record was, it wouldn’t take much for it to be more rootsy.
But if Maren Morris wants to make a record that is “Texas, rootsy style,” who are we to stand in her way, no matter what the marketing calculus is behind it? As she says herself, her last record was “very pop-leaning.” If nothing else, it’s refreshing to hear her personally admit this, especially after many a critic was told they were wrong in their assessment that she wasn’t country.
Let’s not forget, Maren Morris commenced her career with the the not entirely bad song “My Church” about how her Sunday sermon is listening to Cash and Hank. That’s a little hard to believe, but with the way Nashville’s Music Row gobbles up artists and spits them out as product, who knows what Maren Morris’s original influences and motivations were?
And again, this is a different era. If Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, and now Thomas Rhett and others can find success with more country-sounding tracks, it opens the door for others. Country is very much a copycat industry. So if country is the next trend to catch fire, don’t be surprised to see it from all kinds of unexpected sectors.
But ultimately, you can’t blame anyone for saying “I’ll believe it when I see it.” After all, this is Maren Morris. But if she wants to do something more country or rootsy, more power to her, no matter the marketing angle behind it.
May 1, 2021 @ 10:26 am
This is not surprising to me at all and not because of marketing trends, etc. There is more than one path back to “rootsy.” Morris did sing with more than just the Highwomen at the Newport Folk in 2019. Working with somebody like Hozier could have pulled her in a different pop direction as well but the other direction to go when you start down the folk side of things is roots.
May 1, 2021 @ 10:35 am
While I’m still going to take the “believe it when I see it” route, one wonders if being forced to work with a different producer had anything to do with the change. Her last producer wasn’t exactly a traditionalist, may he still RIP.
May 1, 2021 @ 10:42 am
Sure, Maren, lol!
In all seriousness, the current, younger, females – Maren, Kelsea, Gabby B., to name a few – are just too pop for me. Especially after claims of how they love and want to represent country music, but, don’t sound it it. I certainly want to root & like these girls, but they’re just too pop. It’s frustrating as a fan, honestly.
May 1, 2021 @ 10:49 am
I’ll believe it when I see it. And that is the correct approach.
May 1, 2021 @ 11:21 am
the proof is in the putting, as in putting it down on wax. i shall see if her pudding is any good at that point. her “church” is the “Holy Sepulcher of the Artists Dream”. our lady of the almighty dollar, pray for us.
May 1, 2021 @ 11:25 am
I don’t believe her. At all.
May 1, 2021 @ 11:40 am
Her music is as fake as her lips.
May 2, 2021 @ 2:57 pm
She looks like a Bratz doll.
May 4, 2021 @ 10:03 am
I can’t unsee it now.
May 4, 2021 @ 11:00 am
Joe Welcome, Joe Mama!
May 1, 2021 @ 11:55 am
“My last album was very pop-leaning.”
I’ll take “No Fucking Shit, Ex-Lax.” for $400, Alex!!!
May 1, 2021 @ 11:56 am
To be fair her pre major label work was more rooted so i don’t think it’s a stretch.
May 1, 2021 @ 12:42 pm
It could be a completely country record and I could care less. Not that her music is good in the first place but her need to put out her opinion on everything and tell everybody how they should feel on social media just turns me off her music. Saw something a few weeks ago about how much positive attention she was getting for posting some pretty revealing bikini pics afternoon the ACM’s, which were not appropriate imo as a mother and wife. But yet, I feel she gets any negative reaction those who criticize are evil.
May 1, 2021 @ 1:41 pm
Yeah, her Twitter posts are a bit much. I kind of like her music as far as country-pop goes but between the bikini pics, acting sanctimonious, being obsessed with her alleged haters and posting a video of her grinding on her shirtless husband a couple of weeks back (nothing wrong with that, but it’s not for social media), her social media presence and persona get a little tiresome.
and yeah, I’d be down for something a little more rootsy from her but as Trigger says, I’ll believe it when I see it
May 1, 2021 @ 1:42 pm
Who cares?
May 1, 2021 @ 2:02 pm
Sure, Jan.
May 1, 2021 @ 2:17 pm
Francis Scott Key was going back to his roots when he stole the melody to The Star Spangled Banner from The Anacreontic Society.
May 1, 2021 @ 3:29 pm
Br-br-br-br-br-BREASTS
????
May 1, 2021 @ 4:09 pm
And here all I was hoping for from her was a remake of her pretty in pink album cover.
She can sing. So, I guess we’ll see….
May 1, 2021 @ 5:22 pm
Yeah..right
May 1, 2021 @ 6:45 pm
I kinda really don’t care.
May 1, 2021 @ 7:31 pm
Yawn.
May 2, 2021 @ 1:29 am
I will preface my comments by admitting this isn’t nice but it’s honestly how I feel. I cannot stand to watch her. Maren Morris reminds me of what Fancy would look like if her mama turned her out at age ten and not eighteen. It’s not really that’s she’s so diminuitive (which is distracting sometimes); everything about her is so fake – the lips, the hair, the failed sex kitten persona, as well as the overdone, Mariah Carey hand gestures. Kelsea is young too, but at least she comes across as genuine, appropriate and pulled together,. I also just don’t care for Maren’s music, her language and her “I’m God’s gift” attitude. I agree her proselytizing about everything is a turnoff. As for her “rootsy” record, I’m afraid it will be less Kelly Clarkson (which would be awesome) and more Bebe Rexha (not so much). I’ll hold out for a classic country album from Carrie Underwood or even Clarkson any day.
May 4, 2021 @ 4:46 am
OMG I can’t agree with you more!!!! I love her when my church came out but lately to be exact the more I knew about her the more it repulses me.I saw 2 of her live shows,the gestures she brought is just lame and offensive nothing is pretty…Maybe she is more talented than Kelsea or Kelsea can’t win any of the awards she has won but at least Kelsea is making progress and she is just performing you can feel her genuinity ,but with Maren,everything is a question,what’s more worse is that what she has presented is not even good!
May 2, 2021 @ 1:31 am
I’d rather listen to Bri Bagwell or Kylie Frey.
May 2, 2021 @ 1:48 am
I enjoyed some of her first album but did not think it much country at all. I didn’t like her second album which was fairly ordinary pop music. She has obvious talent but I don’t think she is a country singer. I await with interest to hear what roots means to this artist.
May 2, 2021 @ 3:54 am
I’ll believe it when I hear it. Women artists wonder why ” country radio won’t play us.” They are either Christina Aguilera or Brandy Carlisle. They always are on blabbing about how Dolly, Loretta, Reba, inspire them. They throw a steel on one track or a banjo, but add drum machines.Some of them even write songs, but they get the worst producers for their albums. augh, I need to go back to bed, it’s way too early…ha
May 2, 2021 @ 11:30 am
They may say “Dolly, Loretta, and Reba” but as their music shows their real inspiration is Shania.
May 2, 2021 @ 4:47 am
So the pop path wasn’t taking her exactly where she wanted it to so she’s coming back to country roots to use country people to take country money until it’s convenient to kick country to the side again at the next opportunity. No thanks. People need to be smart enough to know when they are being used.
May 2, 2021 @ 5:48 am
Can’t artists just make whatever music they want and let their muse take it where it will without being chastised for it? Why take offense if someone makes music that doesn’t funnel into the rigid institute you call country? The lines of genre don’t exist, it’s all just music. You like it or you don’t. Does ‘country’ have a hard definition? Am I missing something? Sometimes I feel like this website sees ‘country’ as a strike zone for artists to hit or something. What is it Saving Country Music from? Change? Let artists be artists and make what they want. I don’t even listen to Maren Morris but she should make whatever noises she wants to. I came to this website for open minded discourse, which it often is but man it seems like some people here see music as a dish they want served to them just how Mama used to make it or it goes in the trash!
May 2, 2021 @ 6:44 am
Hey Wimmy T! We like lots of weird new stuff. We just don’t like to be BSed.
As far as defining country music, I think Cowboy Jack said it best. “Country music is music country people listen to.”
I loved her song My Church. Cool melody and a tight lyric. I hope we’re all surprised and it’s a stone cold country record.
May 2, 2021 @ 7:04 am
I think it’s got a lot of Americana elements, a lot of rootsiness.
“Americana elements”, huh? My guess is that it will have enough “rootsy” elements to satisfy those music journalists that are already in her corner. But that doesn’t take much.
I liked her contribution to the Highwomen album. And apparently, she played a significant part in the return of Kathleen Edwards as a music artist. And so I’m grateful for that. But so far, what I have heard of her own music hasn’t done anything for me from a roots music perspective and I don’t really care who she is pals with.
May 2, 2021 @ 7:13 am
Country Jack’s definition doesn’t define much ha.
All good. I understand the sentiment.
I guess maybe I’m not a ‘country person’. I am actually fairly new to it to be honest. Not that I dismissed it or anything, my ears were just busy in other directions. I’ve learned to love a lot of it. The truth in it, the emotion in it, the simplicity in it. That said, I also appreciate growth, change, taking creative risk and I applaud people who do so. I prefer to look forward I guess.
May 2, 2021 @ 9:55 am
All music preferences aside. I don’t understand the need to talk degrading of a young lady no matter what kind of music she makes or what kind of image she puts out there on social media. For me Country is also about being a gentleman, yes ma’am indeed.
13. Jim Reeves
May 2, 2021 @ 11:28 am
Hey wannabe white knight, she isn’t going to date you for defending her virtue.
May 2, 2021 @ 1:32 pm
I’m not defending anyone and I’m happily married thank you. I just don’t understand the need to express yourself in that manner that’s all. And I’m not a wannabe and yes she would.
14. David Allan Coe
May 2, 2021 @ 10:33 am
Garbage artist and everything about her gets on my nerves
May 2, 2021 @ 10:43 am
huge fan of maren morris’ vocal talent . not so much the music on her most recent record ….her voice was wasted on inferior , trendy ”songs” .
I would totally embrace a more ”rootsy ” record from her but only if she and her camp can find some GREAT music for her . otherwise i don’t think another half baked album ,regardless of genre, is what we need right now .
May 2, 2021 @ 11:00 am
Translation: I want to be taken seriously and a critical darling like Kacey Musgraves and the real musicians in the Highwomen!
“Texas, rootsy…Americana…” Lol.
May 2, 2021 @ 7:28 pm
Don’t expect us lifelong authentic country music fans to be waiting for you with open arms.
You chose fame and fortune in Nashville over real music and real fans.
May 2, 2021 @ 8:10 pm
Karen has been hanging out with the Americana women and showing up in their pics on social media. She may be serious about moving in a Americana-ish direction in an attempt to seek their approval, or not be the “pop girl” in the crowd. I just wonder if she holds the line if her sales fall, or if she goes straight back to mainstream like Miranda did after disappointing sales for The Weight of These Wings. I’m curious, but not hopeful of a real country album.
May 2, 2021 @ 8:12 pm
Maren not Karen lol. I need to start reading my post and checking for spell check changes before hitting post.
May 3, 2021 @ 7:39 am
I saw Karen and assumed Scott was being facetious.
May 3, 2021 @ 7:03 am
Artists has the right to change their path due to personal choices. Or else we would not have the Hank Williams JR or the Hank Williams III we have today.
Just felt the need to defend Maren Morris now that we are dating.
15. The artist formerly know as #BobWillsIsStillTheKing
May 3, 2021 @ 8:49 am
still not buying it.
May 3, 2021 @ 11:38 am
Her roots??? LOL..Which roots are those exactly? These pop country artists aren’t ” rooted ” in the least.
May 3, 2021 @ 1:06 pm
Morris is BLM supporting garbage.
May 6, 2021 @ 7:05 pm
Can her plastic surgery go back too?