Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris has made headlines with the release of two poignant songs, “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here.” These tracks not only mark her musical journey but also offer a window into the complex emotions surrounding her departure from the country music scene and her perspective on the deepening socio-political divide.
In a heartfelt statement, Morris shared, “These two songs are incredibly key to my next step because they express a very righteously angry and liberating phase of my life these last couple of years, but also how my navigation is finally pointing towards the future, whatever that may be or sound like. Honoring where I’ve been and what I’ve achieved in country music, but also freely moving forward.”
“The Tree” carries a powerful message, with Morris singing, “The rot at the roots is the root of the problem/ But you want to blame it on me.” Meanwhile, “Get the Hell Out of Here” touches on themes of resilience and heartbreak, as she croons, “I hung around longer than anyone should/ You’ve broken my heart more than anyone could.”
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Morris shed light on the challenges she faced in the country music industry, particularly the growing socio-political divide. She remarked, “After the Trump years, people’s biases were on full display. It just revealed who people really were and that they were proud to be misogynistic and racist and homophobic and transphobic. All these things were being celebrated, and it was weirdly dovetailing with this hyper-masculine branch of country music. I call it butt rock.”
She further expressed her desire for change within the genre, stating, “I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over, but it’s burning itself down without my help.”
Throughout her career, Morris has been a vocal advocate for diversity, inclusion, and progress within country music. She has championed greater representation of voices from women, the LGBTQ+ community, and artists of color. Her commitment to these values was evident when she used her acceptance speech at the CMA Awards in 2020 to honor women of color in the industry. Morris also performed at the Love Rising concert in Nashville, which celebrated the LGBTQ+ community and challenged anti-trans legislation in Tennessee. In addition, she engaged in a public exchange with Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany, over gender-affirming care.
Morris’s decision to step away from country music coincides with the success of several country songs on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. However, she expressed concerns about the motivations behind this success, stating, “I think it’s a last bastion. People are streaming these songs out of spite. It’s not out of true joy or love of the music. It’s to own the libs. And that’s so not what music is intended for.”
As an artist, Morris did not initially consider herself political but became increasingly aware of the industry’s challenges. She emphasized the need to scrutinize popular music genres for progress, even if it meant facing criticism. She explained, “Anything this popular should be scrutinized if we want to see progress. But I’ve kind of said everything I can say. I always thought I’d have to do middle fingers in the air jumping out of an airplane, but I’m trying to mature here and realize I can just walk away from the parts of this that no longer make me happy.”
While Morris continues to unravel her feelings regarding her connection to country music, she remains hopeful for the future. She shared, “I hope it comes across that way because I truly was in a space of hope when I wrote the two songs, even though ‘Get the Hell Out of Here’ is really heavy. It’s about disarming that trauma and saying, ‘I can’t bail water out of this sinking ship anymore. It’s so futile. I choose happiness.'”
Maren Morris’s latest songs serve as a testament to her resilience and her unwavering commitment to her authentic journey, regardless of the genre. Her openness about her experiences sheds light on the challenges and aspirations within the world of music.
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