History of Maren Morris in Timeline
Maren Larae Morris is a Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter known for her country music that incorporates elements of pop, R&B, and hip hop. Her talent has earned her numerous awards, including a Grammy, an American Music Award, five Country Music Association Awards, and five Academy of Country Music Awards.
April 10, 1990: Birth of Maren Morris
Maren Larae Morris was born on April 10, 1990.
2005: Early Music Career and Debut Album
At 15, Morris released her debut album, "Walk On," financed by her parents, and attended a Grammy camp, showcasing her early dedication to music.
2007: Second Album and Continued Musical Exploration
Morris released her second studio album, "All That It Takes," in 2007, continuing to build her discography with self-composed tracks.
2011: Third Album and Move to Nashville
Morris released her third studio album, "Live Wire," in 2011. She then decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to further pursue her music career.
2014: Songwriting Success with Tim McGraw
In 2014, Tim McGraw recorded Morris's song "Last Turn Home" for his album "Sundown Heaven Town," marking her success as a songwriter.
March 2015: Writing "My Church"
In March 2015, Morris wrote "My Church," a song that would later become her breakout hit and a defining track in her career.
August 2015: Self-Released EP Garners Millions of Streams
Morris self-released her EP on Spotify in August 2015, where it garnered millions of streams and caught the attention of major labels.
September 2015: Signing with Columbia Nashville
Morris's success on Spotify led to her signing with Columbia Nashville in September 2015, marking a pivotal moment in her career.
November 2015: Re-release of EP by Columbia Nashville
Columbia Nashville re-released Morris's five-song EP in November 2015, further propelling her into the spotlight.
December 2015: Meeting Ryan Hurd
Maren Morris met fellow country singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd in December 2015 while they were co-writing "Last Turn Home" for Tim McGraw.
2015: Breakthrough as a Songwriter
By 2015, Morris's songwriting talents were further recognized when Kelly Clarkson recorded her song "Second Wind" for the album "Piece by Piece."
2015: Maren Morris Releases Self-Titled EP
In 2015, Maren Morris released her self-titled EP, which gained significant attention on streaming platforms, leading to her signing with Columbia Nashville.
June 2016: Release of Debut Album "Hero"
In June 2016, Morris released her debut album, "Hero," which topped the Billboard Country Albums chart and received critical acclaim, solidifying her place in country music.
2016: Release of Album "Hero" and Recognition for Genre-Bending Style
Maren Morris released her debut album "Hero" in 2016, which garnered attention for its blend of country, R&B, and hip hop influences. Critics praised her for successfully fusing these genres.
2016: Touring with Keith Urban
Following the success of "Hero," Morris embarked on a tour with Keith Urban in 2016, showcasing her talent to a wider audience.
2016: Hero: A Country-R&B Fusion Success
In 2016, Morris released her major-label debut album, "Hero," which topped the country charts and showcased her blend of country and R&B styles.
March 2017: Deluxe Edition of "Hero" and Collaborations
Morris released a deluxe edition of "Hero" in March 2017 and collaborated with artists like Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan, expanding her musical horizons.
July 2017: Engagement to Ryan Hurd
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd announced their engagement in July 2017.
2017: Establishment of the Heroes Fund
Maren Morris launched the Heroes Fund in 2017 to support music education in public schools. Her initiative led to a notable donation of $70,000 to East Nashville Magnet High School, benefiting their music and drama departments.
March 24, 2018: Marriage to Ryan Hurd
Maren Morris married fellow country singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd on March 24, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee.
October 5, 2018: Performing with Taylor Swift
On October 5, 2018, Morris performed "The Middle" with Taylor Swift during Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour in Arlington, Texas, marking a significant career highlight.
2018: Chart Success and Recognition
Morris continued to achieve chart success with singles from "Hero" through 2018.
2018: Collaborating with Grey and Zedd on "The Middle"
Morris expanded her reach beyond country music in 2018 when she collaborated with Grey and Zedd on the pop hit "The Middle," which achieved international success.
March 2019: Formation of The Highwomen
Maren Morris joined forces with Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby in March 2019 to form the group The Highwomen, a play on the name The Highwaymen.
March 2019: Release of Album "Girl" and Embarking on World Tour
Maren Morris released her studio album "Girl" in March 2019, which explored her experiences as a young woman. The album topped Billboard charts and she launched the "Girl: The World Tour" to support it.
April 2019: The Highwomen's Live Debut
The Highwomen made their debut performance in April 2019 at Loretta Lynn's 87th birthday concert with a rendition of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
July 19, 2019: The Highwomen Release Debut Single
The Highwomen, a group formed by Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby, released their debut single "Redesigning Women" on July 19, 2019.
September 2019: The Highwomen's Debut Album and Busbee's Death
September 2019 marked the release of The Highwomen's self-titled debut album, which reached the top ten on Billboard charts. Sadly, this month also saw the passing of Morris's producer, Busbee.
2019: Release of Album "Girl" and Continued Genre Exploration
Maren Morris's 2019 album "Girl" continued to showcase her genre-blending style, incorporating elements of R&B and hip hop into her country sound, as noted by critics.
2019: Critical Acclaim for Vocal Style
Maren Morris's vocal abilities garnered significant praise in 2019, with critics such as Jon Caramanica highlighting her versatility and Chris Richards of The Washington Post deeming her the "best voice of any country singer working today."
2019: Genre-Bending Album "Girl" Tops Charts
In 2019, Morris released her fifth album, "Girl," further blending country with diverse musical styles and featuring collaborations with other artists, resulting in chart-topping singles.
March 2020: Birth of Son
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd's son was born in March 2020.
2020: Recognizing Black Artists at the CMA Awards
During her acceptance speech at the 2020 CMA Awards, Maren Morris made a point of acknowledging the contributions of Black artists who paved the way for her, including Mickey Guyton, Linda Martell, and Brittney Spencer.
2020: Success of Single "The Bones"
In 2020, Morris's single "The Bones" from the album "Girl" topped Billboard Country Airplay and Country Songs charts. A duet version with Hozier achieved crossover success, peaking at number 12 on the Hot 100.
April 2021: Donation to Social Justice Organizations
In April 2021, Maren Morris made a significant donation of $300,000 to support social justice organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Together We Rise, and Ecologi.
June 4, 2021: Collaboration with John Mayer and Release of "Last Train Home"
Maren Morris collaborated with John Mayer on his single "Last Train Home," released on June 4, 2021, and also lent her vocals to other tracks on his album "Sob Rock."
August 2021: Participation in "Together: Feeding Nashville" Concert
Maren Morris joined fellow country artists in August 2021 for the "Together: Feeding Nashville" benefit concert, which successfully raised $450,000 to combat food insecurity in the Nashville area.
2021: Advocacy for Equity in Country Music and Speaking Out Against Racism
Throughout 2021, Maren Morris emerged as a vocal advocate for greater equity in country music, particularly for Black artists. She used her platform to highlight the disparities faced by marginalized groups and condemned racism within the industry, notably calling out Morgan Wallen for using a racial slur.
2021: Wins Female Vocalist and Artist of the Year Awards
Maren Morris received several accolades in 2021, including Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association and two wins for Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards (2020 and 2021).
January 2022: Release of Single "Circles Around This Town"
Maren Morris released the single "Circles Around This Town" in January 2022.
March 2022: Release of Album "Humble Quest"
Maren Morris released her studio album "Humble Quest" in March 2022, marking a return to her country roots. The album, produced by Greg Kurstin, received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number two on the Billboard country albums chart.
March 25, 2022: Humble Quest Release and Guinness World Record
On March 25, 2022, Morris released her sixth studio album, "Humble Quest," which earned her a Guinness World Record for the most first-day and first-week streams for a country album by a female artist on Amazon Music.
August 2022: Public Criticism of Brittany Aldean and Support for Transgender Community
In August 2022, Maren Morris publicly criticized comments made by Brittany Aldean, wife of country singer Jason Aldean, which were widely perceived as transphobic. Morris's stance led to a public exchange and drew attention to issues of transphobia within the country music industry.
September 2022: Partnership with GLAAD for Spirit Day
Maren Morris collaborated with GLAAD in September 2022 to design a T-shirt in support of Spirit Day, an annual LGBTQ+ anti-bullying awareness campaign.
September 2023: Announcement to Leave Country Music Due to Industry Issues
In September 2023, Maren Morris announced her intention to depart from country music, citing the industry's failure to address issues of misogyny and racism, as well as its lack of support for marginalized artists.
October 2023: Divorce Filing
Maren Morris filed for divorce from Ryan Hurd in October 2023.
2023: Departure from Country Music and Release of "The Bridge" EP
In late 2023, Maren Morris announced her decision to depart from the country music genre, stating that she had "said everything" she wanted to say in that space. Around the same time, Columbia released her EP "The Bridge," featuring tracks produced by Greg Kurstin and Jack Antonoff. Morris also shared her plans to collaborate with Antonoff on a new album.
January 2024: Divorce Settlement
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd reached a divorce settlement in January 2024.