Maren Morris Is Not The Leader the Media Loves to Portray
It remains stupefying why pop star Maren Morris continues to be portrayed as a leader, feminist, and groundbreaker, etc. in country music by fawning media members who’ve been rendered starry-eyed simply because they’re find guilty pleasure in some of her tunes. The steel resolve and moral compass you seek out in someone with leadership skills clearly escapes Morris, and this speaks nothing to the creative depravity of her music that is so transparently using the country industry as a stepping stone, alarm bells should be sounding as opposed to obsequious praise being lumped upon her.
Praise for Maren Morris is born not from her moral certitude or musical output, but her willingness to be on the right side of certain social issues, making her a useful accomplice in the attempt by some journalists to infiltrate the country music sphere and reshape its political alignment by using artists, music, and issues as springboards and wormholes.
The latest praising comes for Maren Morris criticizing country radio’s gender disparity, but earlier this year and beyond, Maren Morris was anything but a critic of country radio’s approach to women. Not only was Morris unwilling to speak up on the matter, she willfully painted the inaccurate picture that things were improving for women despite the insurmountable evidence to the contrary. While things for women were never worse, Maren Morris told popculture.com on February 27th,
“I think that it’s a slow process but I think it is getting better. I look at people like myself and Kelsea [Ballerini] and Carly Pearce, who just had a No. 1 a couple months ago. And Cam has this bad ass single out now, and Lauren Alaina. There’s been a lot of people coming into the fold now that are getting noticed.”
On the same day, Taste of Country ran a story titled “Maren Morris Is Hearing More Diversity, Women on the Radio,” where Maren asserted again, “It’s a slow process, but I think it is getting better. There have been a lot of people coming into the fold that are getting noticed.”
What was the occasion of Maren Morris speaking to multiple members of the media? She was celebrating her single “I Could Use a Love Song” hitting #1 on radio. This would have been the perfect time for her to address the gender disparity on radio, and not use her #1 as a token excuse of why radio was improving, but a forum to speak upon the underlying issue which had never been worse.
In fact the reason media members were asking Maren about radio is because of her portrayal as a leader, and as a tough and outspoken artist. They were likely looking for juicy headlines, seeing how radio was in a historical malaise for women at the moment despite Maren’s token #1. But instead, she side stepped, and fed the media quotes that relieved pressure on radio for its gender disparity, and incorrectly portrayed the environment as improving.
And this isn’t an isolated event. Maren Morris has a history of defending radio’s handling of women artists. When speaking to Glamour in July of 2017, Maren Morris said,
“I think [women are] more authentic and original, and I think [women] get recognized more than a new male country artist coming to the radio, even if [men] get played more. Because there are so few women’s songs still, they get the most attention in the outside realm even though they’re not getting as many spins as the dude next to them a week.”
There are a few interesting things to dissect from this quote. First, Maren is once again side steps the issue of country radio not playing enough women instead of meeting it head on. And this is different from refusing to answer the question at all, let alone answering it in the negative, which would not only be a true sign of leadership, it would be the truth.
In the Glamour quote, Maren inadvertently explains why she doesn’t feel the need to challenge radio. It’s because Maren Morris isn’t a victim of country radio’s gender disparity, she is a beneficiary of it. As one of the few women country radio will actually play, she’s given extra attention by the radio, and by the media. And one of the reasons radio will actually play her is because her music isn’t country. It’s pop, and fits mainstream radio’s flavor profile more than artists like Miranda Lambert for example.
Maren Morris also says in the same Glamour interview, “You should keep your relationships with radio positive, but also honest. I kind of kick back at not being played enough — but, for instance, Miranda Lambert, didn’t have a number one song until her third album.” And now radio barely plays Miranda Lambert at all, and her singles struggle due to the pop infiltration into country by artists such as Maren Morris, and despite strong sales.
There is an element to modern country that Maren Morris is willing to speak out on, which she did in her well-circulated op-ed in Lenny Letter called Moving My Beloved Country Music Forward. Here Maren’s big beef was that women in country are only allowed to sing about certain subjects, hemming them in creatively. Certainly this is a fair concern, but something that seems more an issue possibly of what songs Maren’s label is letting her record as opposed to a mark on the genre itself, either historically or present day.
“Like most humans, I don’t listen to one type of music, and I don’t write about one type of feeling,” Maren says. “I write about sex and the self-inflicting pain of being the asshole at the end of a long relationship, being young and drunk with your girlfriends, or just having a meaningless but fun (and sometimes necessary) fling. Things that don’t always make me look like a puritan saint, but they’re unflinchingly honest, and I couldn’t write it down on paper or sing it unless I went through it personally.”
But country music of the past and present is full of these types of songs from women. From Rose Maddox’s “I’ll Make Sweet Love to You” in the 40’s, the Tammy Wynette’s “Good Girls Gonna Go Bad” in the 60’s, to plenty of bawdy material in the present day. That’s not to diminish Maren’s underlying point. Of course artists should be able to write and record whatever they want, and women shouldn’t be held to different standards than men. Country radio is a family-friendly format, and that needs to be taken into account as well. But there’s a good chance what Maren Morris was talking about here wasn’t really about some rigid parameters she’s been put under by her label or radio, but not being able to participate in a duet with Wheeler Walker Jr. that her label axed last minute. If Maren’s sexuality is being oppressed, you surely don’t her that in her own music or public persona whatsoever.
And Maren Morris’s defense of music’s male-dominated landscape that she’s supposed to be raging against extends beyond country radio. On February 17th, speaking to the Associated Press about the flap the Grammy Awards and President Neil Portnow were receiving for a lack of female winners and Portnow’s own comments about women needing to try harder, Maren Morris was one of the few artists, and one of the few women artists, who came out in defense of the Grammy process.
Maren Morris said, “I think the person that’s won the most Grammys is Alison Krauss so I don’t know. I mean, there’s obviously some things that need to be looked at, I think, and maybe it’s just voting members. Maybe we need to like expand on that.”
Alison Krauss is actually tied for second with Quincy Jones for most Grammy Awards, while Hungarian composer Georg Sorti holds the record with 31 wins. But once again Maren Morris side stepped an important women’s issue and even offered a mild defense. And why? Because Maren Morris has been a beneficiary of the Grammy process, just like she’s a beneficiary of country radio. Maren Morris won the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for “My Church” in 2017, and was nominated for three other awards, including the all genre Best New Artist.
Another example of Maren’s lack of leadership was at the ACM Awards in April. One of the big reasons to watch was to see how the ACMs and the country music community would remember the tragic shooting that occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in October of 2017. The biggest massacre in modern United States history which claimed 54 lives and injured 851 others occurred right down the street from the MGM Grand where the ACMs transpired.
Country music’s return to Las Vegas was a big story line leading up to the 2018 ACMs. The Academy of Country Music itself, and its President Pete Fisher (formerly of the Grand Ole Opry) helped build the anticipation of how the presentation would honor the victims, survivors, and first responders. But except for an awkward, 80-second cold open to start the event (in which Maren Morris participated), the tragedy was mostly avoided. There were no performances to coincide with the rolling of names or faces of the deceased, no teary-eyed moment for country fans to remember the 2018 ACM Awards by. The policy of the ACMs appeared to be to give a quick mention of the tragedy at the beginning to get it out of the way, and then forget about it.
The next morning, Saving Country Music shared its concerns about the lack of reverence from the ACM Awards, but focused mostly on the complete lack of a In Memoriam segment for passed away country artists, of which there have been numerous important ones in the period between the last ACM presentation. A mention of the lack of any real subsnative remembrance for Route 91 Harvest victims was also given.
Rolling Stone Country‘s Jonathan Bernstein decided to go deeper into the matter and published a dedicated article on the concern, saying in part,
The show’s most direct address of the October 1st tragedy came during its 80-second cold open, in which Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris spoke about “the healing power of music.” But the opening came across not so much as a cathartic, emotional tribute as a focus-grouped explanation as to why the show would be avoiding any such overt tribute.
Rolling Stone Country and everyone else who showed fair concern for the lack of effort for a proper tribute was correct. Bernstein’s criticism was fair and measured, and while Rolling Stone Country‘s music coverage here recently has been veering more into the political realm, Bernstein clearly avoided issues of wanting artists or the ACM to speak out against gun control, or politicize the tragedy in any aspect, and instead focused on the presentation’s lack of heart, or wisdom to roll the sorrow of the moment into a compelling and memorable moment.
Nonetheless, this stimulated Maren Morris to snap back on Twitter, “Honestly, this is so unnecessary. Artists who want to talk about Vegas HAVE talked about it and everyone just wants to exhale … I think the ACM’s WERE respectful. I get that everyone has an opinion, but if you weren’t there and they aren’t YOUR fans who were taken, maybe don’t judge a show that’s trying to help everyone move on.”
But “moving on” is the exact defense many who want to brush the tragedy under the rug and not address its underlying cause want to do. Once again Maren Morris wasn’t taking the leadership approach of being on the right side of an issue or challenging prevailing thought like the media loves to portray. She was showing her fluidity to want to be on whatever side of an issue worked for her in the moment since she participated in the ACM’s cold open tribute.
On June 10th, The Tennessean posted an article going in-depth about how the disparity for country women on radio has not improved now here three years after Tomatogate—the controversy sparked when radio consultant Keith Hill said if radio wants better ratings, take women out of playlists. Maren Morris came out and said,
UGH. I had a program director tell me 2 years ago “Don’t release I Could Use A Love Song as a single. People don’t want to hear sad women..” It was my first #1 a year later. If you don’t give us the chance to be heard, potential fans will NEVER hear us … I hate even saying I’m “lucky” I got airplay on my first single. Yes, there were some amazing PDs and FANS that helped me, but I’m also proud as hell of writing those songs, and know anyone who puts their art on the line to be great deserves the same shot men get.
It’s great that Maren has finally decided to speak up on this issue as opposed to side stepping it, mischaracterizing it as improving, or even like she said to Glamour, can be used to some artist’s benefit. But once again this is because it’s expedient for Maren Morris to do so.
Maren’s current single “Rich” has stalled at country radio. Released on February 12th, the hope was it would become one of 2018’s hot summer songs. Instead it sits at #35 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart at the moment, and down two spots from the previous week. With the slow burn country singles enact these days, there’s still a possibility it could end up improving, but for the first time in her career, Maren Morris is staring at adversity as opposed to upside potential at country radio. And only now she has decided to speak up about country radio’s woman troubles, and still only within the frame of her own perspective, and putting her success at the forefront as opposed to the underlying issue at hand.
– – – – – – –
This is not meant to be a take down of Maren Morris. She is a young artist who’s seen a lot of success, who has a right to make mistakes, and evolve ideas and principles over time. It’s questionable if its even her place to criticize country radio, the Grammy Awards, or the ACMs for their actions. Her job is to perform, and do what she can to make sure her music is the most successful. Crossing swords with radio and awards shows isn’t always the best way to do that.
The problem is the obsequious and inaccurate portrayal of Maren Morris as a leader. As she said to Glamour, with so few women in mainstream country, the media tends to obsess and harp on the ones that do exist to an unrealistic and unhealthy degree, and this is often at the expense of country women who actually play country music, do exert leadership even when it’s not in their best interests, and play music that is empowering by stimulating thought and sharing perspective as opposed to shallow narratives centered around buzzwords like Prada and Diddy in a bid to be popular in the pop world.
One of the reasons “Rich” and certain other singles by country women under perform is because they’re not very good. Is there inherent sexism persistent in mainstream country radio? Perhaps there is, but simplifying the issue to a one word answer will never solve it. Praising artists for mild output or empowerment qualities that either don’t exist, or not nearly to the degree with which they’re being praised for only crowds out other women artists, and sometimes ones who would find more traction and reception for their music if just given a chance.
When true country fans hear an artist like Maren Morris or a song like “Rich,” they tend to be repulsed. So if that’s your one representation of the modern women of country music, you’re discounting other country women systemically. The lack of women on the radio needs to be broached as a complex problem as opposed to boiling it down to simple “sexism.” That’s also why you will never solve it simply by demanding radio play more women. Because if those women are like Maren Morris, and the songs are like “Rich,” you will never build wide appeal behind their music on country radio, because Maren Morris doesn’t belong on country radio in the first place. Maren Morris is a pop star.
Luke
June 28, 2018 @ 8:46 am
Good grief, move over Kacey and Midland, now Trigger’s got Maren Morris in his sights!
What a bunch of disingenuous drivel. You write an article under the guise of debunking her as a leader, but really it’s just an excuse to rip apart a bunch of cherry-picked, isolated quotes, isn’t it? I didn’t find anything she said particularly objectionable, and a person with a mic shoved under their nose has to say SOMETHING, don’t they?
You hate Maren Morris’ music. We get it! WE GET IT. #wegetit. I happen to think she made an incredible pop country album where every single song sounds like a single, and if you can’t get anything out of the Bonnie Raitt-leaning “I Wish I Was”, well, ouch.
I enjoy this site a lot, I find good music here, and even the stuff that’s not to my taste I appreciate you bringing to a wider audience. But hot garbage like this makes me not want to visit at all. But hey, I commented, so it worked! Ya got me!
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 9:01 am
Maren Morris’s music is irrelevant to this topic. This isn’t an attempt at a take down of Maren Morris. I think she has every right to say whatever she wants, and/or refuse to speak about certain hot button topics like the lack of women on country radio. Nothing Maren Morris said and quoted here seems overly offensive.
Instead, this is a rebuke of how music media is unfairly praising certain artists due to fandom and political affiliation, often resulting in the shading out of artists who are more worthy of such praise.
Don’t think for a second I don’t understand the controversial nature of this subject, or its ripeness to be misunderstood. But I believe if people read the content objectively, they will understand my viewpoint. And if they don’t, so be it. I don’t run a popularity contest. Sometimes things must be said, whatever the consequences.
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 11:14 am
Funnier than this waste of an article is, is the fact that you think it “needed to be said”
hahaha
Luke
June 28, 2018 @ 2:42 pm
Yeah, lol at “needed to be said”. The article isn’t ABOUT her music, but let’s not kid ourselves, it only exists because you can’t stand her and her music.
Gina
June 28, 2018 @ 5:41 pm
Yeah, Luke. I agree with everything in your comment, especially the last paragraph. I came to this blog for the same reason you did but this really turns me off.
North Woods Country
June 29, 2018 @ 8:50 am
To be fair, anyone with ears and decent taste can’t stand her music
Paige
June 28, 2018 @ 9:16 am
Couldn’t have said it any better! I pretty much hate all “Radio Country”, but I love Maren!
Not to mention I feel like this makes zero sense… “She was celebrating her single “I Could Use a Love Song” hitting #1 on radio. This would have been the perfect time for her to address the gender disparity on radio, and not use her #1 as a token excuse of why radio was improving…”
Why do we have to be negative in a great moment?! And… isn’t a woman getting a #1 proof that radio IS improving?…
Luke, your second ‘We Get It’ paragraph is awesome. I Wish I Was hits you where it hurts and is a beautiful, non-popish song in my opinion! #teamMaren
Luke
June 28, 2018 @ 2:46 pm
Haha yeah, I’d assume most people don’t celebrate #1 songs by immediately delving into radio’s gender disparity. And if Maren wants to take a more glass-half-full approach and celebrate Cam and Kelsea, well, that’s her prerogative.
These articles that masquerade as take-downs of the media bluster around the artist, when clearly they are meant to rip the artist herself to shreds, are the worst.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 6:27 pm
I can’t in good conscience sit back and let the media bestow Maren Morris with praise as a leader when it comes to the lack of women on radio when she has a long, storied history as illustrated here in great detail of not just avoiding the issue, but relieving pressure on radio by making excuses for it, as well as mischaracterizing the trend as improving. The characterization of Maren Morris as a leader is incorrect. She can say whatever she wants to say in interviews, and as I said in the article, I wouldn’t blame her for not speaking up because it puts her own relationship with radio in jeopardy. But the simple truth is Maren has avoided and excused this issue many times while others have been challenging radio, and have been speaking out. Yet it’s Maren who’s praised, not them.
Jennifer
June 29, 2018 @ 8:21 am
You “wouldn’t blame her for not speaking up”, but you just wrote a whole article blaming her for speaking up.
Give her a break – maybe it just isn’t her style to be the next Gloria Steinem.
Kt
July 2, 2018 @ 10:45 am
#wegetit
Ramsay
July 2, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
I actually like the fact Trigger is so outspoken and writes pieces like this. That said, he is in desperate need of a good editor and an understanding of brevity.
Danny
September 9, 2022 @ 2:56 pm
As soon as we bring politics and religion into conversation we have spewed hatred. Dislike Maren Morris, Yes, I agree. She has become the Jane Fonda of Music. Go to any large festival and see all the Banners, Flags and signs that ridicule politicians. It’s funny and It’s Sad. Everyone has an opinion just like everyone has a toilet. However, unless asked please keep the Seat Down!
Corncaster
June 28, 2018 @ 8:58 am
“things that don’t always make me look like a puritan saint, but they’re unflinchingly honest”
LOL, yeah well, I killed and ate my victims with fava beans and a nice Chianti, but my songs about that are unflinchingly honest!
No, I’m not saying having a fling and being an axe-murderer are the same thing. What I’m saying is that “unflinching honesty” doesn’t somehow excuse bad behavior.
She’s almost thirty. You’d think she’d sound a little less self-centered by this point. Publicity does strange things to people. Publications do strange things to people, particularly to people who want desperately to be popular and sell themselves.
Feh.
kross
June 28, 2018 @ 9:38 am
she’s a total fraud. She’s talented enough, but make no mistake about it, when she gets the opportunity to turn tail and head toward pop stardom like Taylor Swift did, she’s gonna catch that bus and not look back.
RWP
June 28, 2018 @ 10:15 am
That may be what she wants,but it’s not going to happen. She’s too old. She will continue to pass of her horrid pop songs as country music.
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 10:58 am
What a dumb, silly comment. Maren has said herself on numerous occasions “I grew up listening to not just country, so why are people shocked my record isn’t just country?” I’m paraphrasing, of course.
Ya’ll acting like she’s supposed to be some country ambassador or something. It’s just another shade in musical life. Her album is just as much pop, soul, blues, and rock as it is country.
Get a grip.
kross
June 28, 2018 @ 12:26 pm
standing by my comment. We all grew up listening to other types of music. Hell, I was born in the 70’s. Cut my teeth on Hank jr, graduated to Van Halen and Gn’R before moving on to Grunge for about 2 minutes. But I always knew where one stopped and the other started. She’s a pop singer thru and thru, but because she seems to lack that it factor that can take her to the next level, she’s hanging out in Nashville pretending to be a country singer, because she knows shitty country radio is the only place that will play her bubble gum horseshit. And now mainstream media is sniffing her ass because she’s positioned herself as some kind of “woke” country star. She’s just fame hungry and doesn’t care how she gets there. I grew up in the country, I don’t remember anyone riding around in 80’s Mercedes in my little farm town.
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Please show me where she says she’s a country singer and only a country singer. I’ll wait.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 1:03 pm
Alright, well if Maren Morris doesn’t want to be hemmed in by “country,” how about she forfeit her CMA for New Artist of the Year, her Grammy Award, and stop pushing her music to country radio? These pop stars want it both ways. They want to exploit country music infrastructure with pop music, but they don’t want to be restricted by country music’s norms and traditions. Fine then, go be a pop star. She already has a #1 pop song with “The Middle.”
And don’t give me any crap about how she’s being restricted creatively. “Rich” is as derivative and creatively vacant as it gets. Maren Morris is a pop star stealing precious awards and radio play from actual country women.
RWP
June 28, 2018 @ 5:35 pm
I will get a grip as soon as they stop playing sh it pop music by the likes of Maren Morris on country stations.
Ulysses McCaskill
June 29, 2018 @ 8:29 am
Calling her music blues is an insult to guys like Lightnin’ Hopkins who played real blues music. It’s pop. Just call it pop.
Black Boots
June 29, 2018 @ 8:32 am
You’ve no idea what pop music is, apparently
Bill Weiler
July 1, 2018 @ 9:59 am
Come on, the influence of Son House and Charlie Patton are obvious.
Bill Weiler
July 1, 2018 @ 10:10 am
Come on, the influence of Son House and Charlie Patton is obvious.
sbach66
July 1, 2018 @ 5:44 pm
Robert Johnson wishes he had those chops.
RD
June 28, 2018 @ 10:19 am
I thought she already was a pop singer?
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 1:55 pm
You sound 15. She won awards for her songs. Who the HELL would “Give it back?”
Get a fucking grip, dude.
Ulysses McCaskill
June 29, 2018 @ 8:17 am
You haven’t been paying much attention lately have you? Nobody here, Trigger included, has a problem with these artists making their pop music. Most everybody here, including Trigger, has a problem with those same artists making pop music and allowing it to be called country, garnering country music awards for it, and then bitching at people who have the nerve to call them out on it. I suggest you find a different website if you don’t want pop music masquerading as country music to be criticized.
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 1:56 pm
That was meant for Trigger’s stupid “She should give back her CMA” award post, which i now see, can’t be replied to? Apologies, RD.
Kristin
June 28, 2018 @ 9:42 am
Couldn’t agree more. I used to love her music but now i turn her off as soon as i hear her on radio. She doesn’t appeal to me anymore and watching her act all tough and cocky on social media makes my skin crawl. That girl needs a big bite of humble pie asap
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 9:53 am
Good lord. What a load of shit. Pretty pathetic, trigger
CountryKnight
June 28, 2018 @ 9:56 am
“My Church” was a Trojan horse.
Once again, radio has a stupid problem and Maren Morris is the part of the problem.
RWP
June 28, 2018 @ 10:09 am
I couldn’t agree with you more but you going to get soo slammed,as you already are lol
Keep calling the bullshit out.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 1:13 pm
One inadvertently great thing about all the inside-the-beltway journalists in Nashville collectively ganging up on you to say what a sexist, racist piece of shit you are because you had the audacity to criticize the arrogance of their favorite pop star is that henceforth it doesn’t matter what you do because they’re already expended all their dry powder on a popcorn fart. The groupthink and subversive politically-oriented tribalism pervasive in the current country music journalism corps is nothing short of an existential threat to the country music genre, and I’ve sat on my hands long enough. There are some great music journalists out there. But others are hell bent on militarizing country music to do their political bidding. And if it doesn’t, they will attempt to destroy it.
Mike Honcho
June 28, 2018 @ 1:24 pm
Whose opinion is this? “but her willingness to be on the right side of certain social issues”
If it is yours then you are full of shit, and a hypocrite.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 3:11 pm
It is written into the Charter of Saving Country Music to avoid all political discussion, and from taking political sides unless it is imperative to music coverage. Beyond that, over the past two years, I have made it a focus of mine to lobby for keeping country music free from the political rancor roiling most all other parts of society at the moment so that music can be an escape for people looking for solace in a polarized world, as well as continue to be used as a tool to bridge difference as opposed to defining them. Even beyond that, on a personal level I have no political affiliations or alignments, and any specific political views I may have I do my best to keep to myself, as any impartial journalist should, in my opinion. I keep my opinions to music. Any assumed political stances someone may think I have are usually incorrect.
When speaking about the “willingness to be on the right side of certain issues,” this was clearly taking the perspective of journalists who choose to cover artists, or cover artists in a more positive manner because they fit the journalist’s same perspective on politics.
MH
June 28, 2018 @ 10:12 am
“Once again Maren Morris wasn’t taking the leadership approach of being on the right side of an issue or challenging prevailing thought like the media loves to portray. She was showing her fluidity to want to be on whatever side of an issue worked for her in the moment…”
And herein lies the problem with the entertainment world and the current political climate in this country. Reminds me of the celebrities like Ashley Judd that jumped on the #metoo movement when Weinstein accusations reached fever pitch in the media. They knew for YEARS that all this was going on with Weinstein but they let it go and kept silent because they hadn’t reached a point in their careers where they were making millions of dollars. Now that those careers are established and there’s a endless funnel of money, they come out and join a “movement” and the media just gushes over them.
It’s the exact same thing with female singers and mainstream country radio executives.
TK
June 28, 2018 @ 10:19 am
Interesting article, but given you focus 90% of the article on MM and not those making her out to be a leader, folks are probably going to see this as a targeted take down. Maybe should have led with a disclaimer on “this article is not about MM” and then followed through by 1) calling out those that falsely make her out to be a leader in more detail (ie is she highlighted as leader more than other female artists) 2) highlighting women that are leaders…perhaps even defining what you’d consider constitutes a “leader”.
All that being said, her music is awesome for driving my fictional kids to fictional soccer practice in my fictional minivan. Pretty vapid stuff and unbecoming a Texan “country’ artist.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
If the article hadn’t gone so long, I would have given some media examples, as well as broached the subject of Maren’s social media feeds, which is an entirely other topic.
Clyde
June 28, 2018 @ 2:49 pm
I was also expecting more specifics about these Marin Morris loving journalists (who they are, what they are saying, why they are wrong). You provide almost no supporting evidence for your claim. The whole article seemed to heading toward the final paragraph which begins “When true country fans hear an artist like Maren Morris or a song like “Rich,” they tend to be repulsed.”
Not your best piece of journalism Trigger.
Black Boots
June 29, 2018 @ 3:39 am
He’s not a journalist. He’s a blogger.
Ulysses McCaskill
June 29, 2018 @ 8:14 am
Well then don’t you suppose you’re getting awfully worked up over a “blogger”?
Trigger
June 29, 2018 @ 8:51 am
Over the years a lot of folks have tried to use the term “blogger” as an insult towards me (including Maren), and I don’t take it that way at all. Sometimes what I do is definitely blogging, and I even label it as such. There are a lot of bloggers who are readers of this site, and I think bloggers play an important role in the music space, and would never attempt to diminish their efforts. Doing so I think is an element of elitism. That said, most bloggers don’t cover murder trials, or get interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and other major news outlets as a trusted and authoritative source of information and opinion. Most bloggers are not published authors. The reason these outlets reach out to me as opposed to other colleagues at magazines and newspapers is because they know I’m honest and thorough, and not just an extension of the promotional arm of the record industry. An article like this proves that.
The argument I presented in this article (or blog, if you will) is very logical. Maren Morris is being portrayed by the media as a strong feminist leader, when her record clearly shows quite the contrary. It’s that simple. The only thing that complicates that very logical conclusion is feelings of fandom, or political rancor—both of which hang thick in the air around Maren. Telling the truth in the face of public misconception is not easy, but it’s often very important. Call it blogging all you want. Nonetheless, it’s using the power of the written word to deliver truth.
Case
June 28, 2018 @ 10:24 am
I think sometimes we glance over history, as we’re wont to do. She put out “My Church,” which we loved to death, but then started doing talk shows with “80’s Mercedes.” THAT was weird. Then she toured with what’s his name. Then she did some stuff where she got to say, “A year ago on this night I was drinking a beer across the street.” Only months later, I’ve got a 13 year old kid who talks about “The Middle” and has absolutely no idea who is singing it nor, actually, cares. So, yea, she’s on a ride. Hope she can cash out. As I’m fairly certain she’s a midget.
Dobe Daddy
June 28, 2018 @ 10:36 am
No doubt about it, to go from ‘My Church’ to ‘Rich’ makes her the next Loretta Lynn. Haul that Kitty Wells display out of the Country Music HOF, because Maren Morris is going to need her own wing. She’s so country she makes Dolly Parton look like Queen Victoria. She’s so country that when her songs come on the radio Toyota Priuses across the nation roll coal. She’s so country that she makes the Stanley Brothers sound like Depeche Mode.
FeedThemHogs
June 29, 2018 @ 8:26 am
Now THAT was funny! HAHA!!!!!!
Justin
June 28, 2018 @ 11:48 am
We should be thankful her EDM-pop collab with Zedd “The Middle” and that Camila Cabello feat. Kane Brown tune “Never Be The Same” didn’t “cross over” to country radio. I read “Never Be The Same” actually was sent to country radio a few months ago, but didn’t have an add date. Testing the waters I guess to see just how pop they can push things…
Anyway, why can’t these country males collab with country female singers instead of pop females? When we say we need more women in country, we aren’t talking about pop tarts like Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Ke$ha, Meghan Trainor, Beyonce, etc.
Rita Ballou
June 28, 2018 @ 12:58 pm
She needs less selfies and another album. I enjoyed the first one but she’s milked that sucker dry.
Oh – and I didn’t actually read the article. I just came here to say that and read the comments.
Ovaltine
June 28, 2018 @ 3:13 pm
Hey Trigger, good article. On a separate note, I’m wondering if you’ve heard of Emily Scott Robinson and listened to any of her songs? She has two albums that I know of, Magnolia Queen, released in 2016, and Live in Birmingham, released in 2017. I enjoyed both of them and would be interest to hear what you think.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 5:37 pm
Yes, I listened to Emily Scott Robinson’s 2016 record and considered it for review. At only 8 songs and acoustic only, it was a little difficult to find enough words to say about it to justify a full review, but I liked what she did. When she releases a new record she’ll be considered for feature again.
Wild Billy
June 28, 2018 @ 4:47 pm
Maren Morris is NOT country… Radio needs to remove their head from their AZZ and expose this charade ASAP. To be fair, I find both Maren and her song “Rich” to be completely acceptable in the pop genre. I find myself toe tapping right along to a pretty fine song. However not even one detail of the song is “country”. EXPOSE THE MYTH !!
albert
June 28, 2018 @ 4:55 pm
I’ll say first off , once again . I AM A HUGE MAREN MORRIS FAN because I’m a fan of TALENT ( something sorely lacking in mainstream country ). I’m a HUGE fan of her album and , once again , NO …it is NOT a country album . It is , in my opinion however, a GREAT pop album …not just a GOOD one . The writing , the fresh production and arrangements and that voice …that incredible voice ……there is no denying the quality and vision in all the aforementioned .
Secondly ….I’m really not clear on why Maren seems to have been made the ‘ whipping boy’ in your article Trigger . She seems to come across as genuine , honest , level-headed , open-minded and positive about the state of women in country and isn’t appearing to dodge the questions . That’s all good stuff …..right ?
I don’t think I’d expect anyone in ‘the biz’ to come across as ‘political’ in any respect . Sure , I’d like to hear more folks speak up about the quality of the music , in general , and I’d like to hear more people call out the shit Hunt and FGL and Urban and Rhett sell as COUNTRY music ….but mostly because it isn’t even good MUSIC , genre aside .
I like that there is a rootsy nature to MM’s sound …real players involved , real lyric ….fresh and clever hooks n grooves and again …NOT country in the least . And at this point she , and so many others , should do the right thing and leave country radio to COUNTRY artists . If she did , I’d follow as a fan .
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 5:03 pm
Albert, I’m always glad to read your posts when Maren is involved, ’cause i know you’re a fan, but i do take issue with one thing. Your stubbornness in saying it’s not the LEAST bit country. Well, c’mon, yes it is. It’s got a very obvious country INFLUENCE, at the very least.
Put it this way, at work, i play HERO all the time for people who primarily listen to pop music and hiphop. Their response? “Wow, you listen to country music?”
This happens all the time. The fact of the matter is for people who’re heavily steeped into Country and it’s history, Maren Morris sounds pop, but to people who listen to pop, Maren Morris sounds country.
That’s pretty damming evidence that her music has at least a very strong country influence. Why else would numerous people (you can check youtube comments as well) in my life say it, when they’ve no idea who she is, what awards she’s won, or anything about her life? Ya know?
sbach66
June 28, 2018 @ 5:12 pm
It’s not country. Quit trying to make weak arguments defending it as such.
Because it is not.
Black Boots
June 28, 2018 @ 5:20 pm
Your reading comprehension is horrible
sbach66
June 28, 2018 @ 7:07 pm
Not as horrible as you claiming that pop music fans identifying something as being “country” is “damming” evidence to the contrary.
Or “damning.”
Whiskey_Pete
June 29, 2018 @ 8:08 am
Black Boots you must have missed ‘reading’ the name of this website.
albert
June 28, 2018 @ 11:24 pm
Black Boots ….. most people who listen to mainstream pop OR ‘country ‘ radio also think Sam Hunt , FGL and Walker Hayes are country . If you are defining ‘country’ by those parmeters ….sure Maren is country . But let’s be honest . NONE of those acts is country .
Black Boots
June 29, 2018 @ 3:17 am
Again, that’s subjective, but even those radio artists you mention are at the very least country INFLUENCED. I think saying she’s not the LEAST BIT country is just plain wrong. It’s just another tool in her toolkit. She employs tons of influences.
albert
June 29, 2018 @ 8:09 am
Where I’d agree with your take BB is in the fact that Maren’s music is R & B / roots / soul and QUALITY-influenced …as is some of the best and most authentic country …particularly when it comes to an emotion-driven vocal performance .
MOST radio ” country ‘ music in these times seems to have forgotten the importance of the ‘ emotional ” quotient in delivering a song ( George Jones , Vern Gosdin , Randy , early Joe Nichols ) and that seems to be a result of the weak , no-substance material rather than , perhaps , the ability of more artists to tap into that . Certainly Carrie Underwood has shown herself capable of delivering emotion but rarely records a COUNTRY song to display that .
The Easton Corbins , Mo Pitneys and Josh Turners can all deliver an emotional substance-driven lyric …but radio/the industry doesn’t want to hear them doing what they can do the best . They want poppy fluff with no shelf life and watered-down sing-along lyrics which , again , taps into a pop-centric demographic .
The interesting and ironic thing is that a Chris Stapleton comes along and delivers emotion arguably better than anyone around and outsells all the fluff by a WIDE margin . So we KNOW there’s a huge market who DO want THAT in country music . Radio needs to wake up to this fact . Maren Morris is a gift , in that respect . But she’s not singing country music ….only influenced by the same authenticity REAL country music is influenced by .
And again , no matter what market Maren targets , I’m a fan . I just think that REAL singers of great COUNTRY songs are cheated of an opportunity to successfully do that when Maren , Urban , Hayes and the other popsters dominate the “country” charts with lifeless , forgettable fluff .
FeedThemHogs
June 29, 2018 @ 8:31 am
If Sam Hunt is country influenced even in the slightest, I’m a purple elephant living on Mars.
FeedThemHogs
June 29, 2018 @ 8:29 am
People have been conditioned by radio to think that what they hear when they hear Maren Morris is what country music sounds like. It isn’t.
BroncoFan
October 8, 2021 @ 12:47 am
You’re an idiot. Urban and Rhett are great singers.
Gina
June 28, 2018 @ 5:36 pm
I like Maren. I have think she’s very talented. Is she pure country, no. Does she claim to be, no. I also think one or two articles about this subject is really enough. It is starting to look like some sort of personal beef, which is not a good look. Let it go, please. I love this blog, but pieces like this are starting to put me off.
Trigger
June 28, 2018 @ 6:35 pm
Hey Gina,
I appreciate your feedback and concern, and I want you to know I take it seriously.
I just want to clarify one quick thing because I’ve seen it on social media and now here (including Strait Country below).
I haven’t written about Maren Morris in over four months. I did write a few stories about her earlier this year after she released two singles, and also denigrated me on Twitter, but that was in an isolated time period. Also in 2017, I wrote a total of one article about Maren Morris, and that was mostly about Wheeler Walker Jr., not Maren specifically. So though I appreciate your concern, this idea that I’m writing about Maren Morris constantly or can’t let some beef go, etc. is just not true. Unfortunately articles like this tend to loom large, but I’ve written about Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Jason Isbell, and many other artists way more in 2018 than Maren Morris.
Gina
June 28, 2018 @ 9:49 pm
It’s not the quantity, it’s the content. Saying that she’s not a feminist is really a subjective view and isn’t supported by anything but your opinion of her. For what it’s worth, I completely agree with what she said about the GRAMMYS and I’m a woman and a member of the The Recording Academy. I believe you have done good job of supporting female artists on this blog, but articles like this diminish that effort. And you are just giving her more publicity. Just my two cents, but I don’t see the point of this piece at all.
Strait Country 81
June 28, 2018 @ 6:09 pm
A few more articles and she should probably consider a restraining order against Trig
GrantH
June 28, 2018 @ 7:02 pm
The thing is, she has, like, TWO country “hits”? (And I’m not counting “The Middle,” because even though that song was absolutely massive, it was never marketed as a country song.) She’s always been overhyped and her chart history actually isn’t all that impressive when compared to her female counterparts. I guess she’s been able to cross over though, and that’s all the country industry cares about.
Wild Billy
June 28, 2018 @ 7:09 pm
Songs like “Rich” are only county because The Establishment is out there telling us that they are…
DJ
June 28, 2018 @ 8:03 pm
Yes, dunder head empty suits that couldn’t produce anything of value if their life depended on it.
Black Boots
June 29, 2018 @ 3:40 am
Maren herself doesn’t call that song country in the least.
Aggc
June 28, 2018 @ 7:18 pm
My disinterest in Maren Morris begins and ends with her music. I dont know her personally.
Wayfast
June 28, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
Not nearly as fun as the Shooter beef…… Anyway, I tend to agree with the articles. She’s basically as empty and manufactured as FGL/Luke Bryan but walks around talking like she’s revolutionary
DJ
June 28, 2018 @ 8:00 pm
Let’s talk leadership- I read a quote several years ago that stuck with me, so much so that I had it made into a decal and displayed it at work-
True leadership is for the benefit of the follower, not the enrichment of the leader-
It’s applicable to anyone considered a leader, self styled or not.
Empty suit dunder heads have been so filled with you’re special bullshit that they actually believe it and do their dead level best to ensure they dumb down everyone within ear shot- celebrities are the most vulnerable because of their innate insecurity craves attention just like an unwanted kid and are willing to do just about anything to get it- including allowing “handlers” to categorize/label them to suit an empty suit dunder heads desire for control because they couldn’t produce anything of value if their life depended on it- I don’t even listen to her, have never heard her, but at 30 she sounds a bit immature based on what I see here- at some point maybe she’ll grow up, if the dunder head empty suits allow it- and no, I won’t listen to her. Why? I don’t want to.
Adrian
June 29, 2018 @ 11:46 am
Dunder head.. I’ve never heard that word before but I love it.
DJ
June 29, 2018 @ 12:54 pm
dun·der·head
ˈdəndərˌhed/
nouninformal
noun: dunderhead; plural noun: dunderheads
a stupid person.
That’s one of those “first time I heard it I rolled over and kicked a slat out of my cradle”- ;-)…. it originated circa 1600’s- I originated circa 1947-
My youngest son (32) always gets a kick out of my old slang-
JB-Chicago
June 28, 2018 @ 10:05 pm
Maren Morris could only dream of putting out an album as good as Sunny Sweeney’s Trophy. I’m sure her next album will be on par with Ballerini’s latest Pop drivel.
Biscuit
June 29, 2018 @ 5:36 am
Trig, this is your blog and you can write what you damn well please. We can give you feedback as readers and you can take it or leave it. In my opinion, the frustration you feel on your “rant” pieces is that space on your site is valuable for lesser known artists to be highlighted or championed. The infrastructure of the radio and music business isn’t going to change as people are buying what they are selling. So that makes you one of the few places where country fans can learn about new artists or independent ones. My personal feedback would be don’t waste space further promoting Marens or Garths, but introduce us to the new Sturgills and Margos. And don’t confuse comments with readership.
wayne
June 29, 2018 @ 6:07 am
“Praise for Maren Morris is born not from her moral certitude or musical output, but her willingness to be on the right side of certain social issues, making her a useful accomplice in the attempt by some journalists to infiltrate the country music sphere and reshape its political alignment by using artists, music, and issues as springboards and wormholes.”
This is one of the best statements I have ever read on this site. Entirely true and applies to other artists as well.
Mike Honcho
June 29, 2018 @ 7:15 am
I think one thing everybody can agree on is that Black Boots has no idea what Country Music is.
Sereg3ti
June 29, 2018 @ 8:14 am
Don’t forget he hates Margo Price too…I’m on board for #wegetit
Trigger
June 29, 2018 @ 8:18 am
I don’t hate any performer.
“You want to be a true friend? Be honest, and unmerciful.”
Texican
June 29, 2018 @ 9:04 am
“Mercy is for the weak. We do not teach mercy in this dojo. A man confronts you, he is your enemy. Enemies deserve NO MERCY, WHAT IS IT, MISTER LAWERENCE?
Triggerhaslostit
June 29, 2018 @ 9:27 pm
You are just always shitting on her, even when you wrote a piece about her Ryman show, you focused on Childers and Simpson. These women deserve respect. Stop
shtting on them it’s a terrible look for you. Maybe Maren was right, your mom should take your internet privileges away.
Jack Williams
June 29, 2018 @ 9:26 am
Hate is a strong word. I think he has an ax or two to grind when it comes to her and I also think he piled on a bit when reviewing her last album. He’s also said that she’s great live and he thinks she hasn’t found a way show that energy yet on record. I don’t know that I completely agree with that, but whatever.
Trigger
July 1, 2018 @ 3:10 pm
The ax I have to grind with Margo Price is that I know how good she can be. I’ve been following her since Buffalo Clover. I’ve seen her play live many times. Her albums are half efforts, and all the fawning praise for her only reinforces her poor studio habits. Margo Price is not a middling Americana artist. She has the potential to be the female Sturgill Simpson, and she would be if she would release decent records. Until then, I’ll ride her ass and take whatever punches come my way. Because she’s worth criticizing.
North Woods Country
June 29, 2018 @ 8:55 am
No artist who’s more absorbed with how they look on stage, as opposed to worrying about how they sound on stage, has any business being portrayed as a leader.
No artist who can make meaningful, genre changing music who instead chooses to make radio drivel has any business being portrayed as a leader.
Maren Morris has a voice of gold and wants to record songs like “Rich” and “80’s Mercedes.” “My Church” sucked too but nobody would say it out loud. The best she’s done so far is “Dear Hate” and that didn’t exactly receive any push, unfortunately. “I Could Use a Love Song” was pleasant and more in her wheelhouse. She has the potential and ability to make a real difference not only in how many women are on radio, but the quality of the music on the radio.
But she just got in line with what radio wants. Ashley McBryde is the leader mainstream country needs, but Dive Bar has stalled in the 30s. That sucks.
sbach66
June 29, 2018 @ 9:17 am
This is right on regarding Ashley McBryde. She should be held up as a leader of women singing country music, yet because she doesn’t fit the mainstream radio and press’ look or sound, and because other women pop artists like MM masquerading as “country” artists get all the press and airplay (which is what Trigger was saying in this article – note that he never once criticized her talent) she never had a real chance.
JB-Chicago
July 2, 2018 @ 8:34 pm
Current issue of Country Aircheck says Ashley’s “Radioland” is ironically headed to radio as the new single July 16. I like the choice, a little bit more of a stand out that Dive Bar. “Love Tired Of Being Happy” too. Always sing along to that one….lol
Justin
June 30, 2018 @ 5:32 am
“Maren Morris has a voice of gold and wants to record songs like “Rich” and “80’s Mercedes.””
Really I think she just wants to be a pop tart and record pop stuff like her current hit with Zedd “The Middle.” She also recently did a pop song with One Direction pop singer Niall Horan and will be opening on his world tour this year. I think she just wants to do a Taylor Swift, except a lot faster than Taylor did it, with “country” just being the launch pad.
Interesting how she started in 2016 opening on Keith Urban’s tour, then in 2017 opened on Sam Hunt’s tour, now this year opening on Niall Horan’s tour. Going more pop every year.
North Woods Country
June 30, 2018 @ 7:01 am
I don’t know, man. 2014-Present Keith Urban might be the only that that isn’t “Still more country than Sam Hunt.”
Well, I guess Maren Morris can take her shitty attitude over pop music where nobody remembers what #1 was 15 minutes ago. If she wants to make forgettable, annoying music and waste her talent, more power to her.
Jack Williams
June 30, 2018 @ 8:02 am
Walker Hayes
Jack Williams
June 30, 2018 @ 9:29 am
My ten year daughter said to me a few months ago that she thought “Maren Morris was going to pull a Taylor” after she heard In The Middle.
DJ
June 29, 2018 @ 12:48 pm
I find the hypocrisy of double standards amusing- applauding a singer, (or any celebrity for that matter) for speaking their mind and vilifying non-celebrities for speaking their’s is the epitome of hypocrite- and not just here either- it’s everywhere you go. But here, it is Triggers job (as he sees it and it is his site) to criticize what he sees as an affront to what he considers country music, and while I don’t like a lot of what is called country music (even what is promoted as such here) I’ve not invested the time or money or effort to make my feelings known- singers and celebrities jobs are to entertain- pretentiousness is not entertaining tome, but the double standard hypocrisy is funny- in an ironic way.
Lunchbox
June 29, 2018 @ 3:21 pm
Triggerman is going soft. everybody in this article got off easy.
sbach66
June 29, 2018 @ 4:44 pm
For all you people who seem to think Trigger has some sort of vendetta against Maren Morris and always has.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/song-review-my-church-by-maren-morris/
JohnS
June 29, 2018 @ 5:08 pm
I am well aware of the others who don’t like her. Maren Morris is nothing more than a narcissist and a bigot when it comes to the way she seems to act upon within social media. I’m sure she acts that way in person too. For those saying she’s a fraud or some kind of tool, I can say that I agree to both in a way. Definitely a tool in the sense that she pushes for an agenda, and that is why I call her a bigot as she is going for simply the promotion of women (not gender equality) and most certainly not for substance, which is important when it comes to music. I won’t simply say that I hate her when she can be redeeming as a person in some ways, but I don’t like who she is making herself stand for via the media at all.
AdiosKyle
June 29, 2018 @ 9:34 pm
Trigger; you are shooting blanks my friend give up trashing people and be positive: you are just going for clicks now. It’s sad what this site is becoming.
Sbach66
June 30, 2018 @ 8:02 am
Adios, AdiosKyle.
Summer Jam
June 30, 2018 @ 6:56 pm
Go get ’em Trigger! Morris is an extremely arrogant brat who makes it more than obvious that she was spoiled by her parents her entire life. She always acts like her shit don’t stink and that everybody owes her something. Her music isn’t too bad, but I cannot stand her as a person. Her music is not only not country, but it isn’t very good. She fooled us all with the rouge “My Church”, and has been a disappointment every since with her pop music. I don’t care how well written her music is, ITS NOT COUNTRY MUSIC or even POP COUNTRY for that matter. Mark my words, she WILL within the next few years try to make a move to pop music.
Chris
July 2, 2018 @ 3:31 pm
I thought she’d already announced her next album would be all pop? Or did I hear wrong?
Broadway
July 2, 2018 @ 1:26 am
Jennifer Nettles had the best comment ever about women on country radio. PRESS PLAY!!! https://omny.fm/shows/broadway-s-backyard/what-are-jennifer-nettles-future-plans-on-broadway
Lucifer
July 13, 2018 @ 10:29 pm
You’re obsessed. If I had a dime for every time you hated on Maren I’d be Rich.