Maren Morris, an American country singer, songwriter, and record producer, rose to fame with her successful debut album ‘Hero’, which topped the US Billboard charts. She has been a prominent figure in the music industry since 2005, with numerous platinum-certified singles such as ‘My Church’ and ‘The Middle’.
Early Life
Maren Larae Morris was born on April 10, 1990, in Arlington, Texas. Her parents, Kellie and Greg Morris, owned a hair salon, where she and her younger sister Karsen spent much of their childhood. She attended James Bowie High School before pursuing her education at the University of North Texas.
Maren Morris’ Music Career
Maren Morris developed a love for music at 12 after her father gifted her a guitar. She taught herself how to play and quickly developed a passion for singing. On June 14, 2005, she released her debut studio album, ‘Walk On’, through Mozzi Blozzi Music.
On October 22, 2007, Smith Entertainment released Morris’ sophomore album ‘All That It Takes’. Despite her efforts to secure a contract with a major label for her third album, she was unsuccessful. As a result, she proceeded with Mozzi Blozzi Music and released her third album, ‘Live Wire’, in 2011.
Morris was unable to secure a major record label for her upcoming project, leading her to independently release a five-song EP under her name. Surprisingly, the songs gained significant traction on Spotify, with over 2.5 million views and downloads, drawing the attention of prominent agencies.
In September 2015, Maren Morris officially joined forces with Columbia Nashville and they subsequently re-released the EP, with ‘My Church’ as the lead single. The EP achieved success on both the Top Heatseekers and Country Albums charts, reaching the #1 spot and climbing to #27 respectively.
In its first week, it sold more than 2,400 copies, and its lead single ‘My Church’ was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America after reaching #5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. As a result, she was awarded the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance in 2017 for ‘My Church’.
Following the immense achievement of her EP and the hit track ‘My Church’, Maren Morris unveiled her first full-length album with a major record label, Columbia Nashville. Titled ‘Hero’, the album hit shelves on June 3, 2016, and featured fan-favorite tracks such as ‘Rich’, ‘I Could Use a Love Song’, and ’80s Mercedes’.
The album gained global acclaim and was placed in the number one spot on Rolling Stone’s ’40 Best Country Albums of 2016′ list. Billboard also recognized its success, ranking it at number nine on their ’50 Best Albums of 2016′ list.
As a result of the album’s achievements, Maren Morris was honored with the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. The album also saw impressive sales of over 286,900 copies in the US.
Maren Morris joined forces with Grey and Zedd in 2018 to create the track “The Middle”. As a standalone release, the song achieved widespread popularity in the pop genre, ranking in the top ten in several nations.
The following year, she debuted her fifth album, Girl, which incorporated a blend of country and diverse musical influences. The album also showcased partnerships with various artists and yielded two chart-topping hits, “Girl” and “The Bones”.
On March 25, 2022, Morris unveiled her sixth musical project, titled “Humble Quest.” This album set a new record for Morris, as it garnered the most streams in the first day and first week on Amazon Music for a country album by a female artist, earning her a spot in the Guinness World Records.
Aside from her solo career, she has also contributed to The Highwomen and worked with her ex-husband, Ryan Hurd, on recordings. Morris has achieved sales certifications for two albums in North America and has landed three number-one hits on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and eight top ten hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Personal Life
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, both country singer-songwriters, crossed paths while collaborating on “Last Turn Home” for Tim McGraw. Initially, they were just friends, but their bond grew into a romantic relationship in December 2015. After dating for almost two years, they got engaged in July 2017 and tied the knot on March 24, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee.
After that, the pair relocated to a house in Nashville, Tennessee with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a wrap-around porch. In March 2020, their child was born. Subsequently, Morris initiated divorce proceedings in October 2023.
In January 2024, the ex-partners came to an agreement on all matters regarding their divorce. Morris, aged 33, and Hurd, aged 37, divided their possessions according to a property settlement contract and a prenuptial agreement, which was initially signed in February 2018 and later modified in October 2022.
Net Worth
By selling a million copies of her song, Maren Morris has become well-known in the industry and earns income from its frequent use. Her singing abilities contribute significantly to her overall wealth, and she has showcased her talent through numerous performances throughout her career. As of 2024, she has a net worth of $10 million.
