Maren Morris Praises Women Dominating Country Music

Maren Morris is weighing in on the current wave of women dominating country music, and she has nothing but praise for her peers.

Speaking with hosts Mack and Jen on SiriusXM Hits 1, Morris singled out Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney as artists exciting her right now.

“I’m so excited that they’re all crushing it,” Morris said, “because for a very long time it was pretty sparse having women dominate the charts and awards and just be paid what they’re worth. It’s amazing to see that tide turning and them all just having this huge moment right now simultaneously without competition.”

Morris was equally effusive about the songwriters behind the records, noting her personal connections to many of them.

“I’m friends with a lot of them and I’m super proud that they’re on these big projects,” she said. “The songwriting is just getting so good and that always makes me excited to continue writing.” She added: “It’s just nice to know right now that there’s so much quality music happening. I love that country is having a moment — it’s always to me been a global genre.”

The comments come at a significant moment for women in country. Wilson took home four CMA Awards in 2023 and has since become one of the genre’s biggest live draws. Moroney’s debut Tennessee Orange reached the top five of the Billboard 200, while Langley scored her first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Riley Green.

The three artists represent a broader shift in a genre that has historically struggled to give women equal footing on radio and at awards shows.

The comments come at a significant moment for women in country. Wilson took home four CMA Awards in 2023 and has since become one of the genre’s biggest live draws. Moroney’s debut Tennessee Orange reached the top five of the Billboard 200, while Langley scored her first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Riley Green.

The three artists represent a broader shift in a genre that has historically struggled to give women equal footing on radio and at awards shows.

Morris herself has long been among country’s most outspoken advocates for that change, having publicly addressed industry pay disparities and the underrepresentation of women on country radio throughout her career. Her 2019 single “The Bones” spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart — a record at the time for a female solo artist — and her album Girl won Best Country Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. Her 2016 debut Hero produced the top five country hit “My Church” and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Morris released her most recent studio album, Intermission, in 2023. The full interview with Mack and Jen airs on SiriusXM Hits 1, channel 2, Monday through Friday at noon ET.