Maren Morris wholeheartedly supports Beyoncé's transition to country music: 'It's such a statement'
Maren Morris couldn't resist singing Beyoncé's praises following the news that she is releasing a country album called Act II.
While reacting to the 42-year-old's shift to country, including the release of her hit Texas Hold 'Em, the 33-year-old singer shared E! News that she believes the superstar has 'always been genreless'.
“I think leaning into country elements and kind of reclaiming country music from black people because they created the genre is such a statement,” Morris said.
She pointed out, “Rhiannon Giddens [is] playing banjo on Texas Hold 'Em, which is a great statement in itself.'
Morris, who has been outspoken in the past about the subgenre's sometimes “toxic” culture, expressed his excitement about Beyoncé's upcoming Renaissance part ii album in general.”
Maren Morris has praised Beyoncé's foray into country music as “such a statement,” adding, “I feel like she's always been genre-less, but I think leaning into country elements and kind of reclaiming country music from black people because they created it, the genre is such a statement'
“Obviously, like most people, I'm super excited to hear the whole album,” she said of Beyoncé's upcoming new project.
“Obviously, like most people, I'm super excited to hear the whole album,” she said.
“I listened to 16 Carriages this morning and marveled at the production, the lyrics and the vulnerability,” Morris added of the second new Beyoncé single, which was released alongside Texas Hold 'Em on Super Bowl Sunday.
Maren announced last September that she had chosen to stop writing country music, saying, “I couldn't do this circus anymore.”
Speaking about the New York Times Popcast On the show, she noted that she was tired of “feeling like I have to absorb and explain people's bad behavior and laugh it off.”
The hitmaker added: “I just couldn't do that after 2020. I changed. A lot changed about me that year.'
She emphasized, “I don't want to say goodbye, but I really can't participate in the truly toxic arms of this institution anymore.”
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November, she clarified, “Well, I don't think you can really let this go because it's the music that's in me and that's what I grew up with.
'It's the music I write, even though I've been kind of genre fluid my whole career. You can't gloss over country music.”
The Grammy-winning musician blew fans away on February 11 when she released two new surprise singles
In a caption to her 319 million followers, Beyoncé wrote: “TEXAS HOLD 'EM and 16 CARRIAGES out now”
Beyoncé, full name Beyoncé Knowles Carter, is “prepared for pushback” over her diversion to a country-inspired sound.
“She knows there will be resistance from those who want her to stay on a narrow street, but she doesn't care,” a source told DailyMail.com.
'It has even made her more daring. By the time summer is over, her opponents will know the difference between thou and haw,” the person declared.
The singer-songwriter faced harsh criticism from Azealia Banks less than 24 hours after her announcement, with the rapper calling her foray into the country music scene “narcissistic.”