For Maren Morris, 2024 wasn’t just another year—it was the one where she finally decided to show up as her full, authentic self.
After a whirlwind of personal change and public reflection, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is celebrating her first-ever Pride Month since coming out as bisexual—and doing it loud and proud in West Hollywood.
“This Is My First Pride!” Maren Declares on Stage
The 35-year-old hitmaker had a huge moment last week during her performance at the Outloud Music Festival, an LGBTQ+ event that kicked off Pride Month right in the heart of WeHo.
A beaming Maren took to the stage and shared, “My name is Maren Morris, and this is my first Pride!”—a simple declaration that instantly sent the crowd into cheers.
It was a full-circle moment for the singer, who just last summer told her followers on Instagram: “Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+, happy pride!” Now, she was living that truth out loud, in front of thousands.
Behind the Music and the Moment
Maren didn’t just leave it all on the stage.
She also gave fans a glimpse of the experience with behind-the-scenes photos from the festival, captioning her Instagram post:
“Performing at my first Pride since I came out last summer and @wehopride couldn’t have been a more welcoming party. Happy Pride month.”
The love poured in from fans and even fellow celebs.
One person wrote, “Thank you for making my kiddo feel comfortable in their true selves.”
Another chimed in, “Didn’t know you came out! Loved you before, love you even more now.”
Even Lance Bass showed his support, commenting, “Loved it!”
Opening Up About Her Sexuality
In a recent interview with The Zoe Report, Maren shared what many suspected: she’s always known she was attracted to both men and women.
But she never felt brave enough to talk about it—especially after spending over a decade in Nashville and being in straight relationships, including her marriage to fellow country artist Ryan Hurd, with whom she shares a five-year-old son.
It wasn’t until June 2024 that she finally felt ready to be open with her fans and the LGBTQ+ community:
“That was just a facet of me that I didn’t think I wanted private anymore,” she said.
“Especially in a time where you’re in this free-for-all post-divorce reckoning, community has been so necessary for me and life-saving.
Being honest and being vulnerable is the only way that you find community.”
Where She Stands with Country Music
Of course, coming out wasn’t the only headline around Maren this past year.
She also stirred up major buzz in 2023 when she said she was done writing country music—comments that many interpreted as her quitting the genre altogether.
Back then, she told The New York Times’ Popcast that she felt drained trying to brush off toxic behavior within the industry:
“I just couldn’t do that after 2020. I’ve changed. A lot changed about me that year.”
Later, in the LA Times, she added:
“I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over.
But it’s burning itself down without my help.”
Clearing the Air: “I Never Said I Was Leaving Country”
But as those headlines spread like wildfire, Maren now says her words were twisted.
In a recent chat with The Guardian, she clarified that she never said she was leaving country music.
“You hear country in this album.
It’s in my bones, it’s in the way I write,” she said.
“That article caused a ton of unnecessary drama for me from that community because I was already sort of on the outs.”
While she’s moved away from country radio circuits, doesn’t submit to country award shows, and has shifted labels, she still works with the same collaborators and insists that her roots are intact.
“It would be strange to be like: ‘This music isn’t me anymore,’” she explained.
“That would feel like I’m disrespecting everything I’ve already put out, and that’s not how I feel at all.”
Her New Album ‘Dreamsicle’ Keeps Her Story Intact
Maren’s upcoming album Dreamsicle is, by her own description, filled with the same heart and storytelling she’s always had.
“If you dive deep—or just listen to the album—it’s clear I haven’t left anything behind,” she said.
She emphasized how important her fans have been throughout her evolution:
“The communities those fans have made through being a fan of my music is so important to me… I’d never be so reckless and stupid to say, ‘I’m leaving you behind.’”