If you ask country music fans why they enjoy the genre, you’ll likely hear it’s because the music tells stories. Life stories of artists and fans alike who relate to the hope and hardship within the lyrics.

But as country music expands from its traditional values into the hands of younger generations, artists who break the mold feel the need to prove themselves to a population that isn’t listening.

In announcing her departure from country music, singer-songwriter Maren Morris told Los Angeles Times in an interview, “If you truly love this type of music and you start to see problems arise, it needs to be criticized.”

Morris rose in country music traditionally. Growing up in Arlington, Texas, she began her career performing in bars. When she moved to Nashville, prominent artists picked up her songs, giving her a platform to share her vocal and songwriting talents. So, it isn’t the sound turning Morris away: it’s the business and its stagnant values.

As a storytelling device, country music carries life experiences in which fans can see themselves. However, the country music business doesn’t promote everyone’s stories. Morris, an advocate for Black and LGBTQ+ country artists, says she feels distanced from the country music business’s use of conservative values in its operation. “After the Trump years, people’s biases were on full display,” says Morris.

In the L.A. Times interview, Morris addressed country singer Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town.” Aldean faced criticism for shooting his music video where a lynching occurred in the 1920s. Morris explains that fans listen to these songs – which she calls “butt rock” – to spite the opposing party in America’s bipartisan system.

“It’s not out of true joy or love of the music. It’s to own the libs. And that’s so not what music is intended for,” Morris says. “Music is supposed to be the voice of the oppressed – the actual oppressed. And now it’s being used as this really toxic weapon in cultural wars.”

Morris’s fans have supported her through her country music journey. After conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson labeled Morris “a lunatic,” her fans referred to themselves as “lunatics” and bought merchandise with the label with proceeds going towards transgender support programs.

Morris’s departure hasn’t come without criticism. Country music critic Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos says that most mainstream country music artists don’t want to share their political affiliations in order to grow their audience.

In an interview with Fox News, Coroneos says the fans “just don’t want someone preaching to them about how they’re supposed to think and what they’re supposed to do.” He doesn’t believe Morris’s departure will have a significant impact as he sees the genre strengthening its conservative values.

Morris’s latest release – her first under Columbia Records – is an EP titled “The Bridge,” and it features two songs that represent her departure from the country genre. “The Tree” symbolizes Morris’s departure as leaving toxic soil in search of fresh ground. “Get The Hell Out Of Here” is a heavier discussion of the emotional disconnect she feels in leaving the genre where she began her career.

As she moves away from Columbia Nashville, Morris has rediscovered her love for songwriting without worrying about its market value.

Morris says she was hopeful when writing the songs for her EP. “It’s about disarming the trauma and saying, ‘I can’t bail water out of this sinking ship anymore,’ Morris says. “‘It’s so futile. I choose happiness.’”