NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� would voice support for the LBGTQ community, including publicly clashing with Jason Aldean鈥檚 wife over gender-affirming care for transgender youth, she thought she was doing it as an ally. She didn鈥檛 realize it at the time, but she was also speaking up for herself, too.
鈥淚 just maybe, internally, hadn鈥檛 had the bravery to go there in myself, and say the words out loud,鈥� said Morris, who recently came out as bisexual. 鈥淲hen you spend the majority of your life in straight relationships and you haven鈥檛 explored that part of yourself 鈥� is now the right time for me to tell everyone while I鈥檓 married that like, 鈥橦i, I鈥檓 also attracted to women?鈥欌��
The Grammy winner, who's also stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and immigrants, has experienced drastic life changes throughout the past year, including a These learning curves shaped 鈥淒reamsicle,鈥� her fourth studio album, out now.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a freedom that I鈥檝e found in this album that鈥檚 a new version of what I thought I had,鈥� Morris explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just more wise and lived-in. And maybe part of that鈥檚 just like being in your 30s 鈥� you just don鈥檛 care as much.鈥�
the 35-year-old singer-songwriter crafted 14 tracks filled with an eclectic, yet cohesive mix of traditional country, pop, soft-rock and dreamy bluegrass vibes. It continues the free-flowing, unconfined mix of sounds the 鈥淭he Bones鈥� singer is known for. Production includes superstar pop producer Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, Laura Veltz and The Monsters & Strangerz production team, with Morris credited as a writer on every song.
鈥淚 was writing all through all of those personal losses and evolutions. 鈥� I was really just avoiding going home, and I would stay in my sessions late, and also write on days that I probably should have just taken a nap or gone to see my therapist,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淭here were moments where I鈥檓 singing on some of these songs where I don鈥檛 even remember doing the vocal because I was just in such a state of loss and grief.鈥�
Standout moments include the beautiful Americana-esque 鈥済rand bouquet鈥� where Morris sings, 鈥渂een so busy praying for my grand bouquet/not noticing you gave me a new flower every day.鈥� There are also her staple poppy songs like 鈥渃ry in the car鈥� that attempt to mask the pain and frustration of heartbreak behind upbeat tempos.
But it鈥檚 not all doom and gloom; 鈥淭he Middle鈥� vocalist explores new themes, like on the previously released singles 鈥渂ed no breakfast,鈥� and 鈥減ush me over鈥� which she wrote with the electro-pop band MUNA.
鈥淚 went on a date with a woman for the first time, and I was just like I want to write about this,鈥� she said, noting she felt safe exploring the topic with the queer-identifying band.
While she says each song represents some facet of this new era, the title track provides the fullest picture.
鈥淚t was the first song for one of my albums that I wrote alone and I don鈥檛 often do that," said Morris, who added 鈥淒reamsicle鈥� came to her at one night as a 3 a.m. realization that change was necessary. "Everything that I thought was going to be permanent in my life, like in some form or fashion, either ended or evolved into something completely different.鈥�
Morris is currently prepping for her global tour in July, with more than 40 dates mixing headlining shows and festival appearances.
Since coming out, she emphasizes she鈥檚 received an abundance of love throughout Nashville, and has been overwhelmed by the support in the country music space that some have criticized as intolerant.
More importantly, she hopes fans understand 鈥淒reamsicle鈥� is not a 鈥渄ivorce record,鈥� but a celebratory album of healing.
鈥淚t deals with grief. It deals with the friends that helped patch you back together,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to show and to prove to myself that I can process and heal from this. 鈥� If I can do it, ... someone will hear it and feel like they can get through that day that they鈥檙e in.鈥�
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
