During a recent interview on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Maren Morris discussed diversity and inclusion in the country music industry.
Morris, who released her 2020 song and video "Better Than We Found It" in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests, shared her thoughts on the country music industry in its current state.
"I'm a white woman in country music. I sort of already have this leg up. Even though there's a huge disparity between men and women, there's even more of a disparity between white women and Black women trying to be in country music. And there's so many Black women and men who adore country music and don't feel like the door is open for them," Morris said. "I've been doing so much of my own homework the last couple of years and, especially since George Floyd, I just feel like country music as a genre, we all have so much room to grow, myself included. But I think country music definitely is stepping up to the plate, slowly but surely."
Read More: Maren Morris Spotlights Black Women in Country Music During CMA Awards Speech
The singer-songwriter also discussed her support for her friend TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who recently came out as gay.
"I hope that him having the bravery to even do that has made a few more people that love country music that are gay feel like they have a home there too," Morris said. "I'm just so proud of him. He was one of my first friends I made when I moved to Nashville eight years ago."
The country star also discussed her plans to perform on the 2021 Grammy Awards
"It's been a couple years since I've been on the Grammy stage and I'm really appreciative to them for doing something kind of in person and safe," Morris said.
Morris, who's nominated for Best Country Song at this year's Grammys (for "The Bones"), recently shared that she'd be performing with John Mayer during the ceremony.
"We'll see you at the Grammys," Morris wrote in a recent Instagram story, tagging Mayer's social media page.
The 2021 Grammy Awards will be held this Sunday, March 14 on CBS at 7 p.m. CT. The ceremony will also be available to stream on Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access). Additional country performers include Miranda Lambert, Mickey Guyton and Brandi Carlile.
Now Watch: 10 Legendary Instruments of Country Music
