LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ve been a fan of Maren Morris for years. “The Middle” still knocks, and “The Bones” never fails to hit me right in the feels. But despite loving her music, I’ll admit I haven’t always followed the details of her personal life too closely. So, it wasn’t until her performance at Outloud Fest last month that I naively learned she had come out as bisexual last June. Chalk that up to me being more about the music than the headlines. If your songs move me, your sexuality doesn’t affect my vibe one bit. Good music is good music.
Her set at Outloud was proof of that. Morris took the stage at West Hollywood Park with confidence and warmth, commanding a crowd that was clearly thrilled to see her there. The energy hit a peak when she performed the Zedd-produced smash “The Middle,” which had everyone singing along. But for me, the emotional high point came during “The Bones.” There’s something about the lyric “when the bones are good, the rest don’t matter” that always quiets the noise of the world for a moment. Standing there among thousands of people, I still felt completely alone with that song.
While I don’t recall her debuting her latest single during the set, the announcement that she’s contributing a new track to the upcoming All Things Go charity compilation landed just days later. “Welcome To The End” (produced by none other than Jack Antonoff) is the newest addition to a lineup that includes artists like Kesha, Orville Peck, Medium Build, Joy Oladokun, Allison Ponthier, and more. Proceeds from the compilation will benefit The Ally Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth and advocating for equality in the music industry and beyond.
It’s a fitting collaboration for Morris. Her voice… equal parts strength and soul.. has always carried a tone of defiance and care, and working with a producer like Antonoff, known for bringing out the emotional edge in powerhouse artists, only amplifies that. Though “Welcome to the End” is a standalone release for the compilation, it serves as a compelling snapshot of where Maren is musically — pushing boundaries while remaining rooted in emotional storytelling.
Her performance at Outloud and her appearance on this compilation also symbolizes a broader evolution both personal and professional. The Ally Coalition’s mission aligns seamlessly with Morris’ own journey toward living her truth more publicly, something I only recently caught up on but now see as central to her current chapter.
If her set at Outloud was a reminder of why I fell in love with her music in the first place, “Welcome to the End” is a sign that she’s not done surprising us. The voice is familiar, but the message… and the space she now claims for herself.. feels more powerful than ever.
Follow Maren Morris on Facebook, Instagram and X.
*********************
LIVE CLIPS
