TOP STORY: After five years of marriage, Maren Morris’ emotional split from Ryan Hurd stuns fans and marks the beginning of a bold new era for the star.LC
Maren Morris Files for Divorce From Husband Ryan Hurd
Maren Morris is in the middle of a new era.
The “My Church” singer has filed for divorce from husband Ryan Hurd after five years of marriage, a Tennessee court clerk confirms to E! News.
According to court documents obtained by People and Us Weekly, Morris—who shares 3-year-old son Hayes with the “To a T” artist—submitted paperwork Oct. 2, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their breakup.
E! News has reached out to reps for Morris and Hurd for comment and has not year heard back.
The duo’s relationship news comes just weeks after Hurd—who wed Morris in March 2018—came to her defense as she said goodbye to country music.
“She deserves to be celebrated, not just tolerated,” Hurd wrote on Instagram alongside cover art for her new music project The Bridge. “I love the response from people who don’t just love these two songs, they needed them. I knew it would strike a chord.”
Morris—who recently admitted on the New York Times‘ Popcast podcast that she couldn’t tolerate certain behavior in the country music scene any longer—has received some criticism over her exit.
“I’m so sick of watching my wife get the s–t kicked out of her by the internet,” Hurd continued in his Instagram message. “I’m sick of every talking head having some kind of stupid opinion about what she says. It’s the same every time, why are you surprised when she calls out something racist or homophobic, I’m sick of people getting rewarded for it.”
“To me the Bridge is beautiful and so rock and roll,” he added. “She deserves a little sunshine for the burden she has carried for every artist and fan that feels the same way. I can’t wait for that first tour and to see all of the smiling and beautiful people who needed these songs and and also need HER. I can’t wait to make music that follows the same path, whatever that is.”
Hurd concluded with a nod to Morris. “Love you, MM,” he wrote. “Keep on keepin’ on.”
Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
Back in February, Hurd was by Morris’ side at the 2023 Grammys, where they were nominated in the Best Country Song category for “Circles Around This Town.”
And it seemed at the time the bones were still good for the pair. “We met writing songs,” he told Laverne Cox on E!’s Live From the Red Carpet. “So this is a really cool night for us because we’re nominated together for a country song.”
“I’m so proud of her,” Hurd added. “This is just an amazing thing.”
To relive their love story, keep reading…
Instagram/Ryan Hurd
2013: Country Cuties
Maren Morris met Ryan Hurd while co-writing “Last Turn Home” for Tim McGraw, striking up a friendship.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for The Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum
December 2015: Making It Official
It wasn’t until two years after their initial meeting that the couple took their relationship to the next level and started dating.
“We had been friends for only a couple of years, but there was always this writing chemistry in the room, and eventually, the timing of it was undeniable,” Maren told People. “We had such a foundation built off writing so many songs over the years that we were like, ‘Why are we avoiding this?'”
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
June 2017: All Loved Up
Ryan released “Love in a Bar,” the second single from his self-titled album believed to be about his romance with Maren.
“We were just friends, just hangin’ / Just sitting: ’round waitin’ for somebody to cross the line,” he sang on the song. “We found love in a bar / In the back of a patio corner / Away from the lights / It was us and Corona / And hearts on fire like the cigarettes you smoke.”
Instagram/Ryan Hurd
July 2017: Put a Ring on It
Maren announced her engagement to the songwriter in July 2017, sharing a photo of herself with a Corona Light while resting her hand on Ryan’s leg—a nod to his song “Love In a Bar.” The image also showed Maren rocking a diamond ring on that finger.
Meanwhile, Ryan posted a photo of himself and Maren sitting on a boat, cryptically writing in the caption: “7/3/17.”
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS
March 2018: Married
The pair tied the knot at The Cordelle in Nashville shortly after the release of Ryan’s song “Diamonds or Twine.”
“I played this song for Maren the night we got engaged,” he said at the time. “We were at the lake in Michigan, on the dock, and I will never forget that moment.”
Mickey Bernal/WireImage
October 2019: Baby on the Way
Maren announced she was expecting her first baby with Ryan.
“The irony is just too rich that after a year of living in the ‘GIRL’ headspace, the universe would give us a baby boy to even things out,” she wrote on Instagram, referencing her then-released second studio album. “See you in 2020, little one.”
Instagram/Maren Morris
