Maren Morris’ Parents Scott & Kellie Morris Encouraged Her to Play & Write Music
Maren Morris' parents, Scott and Kellie Morris, showed their daughter unwavering support in her career. Despite challenges getting her career off the ground, they made sacrifices and encouraged her to keep pushing.
Maren Morris was around nine or ten when her parents, Scott and Kellie Morris, heard her sing for the first time. She was trying out her friend's Karaoke machine when she stunned her family with her voice.
Kellie remembered hearing her daughter and initially thinking it was the radio. She and Scott immediately saw Maren's potential and encouraged her to begin her singer-songwriter journey. The loving couple has since remained at her side, cheering her on.
Maren Morris attends "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Maren Morris' Parents: The Couple Bought Maren Her First Guitar
Soon after hearing Maren sing, Scott and Kellie bought her a guitar, motivating her to start writing and playing music. They equipped themselves with industry knowledge, and as Maren honed her talents — having practice sessions with her dad — they started booking small gigs for her around Texas.
When she was 14, Scott and Kellie sold much of their home furniture to help finance their daughter's first record. They rallied behind her as she tried her luck on "America's Got Talent," "American Idol," and "The Voice," though she never went beyond the audition phase.
Maren Morris, Kellie Morris, and Blackbear during The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Maren also had little luck with record labels. "I mean, I can't tell you how many times we were that close to thinking a record deal was going to come, and it didn't," her mom said. Despite these rejections, Kellie encouraged her to keep going while working part-time at their family salon.
At 22, Maren took the plunge, moving to Nashville to realize her dreams. By her mid-20s, she had worked with Kelly Clarkson and Tim McGraw, Nicole Kidman's husband, Keith Urban. Her breakthrough single, "My Church," took her to world stardom; for her parents, her success was "surreal."
Maren Morris' Parents Named Their Salon After Their Children
Scott and Kellie are the joint owners of Maren Karsen Aveda Salon & Store, a beauty establishment they launched over two decades ago. They also have a line of hair and hair color products under the brand name Aveda.
Scott said they only use Aveda products, which he shared were naturally derived from plants and flowers. Although Maren's work often kept her away from home, her parents regularly sent her an Aveda care package.
Maren Morris performs on stage at Joe's On Weed on October 5, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. | Source: Getty Images
Maren Morris' Admiration for Her Mom
In May 2022, Maren gushed about her mom, describing her as a significant figure who shaped her personality. The singer shared that Kellie had a poverty-stricken upbringing but managed to make something of herself "without even a college degree."
"She's just such a street-smart go-getter, and so I feel like that's been instilled in me from day one because of my mom," Maren, whose height has been a subject of interest, said. By then, she had also become a mother to her son, Hayes, with her husband Ryan Hurd.
Maren once described herself and Ryan as the "lighthouse" for Hayes and who he was becoming. In October 2023, however, news emerged that she had filed for divorce from Ryan, citing "irreconcilable differences."