On March 14, 2020, Maren Morris’ “The Bones” rose a spot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her first leader on the list.
The song, which Morris co-wrote with Laura Veltz and Jimmy Robbins, and Greg Kurstin produced, reached the Hot Country Songs penthouse in its 53rd chart week, beginning a 19-week domination. It also led Country Airplay for two frames in February 2020, becoming her fourth leader, and proceeded to be a crossover hit, dominating Adult Pop Airplay for a week that April and Adult Contemporary for a week in September. It also reached the top 20 on Pop Airplay and, boosted by a remix with Hozier, Adult Alternative Airplay.
“The fans have spoken on this one,” Morris told Billboard upon “The Bones” crowning Country Airplay. “It’s a real, gritty love song. I couldn’t be more proud that it’s become one of the biggest songs of my career to date.”
Morris, from Arlington, Texas, sent her debut single, “My Church,” which pays homage to the Grand Ole Opry, to No. 5 on Hot Country Songs in March 2016, marking her first of nine top 10s.
In 2016, Morris won the best new artist trophy at the Country Music Association Awards. In both 2020 and 2021, she earned female vocalist of the year honors, while “The Bones” won for song of the year in 2021.
Morris, who has been an outspoken advocate for fellow female artists in country music, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, announced in 2023 that she was shifting to pop. In August 2024, she made that segue with the five-song set Intermission.
Now 34, Morris tours next on July 12 in Quebec, with more dates scheduled through September.
