Maren Morris releases new song “Cut!” with Julia Michaels

Maren Morris has released “Cut!”, a new song in collaboration with Julia Michaels, which will appear on her upcoming 5-song EP Intermission, which will be released on August 2. In a statement, Morris described the song as a reflection on maintaining a perfect appearance while feeling emotionally overwhelmed in private. “‘Cut!’ is about me keeping myself together throughout the day, looking rested, not a hair out of place, not canceling dates with friends because I want you to think I’m doing so well,” Morris said.

The Grammy-winning singer continued, “Maybe those things are all true, but at night I drop the mask and let myself scream or fall apart to let the steam out of the boiler. It’s a cathartic release that doesn’t require secrecy, but there are worldly expectations that keep me together despite how I feel. This song gives me permission to fall apart.”

“Cut!” is the second collaboration between Morris and Michaels, who co-wrote “Circles Around This Town,” the first single from Morris’ 2022 album “Humble Quest.”

The song comes amid several personal updates for Morris. Earlier this month, she revealed her bisexuality in a celebratory post during her RSVP Redux tour stop in Phoenix, writing, “I’m happy to be the B in LGBTQ+,” alongside photos of herself holding Pride flags.

This announcement followed her filing for divorce from her ex-husband Ryan Hurd in October 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. The former couple, who have a 4-year-old son named Hayes, divorced in January 2024.

In September 2023, Morris announced her decision to retire from the country music industry and released a two-track EP, The Bridge, which includes “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here.” She expressed herself as “very, very distant” from the genre and its politics, telling the Los Angeles Times, “I thought I’d like to burn it down and start over. But it’s burning itself down without me contributing to it.”

Morris later clarified her comments on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” explaining that she isn’t leaving the genre entirely, but hopes to “leave the toxic parts” of the industry “behind.” “I want to take the good parts with me. I’m from Texas, I grew up with all that music, so the way I write, the way I sing, it comes out of that – no matter what genre I’m doing or what piece I’m doing.”

According to Apple Music, Morris’ upcoming EP “Intermission” is categorized as a pop release.