Culture March 23, 2022

Maren Morris says husband helped identify her postpartum depression

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images, FILE
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd attend the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, March 7, 2022, in Las Vegas.

Country singer Maren Morris is opening up about her mental health.

In an interview with People, the “Circles Around This Town” singer said that the pandemic forced her to prioritize her mental health.

“I’m pretty sure everyone in lockdown and this pandemic has had to do a temperature check on their mental health, and maybe it’ll become a more perpetual practice going forward -- I hope it is,” Morris said.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images, FILE
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd attend the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, March 7, 2022, in Las Vegas.
MORE: 'New normal': Maren Morris shares photos of life on the road with Ryan Hurd and son Hayes

Morris, whose next album, “Humble Quest,” is being released later this week, comes on the heels of a global pandemic and the singer’s transition into parenthood.

In March 2020, she and her husband, fellow artist Ryan Hurd welcomed their son, Hayes Andrew. Morris said it was after her son’s birth that she began experiencing challenges with her mental health. Her depression started to ease up when Hayes was about six months old, she explains, and therapy -- and the support of Hurd -- helped her make her way through it.

“I do check-ins all the time [with] therapy, which I’ve done for years, and my husband was a huge help diagnosing that, too,” she continued.

Now, on the heels of the release of “Humble Quest,” Morris is crediting Hurd for his help with the new album and her mental health.

MORE: Maren Morris says she 'lucked out' by marrying Ryan Hurd: 'One of the most brilliant, thoughtful, kind humans'

Recently, Morris posted a photo of the couple sharing a hug, captioning it, “this album wouldn’t have happened without you.”

In January, she also told her fans on Twitter that “Humble Quest” is “the happiest music I’ve made, in a very trying time.” Her favorite lyric from the album being, “Now your heart beats in me.”

MORE: Maren Morris opens up on new album, 'Humble Quest': 'It’s the happiest music I’ve made'

“Sometimes, it’s just someone really close to you saying, ‘Are you okay?’” the singer added. “It’s so simple, but it kind of snaps you out of whatever fog you’re in that you think is normal, but isn’t.”

The couple have long supported each other both professionally and musically, and they topped the country charts together with their duet, “Chasing After You.”