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I just have to say this. I have such INTENSE admiration for @MarenMorris. I have been in and around the country music industry for around 30 years now. For almost that entire time, most country artists have swallowed their progressive ideals, assuming they had them, in fear (1/?)
of suffering the same fate as The Chicks. Itâs a real thing to be afraid of. You work hard for your career, play small venues, fly all over this country to meet radio stations and hope they like what you do. You dream about this for YEARS and then....your dreams come true. (2/?)
So many country artists have been afraid to speak out on issues they felt strongly about for fear of losing everything they worked for. I do not hold them in any sort of negative light for their choices. However, when someone who has everything risks it all to speak on (3/?)
behalf of those that suffer from the political ideologies that would diminish, deport or destroy the lives and dreams of others, well, it just warrants deep respect. Because she didnât know that she would get away with it. But she is. She is still having #1 records. She (4/?)
remains a huge star. And because she is getting away with it, it makes others more brave to speak out. And pretty soon, tolerance and love become normative values in the country music world. Of course, there are still many, MANY artists and fans that disagree with her. But (5/?)
itâs so important that these people hear other viewpoints. One of the reasons I think Trump is so dangerous is that he surrounds himself with people who never proffer dissenting ideas. Itâs why people who watch nothing but Fox News and MSNBC think they other side is crazy (6/?)
and evil. It is more important than I can express that people in communities that tend toward insularity hear other ideas and voices, and that includes us progressives by the way. That Maren risks her place in a community to speak truth to it is so important. And she (7/?)
manages to do it while inspiring and not tearing down, which is one of the reasons I think she gets away with it. I donât think itâs overstating the point to say that she is one of Nashvilleâs most important artists, if not itâs most important at the moment. I also love (8/?)
that she pushes her musical boundaries out to be part of @TheHighwomen as well as having a huge hit by guesting on a pop record. She is just as brave artistically. Not that anyone gives a shit what I think, but I have had this on my mind and just wanted to let it out. (9/fin)
