Maren Morris Debuts New Music During Ryman Auditorium Set

Maren Morris quickly shook off the nerves that come naturally with playing Nashville's Ryman Auditorium for the first time to deliver a nine-song set filled with songs fan know from her debut EP and those found on albums from other superstars. She closed with "Once," a new song on her upcoming full-length that was penned in the middle of a terrible breakup.

The 25-year-old Morris opened for Chris Stapleton, playing the first notes of his hotly-anticipated three-night set at the Ryman (she was only slated for Thursday night's show). She opened with a new song called "Sugar" that she shared with fans via Soundcloud earlier this month. Dressed in a long, white gown fitting for a show at the Mother Church, Morris eased comfortably into "Drunk Girls Don't Cry" and "Second Wind," a song Kelly Clarkson recorded on the deluxe edition of her Piece by Piece album.

Later came another song she wrote for a superstar. Ryan Hurd joined her on stage to sing a raw version of "Last Turn Home," a ballad on Tim McGraw's Sundown Heaven Town album. The two songs were another reminder that Morris was well on her way to becoming an accomplished songwriter before she changed course to become a recording artist, as well.

By the time she got to "I Wish I Was," her music and movements were flowing as easily as her angel-white dress. The crowd enthusiastically joined her for "80's Mercedes," and overtook the chorus of "My Church" like it was a hit they'd known for years, not a song just released to radio in January.

"Once" closed Morris' night (although she did return to join Stapleton on a soulful cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'.") The new song was played live for the very first time, and she explained how it was written after she saw her ex-boyfriend's mother standing like a mirage on top of a hill.

“It’s my goodbye to the album and goodbye to that relationship,” Morris told ToC last month. It proved to be the goodbye to a very satisfying 30-minute set at the Ryman, as well.

Watch Maren Morris Sing "Free Fallin'" With Chris Stapleton