MAREN MORRIS Quick-fire Q&A

After breaking out with her 2016 album, Hero, the country star, 28, scored crossover success last year with Grammy-nominated pop smash “The Middle” with Zedd and Grey. Now, she returns with her new album, Girl.

Girl is inspired by your marriage to singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. How has your relationship changed since you tied the knot? This first year of our marriage has flown by. We’ve just grown into each other. How do you make time for each other? When we’re apart, I’m trying to get us better at calling each other on the phone and not texting. Last year you teased on social media about expanding your family. I had had a couple of drinks at the hotel bar, and I was just trying to be funny, like, “I’m gonna have your babies”. Everyone immediately was like, “Is this your pregnancy announcement?” We have a plan in mind – but not anytime soon! Did “The Middle” influence any of your new music? I’ve had a lot of questions from fans: am I going pop now? But I’m a guest in that world. There are songs on this album that are pop-leaning or even kind of ’90s R&B, then there are moments that are very Carole King. I’m still connected to my original roots; I have to do me. You’re friends with other female country stars like Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce and Cassadee Pope. Why are those connections important? It makes me feel like I’m not just dealing with it myself. I love those nights when we can just unplug and wear sweatpants, hang out, have tequila and laugh and cry.