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My Church

"My Church" is the debut single by American singer Maren Morris. It was released in January 2016 as the lead single from her first studio album, Hero (2016). Morris co-wrote and co-produced the song with busbee. The song won the award for Best Country Solo Performance and was nominated for Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[2]

"My Church"
A black-and-white-photo of bright sunlight from the left shining on Morris's face as she rests a large boombox on her shoulder.
Single by Maren Morris
from the album Hero
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2016 (2016-01-19)
Genre
Length3:17
LabelColumbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • busbee
  • Maren Morris
Maren Morris singles chronology
"My Church"
(2016) 		"80s Mercedes"
(2016)

Content

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The song is used figuratively to describe the sanctuary that Morris feels in her car when she plays music on the Highway FM radio while driving.[3][4] It refers to listening to country icons like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and is about "the simple joy that comes with turning up the volume, rolling down the windows and singing along to the radio at 65 miles an hour." She compares the experience to a church revival, saying, "Yeah, I guess that's my church." She co-wrote and co-produced the single with busbee.[4]

The song is composed in the key of A major in a 4/4 time signature with a "shuffle" tempo of approximately 76 beats per minute. It follows the chord pattern A-D-A-E-A twice. Morris' vocals range from E3 to C♯5.[5]

Music video

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The music video was premiered in January 2016. It shows Morris driving an early 1970s Mercedes Sedan, and picking up various passengers along the way. The man on the motorcycle is played by the actor Oryan Landa.[6]

Critical reception

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Billy Dukes of Taste of Country rated the song as a "Critic's Pick", writing that "She's a mix of Amy Winehouse, Little Big Town and pulp fiction. Beautiful images and ideas swirl around lo-fi instrumentation... A little sweetness seeps through during this soulful, blues-influenced jam".[7]

Rolling Stone named "My Church" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016. "Some keep the Sabbath going to church. Breakout Nashville star Maren Morris keeps it blazing down the freeway listening to classic country radio – with Hank Williams delivering the sermon and Johnny Cash leading the choir. Honoring tradition, this joyous popwise stomper keeps it moving forward."[8] In 2024, the publication also ranked "My Church" at #93 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.[9]

Billboard ranked "My Church" at number 15 on its "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list. "Talk about finding your religion: On this undeniable singalong, country’s hottest newcome[r] of 2016 takes us to church via this love letter to driving with the windows down, while country radio preaches to your solo choir. Fittingly, it navigated Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for 22 weeks, even earning Maren Morris a trip to the top 10. Not a bad blessing for your first major-label single."[10] In Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop mass critics poll of the year's best in music in 2016, "My Church" was ranked at number 29, tied with Rihanna's "Kiss It Better" and The Weeknd's "Starboy".[11]

Accolades

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Year Association Category Result
2016 CMA Awards[12] Best New Artist Won
Single of the Year Nominated
British Country Music Association Awards[13] International Song of the Year Nominated
2017 Grammy Awards[2] Best Country Solo Performance Won
Best Country Song Nominated
ACM Awards[14] Single Record of the Year Nominated

Chart performance

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According to Columbia Nashville, the song set a record as the song played by the greatest number of radio stations for a debut single in its impact week, 107, beating the previous record of 99.[15] It entered the Country Airplay chart at number 59.[16] It first entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 38 for the week of January 30, 2016,[17] selling 6,000 copies that week.[18] It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart two weeks later[19] and reached number one on the Country Digital Songs chart in another four weeks.[20] In the US, the song had sold over 974,000 digital copies by July 2017.[21]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[31] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32] Platinum 974,000[21]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hero - Maren Morris | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Grammy Awards 2017: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Leahey, Andrew (January 25, 2016). "Watch Maren Morris Praise FM Radio in 'My Church' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b Roland, Tom (February 2, 2016). "Maren Morris Mixes Cash, Christ and Marconi In 'My Church'". Billboard. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  5. ^ "'My Church' sheet music". MusicNotes. 19 February 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  6. ^ McClellan, Laura (January 26, 2016). "Maren Morris Finds Her Own Religion in 'My Church' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  7. ^ Dukes, Billy (November 21, 2015). "ToC Critic's Pick: Maren Morris, 'My Church'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. ^ Christopher R. Weingarten (June 22, 2016). "30 Best Songs of 2016 So Far". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  9. ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  11. ^ "PAZZ+JOP 2016". Village Voice. January 25, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  12. ^ Watts, Cindy (August 31, 2016). "Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris leaders in 2016 CMA Awards nominations". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  13. ^ "2016 British Country Music Awards Winners". Country Routes New Blog. November 1, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (April 2, 2017). "ACM Awards 2017: Complete List of Nominees and Winners". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  15. ^ Brian Cantor (January 20, 2016). "Maren Morris' Debut Single "My Church" Sets Records at Country Radio". Headline Planet.
  16. ^ "Country Airplay: January 30, 2016". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Hot Country Songs: January 30, 2016". Billboard.
  18. ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 19, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Singles: January 19, 2016". Roughstock.
  19. ^ "The Hot 100: February 13, 2016". Billboard.
  20. ^ Bjorke, Matt (February 29, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Singles: February 29, 2016". Roughstock.
  21. ^ a b "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 7/6/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2017.
  22. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  23. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  26. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  27. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  28. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  29. ^ "Country Airplay Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  30. ^ "Hot Country Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  31. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Maren Morris – My Church". Music Canada. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  32. ^ "American single certifications – Maren Morris – My Church". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 16, 2017.


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