Hero (stylized in all caps) is the major-label debut studio album by American singer Maren Morris. It was released on June 3, 2016, through Columbia Nashville, marking her first release on the label. The album peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Country Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and packaging Before signing a major-label recording contract, Morris spent nearly a decade releasing independent albums after beginning her recording career at age 15. During that period, she also established herself as a songwriter, with Kelly Clarkson and Tim McGraw among the artists who recorded her compositions.

In August 2015, Morris self-released five songs as a self-titled extended play (EP), Maren Morris, on Spotify. It garnered 2.5 million streams on the platform in a month, and its three songs appeared on the Spotify's US and Global "Viral 50" chart. The EP's success attracted the interests from various record labels, which led Morris eventually sign to Columbia Nashville in September that year. The label then re-released the EP on November 6, with "My Church" as the lead single.

The success of "My Church" was followed by the release of Morris's major-label debut and fourth overall studio album release, Hero. All tracks from the self-titled EP are included on the album, with "Company You Keep" included on the deluxe edition. The additional songs in the album were co-written with Chris DeStefano, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, and others. Morris has writing credits on all the songs in the album.

Release and promotion "My Church" was released on January 19, 2016, as the Heros lead single. She released its music video a week later. A commercial success, it reached number 5 on the US Hot Country Songs and number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Nominated for Best Country Song, it won Best Country Solo Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. The album's second single "80s Mercedes" was serviced to country radio on June 27, with the accompanying music video released on August 8. It reached numbers 74 and 11 on the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts, respectively.

Heros third single, "I Could Use a Love Song", became available on March 13, 2017, later impacted radio on March 27. It peaked at number 56 on the Hot 100, while reaching at number 7 on the Hot Country Songs. "Rich" was released February 12, 2018, as the album's fourth single. Morris embarked on the Hero Tour in 2017, in support of her album.

A deluxe edition of the album was released on March 17, 2017, which features the songs "Bummin' Cigarettes", "Space" and "Company You Keep". Heros tenth anniversary edition was released on June 26, 2026, through Legacy Recordings, to digital and physical. Titled Hero: A Second Wind, it features the tracks created during the recording sessions of Hero—"We Can't Be Friends" and "Hard Liquor and Soft Rock"—as well as a demo version of "Sugar" (released on June 3), "Company You Keep," "I Wish I Was", and "Drunk Girls Don't Cry". "Hard Liquor and Soft Rock" followed on June 5.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised Morris's inventiveness and how she "skillfully slides between styles, blurring distinctions between genre and eras". Erlewine felt that Hero "belongs to the digital era but it's the songs – smart, sharp, and hooky – that make this a great modern pop album, regardless of genre." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times considered the album an outstanding country music debut, and "perhaps the canniest country record in recent memory." Caramanica thought Morris an "astute synthesizer" of various styles, and found the album to be "both utterly of its moment and also savvy enough to indicate how the future might sound." He also noted the profanity in some of the songs that Morris used "fluently, casually, and effectively, which is to say, you hardly notice at all as she's breaking what may be country's last remaining taboo." Sounds Like Nashville referred to Morris' songwriting talent, powerful vocals and eclectic music style that made Hero one of the most unique and enjoyable releases of 2016.

Accolades + Awards and nominations Year Association Category Result 2016 CMA Awards Album of the Year New Artist of the Year 2017 Grammy Awards Best Country Album ACM Awards Album of the Year

+ Year-end lists Publication Rank List AllMusic N/A Best Albums of 2016 American Songwriter 40 Top 50 Albums of 2016 AOL 7 Best Albums of 2016 Billboard 9 50 Best Albums of 2016 Entertainment Weekly 5 The Best Country Albums of 2016 NPR 36 50 Best Albums of 2016 People 10 The 10 Best Albums of 2016 Rolling Stone 1 40 Best Country Albums of 2016 13 50 Best Albums of 2016 Spin 47 The 50 Best Albums of 2016 Stereogum 12 The 20 Best Country Albums of 2016 Variety 7 The 10 Best Albums of 2016 Vice 44 The 100 Best Albums of 2016 Wired N/A Best Albums of 2016

Commercial performance In the United States, Hero debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart with 45,000 equivalent album units; the album sold 37,000 copies in pure sales, with the remainder of its unit total reflecting the album's streaming and track equivalent album units. It also debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart. As of April 2019, the album has sold 313,100 copies in the United States. On July 17, 2019, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units.

Track listing All tracks were produced by Morris and Busbee.

Notes "Second Wind" was originally recorded by Kelly Clarkson and included on the deluxe edition of her 2015 album, Piece by Piece.

Credits and personnel Credits were adapted from the deluxe edition's liner notes.

Locations Recording Sunset Sound; Los Angeles, California Grand Victor Sound; Nashville, Tennessee Blackbird Studios; Nashville, Tennessee Azteca Market; Glassell Park, California Eastside Studio; Nashville, Tennessee Lula Recording; New York The Tzudio; Nashville, Tennessee Jane's Place; Nashville, Tennessee Sound of Sterloid; Encino, California Hill Studios; Nashville, Tennessee Sound Emporium; Nashville, Tennessee The Birdhouse; Glendale, California

Mixing Azteca Market; Glassell Park, California Eastside Studio; Nashville, Tennessee Lula Recording; New York

Mastering Gateway Mastering and DVD; Portland, Maine

Musicians

Rich Brinsfieldbass guitar Busbeepercussion, programming, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer, synthesizer, acoustic guitar, electric guitar Eric Darkenpercussion Johnny Dukeelectric guitar Fred Eltringhamdrums Ian Fitchukdrums, programming, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer, acoustic guitar, whistling, background vocals Joe Foxelectric guitar Natalie Hembybackground vocals Brad Hillprogramming, crowd noise, background vocals Ryan Hurdbackground vocals Mason Levyprogramming Hayley McLeanelectric guitar Carl Mineracoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki Heather Morganbackground vocals Maren Morrislead vocals, background vocals John Osborneelectric guitar Aaron Sterlingdrums, percussion Dave Thomsonbackground vocals Mark Trussellelectric guitar Brett Tylerprogramming, bass guitar, keyboards, electric guitar, background vocals Laura Veltzbackground vocals Derek Wellsacoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin

Choir singers The McCrary Sisters (Regina McCrary, Deborah McCrary, Alfreda McCrary, Allen McCrary, Beverly McCrary)

Technical

Austin Atwooddigital editing Adam Ayanmastering Jeff Baldingrecording, engineer Busbeeproducer (all tracks except 9, 12, 14), recording, mixing Dave Claussrecording, mixing Eric Darkenrecording Zach DeWallassistant engineer Ian Fitchukproducer (track 12), recording Kenley Flynnproduction assistant (track 14 only) Brad Hillproduction (tracks 6, 9, 13), recording Scott Johnsonproduction assistant Jordan Lehningdigital editing Amanda Millerassistant engineer Maren Morrisproducer Ernesto Oliveraassistant, drum recording assistant Juan Sevillaassistant engineer Aaron Sterlingrecording Morgan Strattondrum recording assistant Brett Tylerproducer (track 14), recording Derek Wellsrecording Brian David Willisdigital editing

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance Chart (2016–2017) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 69 Australian Country Albums (ARIA)6

Year-end charts + 2016 year-end chart performance Chart (2016) Position US Billboard 200 145 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 21

+ 2017 year-end chart performance Chart (2017) Position US Billboard 200 106 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 16

+ 2018 year-end chart performance Chart (2018) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 32

+ 2019 year-end chart performance Chart (2019) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 51

Certifications

References