Maren Morris elaborates on decision to distance herself from country music

Maren Morris is further explaining -- and clarifying -- her relationship with the country music genre.

In a new interview with The New York Times' "Popcast" podcast, the 33-year-old singer said the takeaway from her interview last month with the Los Angeles Times appeared to be that she was leaving country music -- something she called "a little bit hyperbolic" and "ridiculous."

Still, Morris clarified that she "certainly can't participate in a lot of it," referring to country music, and said she is "just going and doing my own thing," telling fans to follow her where "everyone's welcome."

The Grammy winner, who recently put out a new two-track EP titled "The Bridge," told the podcast hosts she'll continue to write with songwriters in Nashville but revealed she has pulled her work from being submitted for awards consideration within the genre.

"I don't want to say goodbye, but I really cannot participate in the really toxic arms of this institution anymore," she said, adding that she doesn't know "if it's forever or it's just how I'm feeling in this current state."

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"I'm not shutting off fans of country music -- or that's not my intention," the Texas native noted. "It's just the music industry that I have to walk away a few, like, factions from."

Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Morris opened up about the backlash to her speaking up for "people on the margins," meaning women and people of color, within the country music genre, which she said fails to lift up "anyone that is not, you know, white male."

The "Circles Around This Town" singer said she felt like wasn't "allowed to criticize the family -- ever" when critiquing the genre for its lack of representation or when supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Morris also addressed those who have criticized her songs like "80s Mercedes" and "My Church" -- or even Morris herself -- as not country enough, calling that "the writing on the wall for what was to come."

"Ironically, it was just like, 'She's not country. Look at the way she dresses. Get the hell out of here. You don't belong here. This is not like Dolly [Parton],'" she recalled people saying. "I'm just like, 'I know it's not. I'm not trying to be.'"