Maren Morris reveals health struggles ahead of New Year’s Eve show

Maren Morris rang in 2026 in sparkling fashion, but behind the scenes, the country-turned-pop star was quietly battling a serious health crisis in the days leading up to her New Year’s Eve performance. The 35-year-old singer took to Instagram after appearing on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026,” revealing that she had been dealing with what she described as the “worst sinus infection” of his life just before going on stage in Times Square.

“Sorry, I’m scared, but a few days before my performance I had the worst sinus infection of my life,” Morris wrote on his Instagram Stories. According to the singer, the infection caused significant swelling in her face and then developed into what she called a “crazy skin reaction.”

To prove she wasn’t exaggerating, Morris shared a candid photo showing her face visibly red, swollen and patchy.

Despite the setback, Morris managed to pull through with medication and a little Hollywood magic. “So I’m relieved I got to sing last night,” she wrote, thanking “the antibiotics, Afrin and Aquaphor. Oh, and concealer.”

She also shared a photo of two cans of Afrin nasal spray, assuring her worried followers that she planned to stop using the decongestant. “Stop today [for] everyone involved! she added.

Morris’ candid health update comes amid a wave of online speculation about her appearance, with some social media users accusing the singer of overdoing cosmetic procedures in the days leading up to her New Year’s Eve performance.

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TikTok commenters outright questioned her appearance, writing: “She looks unrecognizable” and “I don’t recognize her at all.” Another added: “Why can’t they leave their faces alone? »

By sharing the new unfiltered photos of her inflamed face and detailing the medical treatment that helped her recovery, the singer appeared to quietly shut down speculation without directly responding to the criticism.

Health fears aside, Morris delivered a performance full of energy and confidence on Dec. 31, taking the stage in a sparkling dress with matching gloves and a fur scarf. She performed several fan favorites, including “The Bones,” “The Middle” and “80’s Mercedes,” as well as “Carry Me Through,” a track that reflected her artistic evolution.

The performance marked another milestone for Morris, who has publicly spoken about moving away from what she called the “toxic” aspects of the country music industry. “I don’t want to say goodbye to him, but I really can no longer participate in the truly toxic arms of this institution,” she revealed in 2023.

Despite these remarks about gender, the singer clarified in a later interview with The guardian that she “never said she was leaving country music” because “it’s not really like that [she] You don’t feel it at all.” “You hear country music on this album. You can’t intentionally remove the pieces,” she said. “There would be nothing left of my sound. Because it’s right there. It’s in my bones and it’s in the way I write. »