Maren Morris delivered a stunning New Year’s Eve performance, despite facing significant challenges in the days prior.
The 35-year-old country music icon disclosed that she battled a severe sinus infection just before her appearance at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026.
Sharing her experience on Instagram Stories, she noted, “Apologies for the scare, but leading up to my performance, I had the most severe sinus infection, which caused my face to swell and triggered an intense skin reaction.”
With the help of medication, soothing ointments, and expertly applied makeup, Morris managed to shine on stage.
“I’m grateful I was able to perform last night. Thank you to antibiotics, Afrin, Aquaphor, and, of course, concealer,” she expressed.
The “Chasing After You” singer, who recently announced her departure from what she termed the “toxic” country music scene, backed up her claims by posting a photo of her face, visibly red and swollen from the ordeal.
Maren Morris revealed she was fighting the ‘worst sinus infection’ of her life days before taking to the stage at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026
The country star pulled herself together in time for the most eagerly awaited show of the year
She followed that up with a photo of two boxes of the nasal decongestant spray Afrin and told followers that she was ‘stopping today [for] all those concerned!’
During her set on December 31, Morris didn’t disappoint as she rocked the crowd in a sparkly dress with matching gloves and a furry wrap.
She performed a few of her hit tunes including fan favorite The Bones, pop-country crossover The Middle, and the upbeat 80’s Mercedes, along with Carry Me Through, which shows how much she’s evolved through the years.
The next day she shared a carousel of photos highlighting the performance with minimal swelling visible, and mentioned she got to meet her idol Diana Ross as well.
The photo drop included a snap of Morris posing in her glittering dress and gloves, plus a clip of confetti falling on Times Square, and another photo showing the singer getting some last-minute help with her hem.
She wrote that she ‘performed in Times Square last night for NYE right as it started to snow, met the queen Diana Ross, had Janet help me button my bodysuit (that’s a real manager) and got super emo when confetti fell over thousands of hopeful, happy people in one of my favorite cities. happy 2026, world.’
The New Year’s Eve show comes months after Morris celebrated her first Pride since officially coming out as bisexual on the heels of her harsh words about the country music scene.
Morris labeled parts of the genre ‘toxic’ in 2023, even though it made her a star.
Morris sang many of her hit songs at the NYE show including The Bones, The Middle, 80s Mercedes and Carry Me Though
The hitmaker sparkled in a glittering mini dress and gloves plus a furry wrap that she later disgarded
Morris showed minimal visible signs of her face-swelling sinus infection thanks to over-the-counter nasal spray, healing ointment and makeup
Morris – who was previously wed to Ryan Hurd for five years before their split – came out as bisexual in June 2024; pictured May 1, 2025 in Nashville, Tennesee
The singer celebrated the milestone during her performance at Outloud Music Festival on May 30.
‘My name is Maren Morris, and this is my first Pride!’ she declared, sparking a rapturous cheer from the crowd, as seen in video exclusively obtained by The Daily Mail.
Morris came out as bisexual in June 2024, announcing to Instagram followers that she was ‘Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+, happy pride!’
She was previously married to Ryan Hurd, but they split up after five years of marriage in October 2023, finalizing their divorce in January 2024 while agreeing to share custody of their son, Hayes.
