NEW YORK — When country star Maren Morris would voice support for the LBGTQ community, including publicly clashing with Jason Aldean’s wife over gender-affirming care for transgender youth, she thought she was doing it as an ally. She didn’t realize it at the time, but she was also speaking up for herself, too.

“I just maybe, internally, hadn’t had the bravery to go there in myself, and say the words out loud,” said Morris, who recently came out as bisexual. “When you spend the majority of your life in straight relationships and you haven’t explored that part of yourself … is now the right time for me to tell everyone while I’m married that like, ‘Hi, I’m also attracted to women?’ ”

The Grammy winner, who’s also stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and immigrants, has experienced drastic life changes throughout the past year, including a divorce with fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. These learning curves shaped “Dreamsicle,” her fourth studio album, out now.

“There’s a freedom that I’ve found in this album that’s a new version of what I thought I had,” Morris said. “It’s just more wise and lived-in. And maybe part of that’s just like being in your 30s — you just don’t care as much.”

Following 2022’s “Humble Quest,” the 35-year-old singer-songwriter crafted 14 tracks filled with an eclectic, yet cohesive mix of traditional country, pop, soft-rock and dreamy bluegrass vibes.

“I was writing all through all of those personal losses and evolutions. … I was really just avoiding going home, and I would stay in my sessions late, and also write on days that I probably should have just taken a nap or gone to see my therapist,” Morris said.

Standout moments include the beautiful Americana-esque “grand bouquet” where Morris sings, “been so busy praying for my grand bouquet/not noticing you gave me a new flower every day.” There are also her staple poppy songs like “cry in the car” that attempt to mask the pain and frustration of heartbreak behind upbeat tempos.

But it’s not all doom and gloom; “The Middle” vocalist explores new themes, like on the previously released singles “bed no breakfast,” and “push me over” which she wrote with the electro-pop band MUNA.

“I went on a date with a woman for the first time, and I was just like I want to write about this,” she said.