Brooke Moriber’s latest single, “Stay,” doesn’t just drop onto your playlist—it crashes in, raw and defiant, demanding to be felt. A rising Pop/Country force who cut her teeth on Broadway before channeling her life into music, Moriber is no stranger to reinvention, but here, she’s not reinventing herself. Instead, she’s doing something much more profound: claiming her space.
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“Stay,” originally made famous by Jennifer Nettles, has been a regular feature in Moriber’s live shows for the past year, but she waited until now to take it into the studio. Why? Because for Brooke, this song is personal. “Stay” isn’t just about the storyline of a woman who refuses to be a victim; it’s a reflection of Brooke’s own battle-tested resilience. This is an anthem of strength, something she infuses in nearly every note she sings—an approach that’s become her calling card.
In the swirling, often oversaturated landscape of modern country, where authenticity can sometimes feel as manufactured as the neon signs in downtown Nashville, Moriber’s rendition of “Stay” punches through with a different kind of grit. She’s not here to simply pay homage to Nettles; she’s here to tell her own story through the song, reimagining it in a way that feels both familiar and wholly original. It’s that blending of tradition and reinvention that makes Moriber such a compelling artist. “Stay” is proof.
Moriber’s voice has been described as a “clarion” by the Associated Press, and that sharp, unmistakable quality pierces through “Stay,” as she drives the song forward with a palpable urgency. You can almost hear the Broadway roots in her delivery—clear, confident, commanding—but there’s a country soul behind it, born from her years of songwriting and performing her way through Nashville’s hallowed halls. She’s been called “a force to be reckoned with” in the country scene, and this track only strengthens that claim.
The behind-the-scenes TikTok content released with “Stay” offers fans a rare glimpse into the production process. Seeing Moriber, so at home in the studio, collaborating with heavyweights like Fred Mollin (producer) and Jason Roller (guitarist), gives a sense of just how much this track matters to her. This isn’t a rush job or a cover thrown together for streaming numbers—this is a labor of love, a battle cry from someone who has fought her way back time and time again.
The credits read like a who’s who of Nashville’s studio elite: Larry Paxton on bass, Tommy Harden on drums, Kerry Marx on electric guitar. These are the players who have helped shape the sound of contemporary country music, and yet, under Moriber’s direction, “Stay” retains its intimate, almost confessional vibe. Her band isn’t just backing her—they’re amplifying her story.
But here’s the thing about Brooke Moriber: her story isn’t just in the songs she sings; it’s in the life she’s lived. Diagnosed with a rare eye disease in her teenage years that nearly robbed her of her sight, Moriber turned to songwriting as a way to cope. That eye disease? It’s in remission now, but the grit and determination it forced her to develop hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s all over Stay, lurking in the corners of her voice, giving every word a little extra weight.
Moriber’s journey from Broadway to Nashville, from her early work in the theater world to her first single, Cry Like A Girl, is one of relentless determination. And while she’s signed to Reviver Records now, she’s still carving her own path. From Spotify playlists to opening for Elle King at The Paramount in Huntington, NY, Moriber’s career has been anything but conventional. But maybe that’s what makes her music feel so urgent, so vital. She’s not following anyone’s script, and in today’s crowded country scene, that’s worth something.
And then there’s the “Nashville in New York” series, the bi-monthly shows she hosts and headlines at the Bitter End in Manhattan. It’s here, in these intimate writers’ rounds, that Moriber’s duality as a New Yorker and Nashville songwriter comes into focus. She’s bringing the best of both worlds together—gritty city hustle meets Tennessee storytelling—and it’s clear that she’s found her voice in this juxtaposition. She’s not trying to be the next Carrie Underwood or Kacey Musgraves. She’s Brooke Moriber, and Stay feels like the song that could finally make the world understand that.
While Stay reflects a raw personal strength, it also underscores a larger theme that runs through much of Moriber’s music: survival. Whether it’s survival through illness, heartbreak, or the cutthroat world of country music, Moriber keeps pushing forward, transforming each obstacle into art. “Stay” feels like the natural culmination of that journey—a song that’s as much about owning your power as it is about finding the courage to move on.
With its blend of pop sensibility and country heart, Stay will undoubtedly resonate with fans across both genres. And yet, there’s something uniquely Moriber about the way the song breathes. It’s clear she’s not interested in chasing trends or catering to radio formats. She’s here to tell her truth, and that’s exactly what she does with this track.
In a world where pop-country can often feel polished to the point of sterilization, Brooke Moriber’s “Stay” reminds us that vulnerability and strength aren’t mutually exclusive—they’re often two sides of the same coin. With her clarion voice, her battle-tested resilience, and her unstoppable drive, Moriber proves she’s not just staying—she’s thriving.
Garth Thomas