5 things to know about Maddie & Tae, and their plans for country music domination
It’s been nearly five years since the platinum-selling country duo Maddie & Tae released their debut album, "Start Here." Now, Maddie Marlow and Taylor "Tae" Dye are back with their 15-song sophomore album "The Way It Feels," which they describe as a "roller coaster of a story of love, loss and redemption."
Before streaming their newest album, here are five things new and veteran fans alike should know about the music-making duo.
1. They're newlyweds
In November, Marlow married her high school sweetheart, Jonah Font, after having to change their wedding date several times for touring conflicts and the CMA Awards. "The biggest lesson I've learned from marriage is compromising, I think. And just really listening to one another. Sometimes that can be a little difficult, but just having fun," Marlow said.
Just three months after Marlow’s wedding, Dye had nuptials of her own. She wed songwriter Josh Kerr, who helped co-write several songs on "The Way It Feels."
"Patience is is very needed in marriage and just I think in life you choose your battles and you realize what's worth picking a fight over and what's just what's silly. So I think just the small stuff like that is so important," Dye said.
And yes, Maddie and Tae stood by each other’s side at the altar.
2. Record label issues threatened to derail their success
The country artists were finding their footing in the industry when their first label, Dot Records, shuttered in 2017. That moment put their budding careers at a total halt.
"That label, it was all we had known. And that's where we started our career," Dye said. "So to kind of just be left with not really knowing where it was headed was terrifying."
The moment also sent Marlow into what she described as a difficult season of depression.
"It was all just stemmed from attaching my self-worth to my career rather than who I am. And so I kind of had to learn the hard way that you're not what you do, you are who you are. And that's something that can never be taken away from you."
Months later, the two signed with their current home Universal Music Group (UMG) Nashville.
3. They co-wrote nearly every song on this latest album
Of the 15 songs on their latest album, Maddie and Tae are credited with co-writing all but one track.
Marlow also came up with the concept for their latest music video for "Bathroom Floor."
"I basically had this really wacky vision of doing like a 'Ghostbusters' meets 'Ocean's Eight,' which don't really go together. But somehow they did in my brain. And I ... wanted to do this heartbreak repair service, like treating it almost like plumber's, but it's for heartache," she said.
4. They've toured with some of country music's biggest names
Maddie & Tae joined some of country music’s heavy-hitters on the road over the years including Dierks Bentley (featured on their new track, "Lay Here With Me"), Brad Paisley and most recently, Carrie Underwood.
The singer-songwriters wrapped up Underwood’s "Cry Pretty Tour 360" in October, which featured all-female acts.
"Just learning how to entertain 20,000 people every night for six months, and just perfecting that craft was just such a gift. And we're going to cherish that opportunity that Carrie gave us for our entire career," Marlow said.
"We didn't feel like we had to put on a Carrie Underwood show. We got to put on a Maddie & Tae show before Carrie Underwood. And that was just so sweet," Dye noted.
The two hope to be back on the road soon playing this new collection of songs for fans -- both on their own "Tourist in This Town" headlining tour and also opening up on country group Lady Antebellum’s "Ocean 2020 Tour."
5. They've got their eyes on one specific award
When asked what they’d like to accomplish in the next five years, the two agreed they’d like to have their third or possibly even fourth album out while continuing to tour the world. Maddie and Tae also have one particular recognition they’d like to have next to their names.
Since coming onto the music scene in 2015, Maddie & Tae have regularly found themselves the sole female contenders in country duo of the year categories. The two have yet to take the honor home.
"All the other nominees are men, which is great. They're all friends of ours, which we love. But it is really special to get to hold down the fort for the girls and have a sense of representation in that category," Marlow said. "One day we want to sweep that thing."
