Maddie & Tae are an American female country music duo composed of Maddie Font (née Marlow) and Tae Kerr (née Dye),[1] both of whom are singers, songwriters, and guitarists. The duo was signed to the revived Dot Records in 2014.[2] Their debut album, Start Here, was released on August 28, 2015, and includes the singles "Girl in a Country Song", "Fly", "Shut Up and Fish", and "Sierra". Following the closure of Dot, they signed to Mercury Nashville in 2018. They released their second studio album The Way It Feels for this label in April 2020, and the first part of their third studio album, Through The Madness in 2022.

Maddie & Tae
Maddie Font (left) and Tae Kerr (right) in 2014
Maddie Font (left) and Tae Kerr (right) in 2014
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Years active2014–present
LabelsMercury Nashville
Members
  • Maddie Font
  • Tae Kerr

Career

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2010–2016: Early beginnings and Start Here

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In 2010, Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye were both going to the same vocal coach and met at a showcase in Dallas. Within the year, the duo were going back and forth to Nashville every weekend while still going to school.[3] They first performed under the name Sweet Aliana. After finishing high school, the duo moved to Nashville, to begin their musical career as Maddie & Tae.[4] In 2014, Big Machine Records revived the Dot Records name for a new imprint. Maddie & Tae were confirmed as the first signees of the label in June 2014.[5][6]

They wrote their debut single, "Girl in a Country Song", with Aaron Scherz, who co-produced it with Dann Huff. The song is a criticism of the then-contemporary bro-country trend.[7][8] "Girl in a Country Song" debuted at number 58 on the Country Airplay chart dated for the week ending July 19, 2014.[9] After 23 weeks, it reached number 1 for the chart dated December 20, 2014, becoming the first debut single by a female duo to reach number one since The Wreckers did it in 2006 with "Leave the Pieces", and only the second in history.[10] Maddie & Tae released their self-titled EP on November 4, 2014. It featured "Girl in a Country Song" as well as three new tracks: "Sierra", "Fly", and "Your Side of Town".

"Fly" was released on January 26, 2015.[11] It made its television debut when they performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[12] Their debut album, Start Here, was released on August 28, 2015.[12] By October 2015, the song had become a Top 10 hit on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. The duo co-wrote the track "Boomerang" on Jana Kramer's late 2015 album Thirty One.[13] The album's third single, "Shut Up and Fish" released to country radio on November 2, 2015. The album's fourth single, "Sierra", was released to country radio in 2016.

Maddie and Tae guest-starred on the Disney Channel show Girl Meets World in an episode entitled "Girl Meets Texas, Part 2", which premiered on October 17, 2015.[14] They performed at The O2 Arena, on the main stage of the C2C: Country to Country festival in March 2016 – their first visit to the UK.[15] They released a fashion line in collaboration with Bloomingdales in late 2016.[16]

2017–present: The Way It Feels and EP releases

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In early 2017, Maddie and Tae appeared on Forbes' 30 Under 30 - Music list at #20.[17][18] They received two nominations for the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year.[19] In June 2017, it was announced that Maddie and Tae had signed with UMG Nashville following the closing of Dot Records.[20]

In early 2018, Maddie & Tae signed with Mercury Nashville and released the single "Friends Don't."[21] It has since peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. In October 2018, the duo released another new song, "Die from a Broken Heart",[22] and it sold 7,000 in its first week.[23] The song has reached a peak of number 2 on the US Country Chart and number 1 on Country Airplay chart. This makes the duo's first number one since their debut single. The duo is an opening act on Carrie Underwood's Cry Pretty Tour 360 which began on May 1, 2019.[24] In March 2019, the duo released another promotional single entitled "Tourist in This Town."[25] Their EP One Heart to Another was released on April 26, 2019.[26]

Their second studio album, The Way It Feels, was released on April 10, 2020.[27] A Christmas music EP, We Need Christmas, followed on October 23, 2020.[28] In November 2021, Tae revealed that she and her husband were expecting their first child in the spring of 2022.[29]

The first volume of the pair's third studio album, the EP Through the Madness, Vol. 1, was released on January 28, 2022.[30] That same year, they embarked on their "All Song No Static Tour", with Abbey Cone and Sacha as supporting acts.[31]

Members

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Maddie Font

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Madison Kay "Maddie" Font (née Marlow)[32] (born July 7, 1995) was raised in Sugar Land, Texas. She graduated from George Ranch High School in 2013.[33]

She is the duo's lead vocalist and also plays guitar and mandolin.

On November 22, 2019, Maddie married Jonah Font after eight years of dating.[34] On September 9, 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, a son.[35]

Tae Kerr

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Taylor Elizabeth "Tae" Kerr (née Dye)[36] (born September 18, 1995) was raised in Ada, Oklahoma. She has two older brothers, one of whom is actor Mason Dye.[37] She graduated from Silo High School in 2013.

She is the duo's harmony vocalist and also plays left-handed guitar and piano.

On February 21, 2020, Tae married songwriter Josh Kerr after over a year of dating.[38] On January 17, 2022, they welcomed their first child, a daughter, who was born three months early.[39] In June 2024, the couple announced that they are expecting their second child, a boy.[40]

Discography

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Studio albums

Tours

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Headlining

  • Start Here Tour (2015)[41]
  • Tourist in This Town Tour (2020)[42]
  • All Song No Static Tour (2022)[43]

Supporting

Accolades

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Awards received by Maddie & Tae
Award Year Recipient Category Result
Country Music Association Awards 2015 "Girl in a Country Song" Maddie & Tae Music Video of the Year Won
CMT Music Awards 2022 Maddie & Tae "Woman You Got" Duo/Group Video of the Year Won

References

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  1. ^ "Country stars Maddie & Tae on touring with Brad Paisley and new fashion line". CBS News. September 29, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-10. CBS caught up with Madison Marlow and Taylor Dye at the launch event to talk about their youthful clothing line
  2. ^ Lee, Linda (November 12, 2014). "Math Just Does Not Add Up For Maddie & Tae! [Podcast]". WYCD. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. ^ Jill Menze (2015-08-05). "Meet Maddie & Tae, Nashville's Newest Sensation". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  4. ^ "About". Maddie & Tae official website. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Exclusive: Dot Records Signs Duo Maddie & Tae as First Act". Rolling Stone. June 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Dot Records Signs Maddie & Tae To Recording Contract". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  7. ^ Gina Dalfonzo (7 July 2014). "The Bro-Country Backlash Is Here". The Atlantic. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Has the Bro-Country "Backlash" Begun?". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "Chart Highlights: Usher Lands Lucky 13th No. 1 On R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  10. ^ Gary Trust and Wade Jessen (December 8, 2014). "Chart Highlights: Maddie & Tae, Girls in a No. 1 Country Song". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "Listen: Maddie & Tae release new single "Fly"". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Maddie and Tae Perform New Song 'Fly' on 'The Tonight Show'". Rolling Stone. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  13. ^ Paxman, Bob (October 19, 2015). "Reviews: Jana Kramer - Thirty One". Nash Country Weekly. 22 (42): 23. ISSN 2379-9137.
  14. ^ McClellan, Laura (16 October 2015). "Maddie & Tae to Cameo on Disney Channel's 'Girl Meets World'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  15. ^ "C2C: Country to Country 2016 – Maddie & Tae live review". 12 March 2016.
  16. ^ Thompson, Gayle (19 February 2017). "Maddie & Tae Are 'So Anxious' to Release Their Sophomore Album". The Boot. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  17. ^ Bonaguro, Alison. "Kelsea Ballerini Named No. 2 Forbes' "30 Under 30" List". CMT News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017.
  18. ^ "Maddie & Tae". Forbes. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Nominees". The ACM Awards. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  20. ^ Thompson, Gayle (10 June 2017). "Maddie & Tae Have Signed With UMG Nashville". The Boot. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Maddie & Tae Start An Evolution With Mercury Debut, 'Friends Don't'". Billboard. June 5, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "Die From A Broken Heart by Maddie & Tae on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  23. ^ "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: November 7, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  24. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Carrie Underwood Announces The Cry Pretty Tour 360 With All-Female Bill: See the Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  25. ^ Despres, Tricia (March 2019). "Maddie & Tae's 'Tourist in This Town' Confronts Past Pain". Taste of Country. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  26. ^ Kruh, Nancy. "As New EP Debuts, Maddie & Tae Celebrate Why Carrie Underwood Chose Them for Her Tour". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  27. ^ Freeman, Jon (2020-02-04). "Maddie & Tae Detail New Album 'The Way It Feels'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  28. ^ Parton, Chris (September 21, 2020). "Maddie & Tae Announce 'We Need Christmas' Album". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  29. ^ Balagtas, Tristan. "Maddie & Tae's Taylor Dye Is Pregnant! Country Star Expecting Baby Girl with Husband Josh Kerr". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  30. ^ Dowling, Marcus K. (December 14, 2021). "Maddie & Tae Reveal New EP Through the Madness Vol. 1". CMT. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  31. ^ "Maddie & Tae Are Kicking Off 2022 With a Tour and New Music". Kix Brooks Radio. December 14, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  32. ^ "ASCAP ACE Search". ascap.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  33. ^ "2013 GRHS graduate, Maddie Marlow (of Maddie & Tae), is debuting on the Today show this morning! The duo will be singing their hit "Girl in a Country Song"". Facebook. August 11, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  34. ^ Tracy, Brianne. "Maddie & Tae's Maddie Marlow Marries Jonah Font: All the Details from Their Tennessee Wedding". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  35. ^ Sacks, Hannah. "Maddie & Tae's Maddie Marlow Welcomes First Baby, Son Forrest, After Emergency C-Section: 'So In Love'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  36. ^ "ASCAP ACE Search". ascap.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  37. ^ "Maddie & Tae Have a Close Connection To This Season of Stranger Things". UMG Nashville. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  38. ^ Mauch, Ally. "They're Married! Maddie & Tae's Taylor Dye Weds Josh Kerr". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  39. ^ Rice, Nicholas. "Maddie & Tae's Taylor Dye Gives Birth to First Baby with Husband Josh Kerr 3 Months Early". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  40. ^ Sacks, Hannah. "Maddie & Tae's Taylor Dye Expecting Baby No. 2 with Husband Josh Kerr: 'Couldn't Be More Excited'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  41. ^ "Maddie & Tae Announce Fall Headlining Tour". The Boot. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  42. ^ "Maddie & Tae Headline Tourist in This Town Tour!". Maddie & Tae Official Website. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  43. ^ "Maddie & Tae Reveal Rescheduled CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour". Archived from the original on April 25, 2022.