After kicking off their first headlining tour at Manhattan’s Highline Ballroom, Boston’s Paradise Rock Club and Portland, Maine’s The Asylum, Maddie & Tae rushed back to Music City to attend the 45th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala at Music City Center. Beyond honoring Hall of Fame Inductees Mark James, Even Stevens, Craig Wiseman and Songwriter/Artist inductee Rosanne Cash, the triple CMA nominees found themselves singled out as one of the prestigious “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” designees.
“No one told us we were being recognized,” said a breathless Maddie after being called to the stage for the honor. “It was so crazy, because that song happened so fast, was released even faster – and somehow just keeps going. It’s hard to believe people are still responding to a song we were sure everyone was going to be mad about.”
“Girl In A Country Song” became only the third debut single by a female duo to top Billboard’s Country Singles chart. Its gender-flipping video – nominated for CMA Video of the Year – has racked up over 27.5 million views, and is still sparking conversation.
“And now this?!” Tae says. “It’s crazy and it’s awesome – and it proves that people do care what girls think, and how they feel. Girls are more than Daisy Dukes and shutting up in the truck. I think our song sorta says people agree.”
Even more than joining songs by artists ranging from Keith Urban and Eric Church, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift on the list, the pair not only co-wrote their song, but they joined pop sensation Meghan Trainor as being the only writer/artists to see their debut single included for the very prestigious honor.
“Like Tae said,” Maddie continued, “it’s crazy. We care about songwriting soooo much. The people in that room are the very best of the best. That they’d recognize our song like this, it kinda takes my breath away. This is everything we ever wanted, and seeing people we respect so much respect out music – there really aren’t words.”
It’s been that kind of week for the platinum blonds who are also nominated for Vocal Duo and New Artistat this year’s CMA Awards. After spending the summer on the road as part of Dierks Bentley’s SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR, Maddie & Tae kicked off their first ever headlining tour at New York City’s Highline Ballroom to a full house of young fans who hung on every note, even knowing the words to unreleased songs like “Takin’ It Easy” and “Boomerang.”
“When we went out on that stage,” Tae said, “it was one of those times when Maddie and I just wanted to put every bit of our hearts out there, to give those fans every single thing piece of who we are. When they started singing back to us, it was the most amazing feeling – because they were singing our songs, but they kind of made them their songs, too.”
“I don’t even know what to say about that,” Maddie added. “We’ve played so many shows since the single went to country radio, but the idea all these people had come to see us – because there was something in our songs that moved them? That is what made me love music so much, and the idea those people feel the same way about our stuff, what could be better?”