Country music fans woke up to a gut-punch this week: Maddie & Tae are officially ending their run as a duo — at least for now — after more than a decade together and a string of hits that helped reshape modern country.
The pair, made up of Maddie Font and Tae Dye Kerr, confirmed the news in an interview with People and in follow-up coverage from Nashville industry outlet MusicRow.
The Split That No One Saw Coming
After 15 years as a team, Maddie & Tae are
“going their separate ways” professionally, even as they insist their friendship is stronger than ever.
According to
MusicRow, the duo is ending active work as
Maddie & Tae, with
Maddie Font planning to continue as a solo artist and
Tae Kerr stepping away from the music business to focus on her family.
They’re intentionally not calling it a permanent breakup. Maddie describes the decision as
“open-ended”, leaving the door cracked for a possible reunion down the road — whether that’s a new record or select tour dates.
Why Now? Career and Family at a Crossroads
Both artists are at major life and career turning points.
-
Tae Kerr will step back from music to focus on home life with her husband, songwriter/producer
Josh Kerr, and their two children: daughter
Leighton, who turns 4 in January, and son
Chapel, currently just over a year old.
-
Maddie Font is already
laying the groundwork for a solo career, while also raising her 2‑year‑old son.
In their
People comments, Maddie emphasized that the decision is about real life more than industry strategy. She said she’s excited to
“just be best friends and nurture our friendship and not have to worry as much about the work”, adding that they’ll still be “raising our babies together.”
In other words: fewer tour buses, more playdates.
Not Done Yet: Tours and Commitments Will Go On
If you’ve already got tickets, don’t panic.
Both
MusicRow and country outlet 99.9 Y Country report that
Maddie & Tae will honor all their remaining live show commitments, with concerts already scheduled
through late winter and into spring 2026.
Some of the currently listed dates, primarily in
February and March 2026, are still on the books as Maddie & Tae performances. Fans looking for a farewell-era experience may find these shows become an emotional final chapter for the duo’s live run — at least for now.
For the latest updates, the duo’s official site still lists music, merch, and tour information under the Maddie & Tae banner.
A Legacy Bigger Than The Breakup
The timing of the split stings because
Maddie & Tae are stepping back right after one of their strongest creative runs.According to
MusicRow:
- The duo formed in
2010 and spent years grinding before breaking through.
- They earned
two No. 1 hits:
-
“Girl In A Country Song” – their breakout track that famously took aim at “bro-country” stereotypes.
-
“Die From A Broken Heart” – a slow-burn success that became one of their signature heartbreak anthems.
- Across their career, they’ve scored:
-
13 CMA nominations-
11 ACM nominations-
6 CMT Awards nominations- They released
four albums and four EPs, with their latest project,
_Love & Light_, arriving earlier this year.
Those numbers are impressive on paper, but the real story is how they
shifted the narrative for women in country.
“Girl In A Country Song” wasn’t just a hit — it was a statement, flipping the script on how women were portrayed in mainstream country lyrics. That early boldness helped them stand out in a genre that often sidelines female artists.
Maddie Goes Solo: What To Expect
While details on Maddie Font’s solo material are still under wraps, 99.9 Y Country reports she is
“in the process of launching her solo career.”Given:
- Her history as a co-writer on much of Maddie & Tae’s catalog
- The emotional storytelling on recent projects like
Love & Light…fans can reasonably expect her solo work to stay rooted in
personal, lyric-driven country, likely with a modern edge and the same vulnerable, confessional tone that powered “Die From A Broken Heart.”
The big open question:
Will radio, streaming, and labels give Maddie the same support as a solo woman in country that they struggled to give Maddie & Tae at times as a duo? The industry track record is mixed — but her name recognition and existing fan base give her a clear head start.
Tae’s Exit: A Rare, Honest Choice in Country Music
Tae Kerr’s decision to step away from the spotlight is one we don’t often see made so openly in country music.
Per
MusicRow, she is
“stepping away from music to take time at home with her two children.” That’s a radically straightforward answer in an industry that usually blames “creative differences” or “new directions” for every lineup change.
In a genre that sells “family values” but relentlessly demands constant touring and content, Tae’s move puts
actual family ahead of the brand. It’s quietly radical — and likely to resonate with a lot of fans who are also juggling young kids, careers, and identity.
The Emotional Impact For Fans
For many listeners, Maddie & Tae were more than just a duo — they were
a soundtrack to growing up, breakups, and complicated early-20s life.
Songs like:
-
“Fly” – about chasing dreams while dealing with fear and failure
-
“Die From A Broken Heart” – the late-night, call-your-mom kind of heartbreak ballad
…became emotional touchstones, especially for young women navigating love and life.
Now, fans are being asked to process a different kind of heartbreak:
watching a favorite act close a chapter in real time.The silver lining is that the split is
amicable, intentional, and grounded in love and friendship, not drama. That makes it easier to root for both women as they diverge — and to hold out quiet hope for that “one day” reunion they keep mentioning.
What This Means For Country Music
The Maddie & Tae pause hits at a time when:
- The conversation about
women in country is louder than ever.
- Female artists are still fighting for
equal radio play and festival billing.
- The genre is increasingly defined by a few superstar women at the top and a crowded, under-supported middle class.
Losing a duo with their track record — especially so soon after a critically praised project like
Love & Light — highlights just how fragile even “successful” careers can be in the current system.
At the same time, Maddie’s solo career could become a
test case: can a woman known from a successful duo carve out an even more impactful solo lane in today’s country landscape?
What To Watch Next
If you’re a Maddie & Tae fan, here’s what to keep an eye on:
-
Remaining Tour Dates- Catch them live while you still can as a duo; expect these shows to be especially emotional and possibly framed as a “celebration” of their years together.
-
Maddie’s Solo Announcements- Watch for label news, first single announcements, and any hint of a debut solo album rollout from Maddie.
-
Tae’s Creative Cameos- Even if Tae’s off the road, don’t be surprised if she occasionally pops up as a writer, guest vocalist, or behind-the-scenes collaborator down the line. That door is clearly not locked.
-
Possible One-Off Reunions- Award shows, special events, or anniversary celebrations could become moments where Maddie & Tae share a stage again, even if they’re not a full-time duo.
The chapter labeled “Maddie & Tae” might be closing, but the story of Maddie Font and Tae Kerr — as artists, mothers, and lifelong friends — is clearly still being written.
Sources
1. Die from a Broken Heart? Maddie & Tae go separate ways as a duo
2. JUST IN: Maddie & Tae Announce Split
3. Maddie & Tae: Home
