Country Duo Maddie & Tae End Professional Partnership to Prioritize Family and Solo Careers
Country duo Maddie & Tae are ending their professional partnership after 15 years of collaboration.
The pair shared the news on Monday, December 8, during an interview with People. The publication detailed that Maddie Marlow Font plans to embark on a solo career, while Tae Dye Kerr intends to put her musical pursuits on hold to prioritize her husband, Josh Kerr, and their young children (the couple has daughter Leighton, 4, and son Chapel, 1).
“We are intentionally leaving this open-ended because we may, in fact, record another album together someday,” Font, 30, told the outlet. “We might even schedule some tour dates one day.”
“Absolutely,” Kerr, 30, confirmed.
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“But during this particular phase, it doesn’t feel right for us to continue together,” Font added.
The duo, who began performing together in 2010, admitted that articulating the situation has been challenging. They will cease professional collaboration, but maintain a close personal friendship.
“Even though we won't continue this journey together as Maddie & Tae, we are still walking through life alongside each other outside of the partnership,” Font explained. “I’m truly excited to simply be best friends and nurture our friendship without the additional pressure of work, and still get to raise our children together. None of that changes.”
“It has been a difficult, truly heartbreaking decision,” Kerr also said. “This career was the only dream I’ve ever had from the time I was a child. I had a very specific vision for creating and performing music. When we met at 15, that’s exactly what we set out to do, and we are both incredibly grateful for the journey we’ve experienced. This career has fulfilled everything we ever hoped for.”
As Font told the outlet, it became apparent in 2024 that leaving her family for performances was becoming increasingly difficult for Kerr. “I am a mother too, so I completely understand that strong pull,” said Font. “We both recognized that Tae’s enthusiasm for touring had diminished significantly.”
Font addressed the dynamic in September 2025. “Maddie simply said, ‘Tell me where your heart is,’” Kerr explained. “And I responded, ‘My heart is at home.’ She then said, ‘OK. Then that’s what we need to pursue.’”
She continued, “We both knew this conversation was inevitable eventually. I never imagined it would happen over the phone. I always assumed we would get to be together in person and hug each other.”
The duo informed their management the next day and waited for the appropriate time to inform the public. “This entire process has been guided by individual spiritual direction,” continued Kerr. “I believe that’s what makes it so challenging. We have been inseparable since we were 15 years old, and we always felt God guiding us in the same direction. All of our past decisions together have been easy.”
Font and Kerr first met in 2010 after being introduced by a shared vocal coach. They relocated to Nashville and celebrated their first hit single in 2014; they went on to accumulate 13 CMA nominations and 11 ACM nominations. In 2022, they received the CMT award for Best Group Video.
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Still, sometimes it's essential to step back. “Life shifts, and there are seasons where your family requires more attention,” Kerr explained. “I feel very, very grateful that I am now in a position where I have the choice to stay home and be with my family.”
“Motherhood is both incredibly demanding and beautiful, and there is no single right way to approach it,” Font added. “I think deciding to step away from your career to become a stay-at-home mother is wonderful. I think finding that balance as a working mother while still nurturing your family is also wonderful.”
