Maddie & Tae Break up After 15 Years: Why the Nation Duo Is Going Separate Methods

After 15 years of making music together, country duo Maddie Marlow Font and Tae Dye Kerr are turning the page on a new chapter — separately. And while they’re not calling it a breakup, the duo is officially stepping back from Maddie & Tae as they pursue different paths in their personal lives.

The longtime partners revealed the news in an exclusive interview with People Magazine posted on December 8, explaining that their decision comes after months of emotional conversations. “We’re leaving this so open-ended because, you know, we might make another record one day,” Font, 30, shared. “We might go do some tour dates one day.” Kerr echoed the sentiment, adding a simple, “Absolutely.”

Still, they admit the timing just isn’t right to continue as a duo. Font is gearing up for her first solo chapter while juggling life with husband Jonah and their 2-year-old son, Forrest. Kerr, meanwhile, is pressing pause on her music career entirely to focus on her growing family — daughter Leighton, almost 4, and 1-year-old son Chapel — with husband Josh Kerr.

“But just in this season,” Font said, “it doesn’t feel aligned for us to do it together.”

Of course, fans immediately wondered what this means for their relationship. A breakup? A hiatus? Something in between? According to the women, the label doesn’t matter — because what they have offstage isn’t changing.

“Even though we’re not gonna go on this journey as Maddie & Tae together, we’re still walking and doing life together outside of it,” Font insisted. She added that she’s excited to “just be best friends and nurture our friendship” without the pressure of running a full-blown career together.

But that doesn’t mean this choice was easy.

“It’s been such a hard, hard — honestly, heartbreaking — decision,” Kerr admitted. “This was the only dream I’ve ever had since I exited the womb… When we met at 15, that’s what we set out to do, and we’re both just so grateful that we’ve had the journey that we’ve had.”

Maddie and Tae’s story began back in 2010 when a shared vocal coach introduced the two teenagers from Texas and Oklahoma. Their chemistry was instant, both musically and personally, which led to hits like “Girl in a Country Song” and fan-favorite “Die From a Broken Heart.” In the years since, they’ve racked up major awards, headlined tours and most recently checked off a major bucket-list moment: performing at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium.

That history is one of the reasons they refuse to use the word “breakup.”

“It sounds so dramatic, and we don’t want it to feel that way,” Font said. “I know the world’s probably ready for us to hate each other… And that’s why we want to do it this way, to show what it looks like to be two strong, independent, loving women that…”

“… are embarking on separate journeys,” Kerr finished for her best friend. “But still together.”