Country duo Dan + Shay nearly broke up at height of success when their ‘communication’ faltered
Country duo Dan + Shay have revealed they came close to splitting up in 2021, at the peak of their commercial success, after unresolved communication problems between members Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney nearly derailed the partnership. Speaking on the "Artist Friendly" podcast, the pair said differing ways of processing stress and emotion had built up into serious tension, forcing them to choose between quietly continuing on tour or confronting the issues directly.
The pair explained that after securing a support slot on Kenny Chesney's tour, they held a pivotal late-night conversation at Smyers' home, lasting until the early hours, to decide whether to continue as a duo or end things there. Mooney said he had struggled to understand why Smyers, who is particular about behind-the-scenes production details, wasn't enjoying performances, while Smyers found Mooney's more relaxed attitude hard to relate to. They ultimately reconciled, apologised to each other and agreed to communicate issues as they arise rather than let them fester. Dan + Shay, who emerged in 2013 and had their breakthrough with 2018's "Tequila", have since won three consecutive Grammy Awards between 2019 and 2021.
- Dan + Shay nearly split in 2021 over communication breakdowns
- Late-night talk at Smyers' home became a turning point
- Pair reconciled, agreed to address issues openly going forward
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Country duo Dan + Shay are the American act made up of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, who have been performing together since 2013 and became one of country music's biggest success stories with their 2018 hit "Tequila". They went on to win three Grammy Awards in a row between 2019 and 2021, cementing their status as one of the genre's leading acts.
Behind that success, the pair have now said they nearly split up in 2021, when their partnership was at its most commercially successful. The tension stemmed from how differently the two men dealt with stress and pressure on the road, which built up rather than being talked through openly.
The story matters because it offers a rare, candid look at the strain that can build within long-running musical partnerships even when they appear to be thriving from the outside, and because Dan + Shay remain an active and prominent duo in mainstream country music today.