Country duo Dan + Shay nearly broke up at height of success when their communication faltered
Dan + Shay Reveal Near‑Breakup, but the Duo Ended Up Stronger
In a candid interview on the Artist Friendly podcast, country‑pop duo Dan + Shay admitted that they nearly called it quits during the height of their success. The 39‑year‑old Dan Smyers and 34‑year‑old Shay Mooney spoke openly about how a growing rift—rooted in different ways of processing stress—threatened to split the pair.
The “unhealthy dynamics” the singers described came to a head in 2021, when the pair were poised to open for touring superstar Kenny Chesney. “We had that moment in 2021, and it was kind of like, all right, do we ride off into the sunset and celebrate our accomplishments or do we have some really hard conversations with each other and fix this?” Mooney told host Joel Madden.
Smyers recalled that the offer to join Chesney’s tour was a turning point. “We were excited, but we didn’t know if we could do it since our relationship was in a bad place,” he said. The duo eventually decided that the only way forward was to sit down and sort out their issues, even if it meant ending their partnership.
The conversation took place at Smyers’ home, a setting described by the singer as “the most pivotal critical moment in our entire career.” “We’re either going to say peace out to this thing or we’re going to figure this out and get it right,” Mooney said, underscoring the weight of the decision.
Smyers added that the talk stretched well into the night, with “him staying at the house till like 3, 4 in the morning and just hashing.” The late‑night discussion revealed a key source of tension: Mooney felt that Smyers had trouble enjoying live shows, often focusing on technical glitches that others didn’t notice. “When we finally were like, ‘Hey, you’re not good at enjoying these things sometimes. I enjoy everything even when it’s bad,’” Mooney explained. “So, if we can meet somewhere in the middle, we can make this beautiful thing. Which is what happened in the beginning.”
The duo reached an agreement that would preserve both their friendship and their careers. After both apologized for their part in the breakdown, they instituted a new rule: to communicate discomfort immediately rather than let small problems fester into explosive arguments.
“Rather than letting these things build up and boil and then it just explodes,” Smyers said. “We let each other know when something is bothering us.”
Dan + Shay’s story is a reminder that even at the peak of fame, open communication and a willingness to compromise can keep a partnership—and a friendship—alive.
The duo’s rise began in 2013 with the release of “19 You + Me,” followed by their debut album, Where It All Began, in 2014. Their 2018 single “Tequila” earned them their first Grammy, with subsequent wins in 2020 and 2021 for “Speechless” and “10,000 Hours.” As they move forward, fans can look forward to more music and the same chemistry that first captivated the country‑music world.