In the six months since “Girl In A Country Song” hit the airwaves, MADDIE & TAE have caused a sensation. But there’s so much more to the pair from Ada, Oklahoma and Sugar Land, Texas than the song that caught the attention of The Atlantic Monthly, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and NPR.
With “Fly” poised to go for adds at country radio, Jimmy Fallon and his team at The Tonight Show reached out for duo’s song about taking chances, coming into your dream and knowing the mistakes are part of the journey. Though the single has yet to land at radio, Maddie & Tae have been asked to debut “Fly” on Friday (1/23).
“Every time we think it can’t get any better, something else incredible happens,” says Maddie Marlow. “The response to ‘Girl’ – from the press to the fans to country radio giving us our first #1. Now getting to go on Jimmy Fallon and sing our brand new single?!”
“‘Fly’ is so important to us,” continues Taylor Dye, “because it really is the story of our journey, of doing something that might be crazy. Being scared and being emancipated to come to Nashville at 17… saying ‘No, we want to write our own songs…,’ not knowing if that’s gonna break the deal. But you have to believe in yourself.”
“Trusting being told ‘No’ is part of it is so hard,” Maddie picks up. “Because you’re not sure, but you have to believe… No matter what your dream is, and no matter what people tell you. That’s why this song matters. We hope for anyone else trying to make a dream come true, they can find the faith to keep going in ‘Fly’ when they’re about to give up.”
NPR’s Ann Powers recognizes the 19-year-old’s deeper value than one hit single. She wrote, “Maddie & Tae are more. They’re songwriters, powerful harmonizers.” With The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon coming to the table so early on “Fly,” only the third female duo in 70 years shows their music is as expansive and empowering as they are.
“It’s crazy and wonderful,” says Tae. “Maybe all dreams don’t come true quite like this, but Fallon and ‘Fly’ and everything else proves, be bold! Go ahead and dream and believe and keep going. We did, and here we are. And next Friday, we’re going to be in New York City, meeting Jimmy Fallon and the Roots!”
With an EP that debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart, a tour just announced with Dierks Bentley and time in the studio to finish up their much anticipated debut album, Maddie & Tae are in the zone and climbing. As the new year dawns, with a new single that expands their horizons, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 23 is a wonderful place to start.
