Dan + Shay

Dan + Shay is an American country music duo formed by vocalists and songwriters Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. The duo met in December 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee, at Smyers’ house during a party. They began writing together the day after their first meeting. This led to multiple publishing offers within two months, and they subsequently signed with Warner/Chappell Music. Their debut single, “19 You + Me,” was released to country radio on October 14, 2013, followed by their debut album, “Where It All Began,” on April 1, 2014. The album featured production by Danny Orton and Scott Hendricks. They performed on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2014 and made their Grand Ole Opry debut on February 1, 2014. From 2019 to 2021, Dan + Shay achieved significant recognition by winning three consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Tequila,” “Speechless,” and “10,000 Hours” (with Justin Bieber). This consistent success highlights their impact on the country music genre.

Dan Smyers, born August 16, 1987, grew up in Wexford, Pennsylvania, and started playing music at age 12. He attended Carnegie Mellon University before moving to Nashville in 2010. Prior to Dan + Shay, Smyers was part of an emo band named Transition, which toured with acts like All Time Low and MxPx, and a rock band called Bonaventure. Shay Mooney, born December 27, 1991, was raised in Natural Dam, Arkansas, and began writing songs at 14, learning guitar at 16. He previously had a record deal with T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Entertainment before forming Dan + Shay.

Over their career, Dan + Shay have released six albums: “Where It All Began” (2014), “Obsessed” (2016), “Dan + Shay” (2018), “Good Things” (2021), “Bigger Houses” (2023), and “It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album” (2024). They have achieved commercial success with five singles topping the Country Airplay chart and three topping the Hot Country Songs chart. Their collaborations extend beyond country, working with artists such as Justin Bieber, Charlie Puth, Kelly Clarkson, and Lindsey Stirling. In 2023, they became the first-ever duo coaches on the American version of “The Voice” for its 25th season, marking a significant step in their career progression and mainstream visibility.