Dan + Shay Talk About Becoming Country Crossover Stars

When Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney released their self-titled third album in January 2018 they didn't know they'd be catapulted into crossover stardom as their hit single "Tequila" propelled into Top 40 pop. As Dan + Shay, the country duo have earned a Grammy and five Academy of Country Music Awards. They recently chatted with Billboard to discuss their crossover success.

"Pop is in a cool place where songs with stories are working," Smyers explained. "That has been a big door-opener for 'Tequila' to cross over to top 40. People are hungry for that nostalgic feeling country music evokes, and pop artists and producers are respecting what’s happening in our world."

"We’ve been touring for the last few years, figuring out what our fans like and what people react to," Mooney added. "I’ve watched Dan grow as a producer, experimenting to figure out what the Dan + Shay sound was."

As for writing their breakout album's follow up, the duo admit to feeling a little pressure, but in a good way. "There is a little bit of pressure on us, but it’s good pressure," Mooney said. "Our fan base has grown exponentially. Our mindset is to continue to do our thing and try to elevate ourselves. We’ve been having more fun than we’ve ever had making music."

Photo: Getty Images