Saturday Spotlight With Tarin: My Question And Answer Session With Loyal, Longtime Dan + Shay Fan

Here is my first Saturday Spotlight that I did via e-mail with my awesome friend and loyal Dan + Shay fan, Tarin! The duo brought her into my life via social media when she discovered them and their music in October of 2014. As you will find out in her answers, Tarin and I have only met once in person, but we have kept in touch via social media since then and have become close friends who bond over the duo's music and so much more. I am very excited that she wanted to be part of my first question and answer feature!

In this first session, I asked Tarin about her favorite Dan + Shay album and individual songs, details about their concerts she has attended, her meet + greet experiences, and much more! After she answered my questions, she had some other things to say about the duo and me as her friend. At the bottom of this post are two of Tarin's meet + greet pictures and a pre-Valentine's Day video message via Twitter (now X) that Dan surprised Tarin and I with on social media back in February of 2016! 

Please enjoy reading my first Dan + Shay Fan Spotlight session with Tarin!

Stacy (S): When did you become a fan of Dan + Shay and how did you discover them and their music? What were your first thoughts after you heard their music for the first time?

Tarin (T): I became a fan of Dan + Shay in October of 2014. I had recorded an episode of Live with Kelly and (at the time) Michael because Martin Lawrence was going to be on. He is so funny, so I was excited to watch him on the show. That episode aired July 31, 2014, but unfortunately I hadn't gotten a chance to watch it until October. When Kelly and Michael announced the new country duo, Dan + Shay and the camera panned over to them, I thought to myself, "I hope these guys are good." Well, they weren’t just good, they were amazing! On that episode, they sang "Show You Off" and "19 You + Me" from their Where It All Began album. I instantly fell in love with the duo and their music. I went to all forms of social media to look them up and followed them! I looked them up on YouTube to find more of their music then went on to buy their Where It All Began album on iTunes. I have been a fan ever since! I'm going to be honest, my first thoughts were, "Wow, these guys are cuties haha."  My next thought was, "WOW, that guy (Shay) can sing!!" I was excited and surprised to receive likes and comments from their Dan + Shay Twitter (now X) account, only to find out that it was actually Dan himself, responding, which made me love them even more! I listened to them on repeat day after day. I just couldn't get enough of them!

S: How many times have you seen Dan + Shay live? What were some of the venues? And if you had to pick one, which concert has been your absolute favorite and why? Tell me some details about that event.

T: I have been lucky enough to see Dan + Shay live 10 times! My first Dan + Shay concert was in Royal Oak, MI. Next up, the St. Joseph County Fair. That was my second concert of theirs and my first time meeting them. I have also seen them in Grand Rapids, MI a few times at different venues like The Intersection, 20 Monroe Live, and the most recent one being at Van Andel Arena. I have also seen them at Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University. I've been to Traverse City, MI, Escanaba, MI, and I have traveled to Ohio to see them. If I had to pick one concert that was my absolute favorite, wow, that is a really hard question to answer. I have loved every single concert I have been to of theirs. My first was so special because, well, it was my first! I FINALLY got to go see them live; my mom joined me; we had an amazing time! My second concert was truly incredible; that was when I got to meet them for the first time. All of the rest were absolutely amazing because I got to go with my mom, but also because I got to meet up with so many amazing friends that I now have all because of Dan + Shay and their music! My last concert was extra special because I got to take my daughter with me for her very first concert ever and my mom and sister joined us. It is very hard to pick a favorite because they have all been so special to me! I think my first and most recent were my absolute favorites though!

S: How many times have you met the duo? What is your favorite meet and greet moment? Does anything Dan + Shay said to you that was memorable or special stick in your mind? If so, tell me about that memory!

T: I have had the pleasure of meeting Dan + Shay five times! They are the sweetest, most down-to-earth people! I was lucky to meet Dan three separate times, once before a show and two times after two different shows, along with meeting their drummer Andrew and their bass player Dustin, both of whom are wonderful people and super kind! My very first time meeting Dan + Shay was my second concert of theirs. That meet + greet was so special! As soon as my mom and I walked into the tent where the meet + greet was held, my heart started pounding even harder; I was super excited and so nervous. I got to give Shay a hug first and he said to me, "Oh, wow, you smell really good!" haha I'll never forget that! It still makes me laugh to this day! Next, I got to hug Dan. He smiled so big and said "It's so nice to meet you. I saw you out there (in the crowd) and recognized you from Twitter" (now X)! I thought it was insane but so awesome that he actually recognized and remembered me. In that meet + greet, as the four of us chatted, Dan asked my mom and I if we were coming to their show in Grand Rapids at The Intersection, coming that October. My mom and I both replied with a "Yes, we'll definitely have to come to that show!".

That coming October, the morning of my third concert of theirs, I had tweeted Dan + Shay and expressed how excited I was to come see them that night, and how I wished I could meet them again. Never in a million years did I expect what was coming next. I received a DM from the Dan + Shay Twitter account, saying "Hey! What's your full name? Adding you to pre-show meet and greet". I was freaking out; I couldn't believe that I was going to be able to meet them for a second time! I called my husband; he didn't answer. I called my mom; she didn't answer, I was just so excited. I needed to tell somebody what happened. I messaged my new friend Stacy to tell her and she was thrilled for me! We hoped that we would finally be able to meet in person at that show since she also had meet + greet passes. With our mutual love for Dan + Shay, Stacy and I had met through social media and became fast friends. The time had come; my mom and I drove up to Grand Rapids for the show. She dropped me off to stand in line while she met some of her friends for dinner.  As I waited in line, someone came out and had everyone that was a part of the meet + greet move to another line, where I was given my meet + greet passes. I didn't know that I would receive two passes, so I quickly called my mom; she had to leave dinner to get back to the venue to get the second meet + greet pass! When the meet + greet line was formed, that's when I got to meet Stacy! She was there with a friend of hers. We chatted while we waited to get in. We were so excited to be there and to meet them again! In that meet + greet, Dan + Shay were once again just as nice as could be, with Dan thanking me for being so supportive of them and their music! What another amazing experience! 
All of my meet + greets with them have been wonderful; I only wish they could have lasted a little longer!

S: What is your take on the fact that Dan + Shay still to this day control all of their social media accounts to interact with their fans? What is your favorite memory when they have interacted with you in the past? Describe it and how it made you feel. 

T: I absolutely love that Dan + Shay are in control of their social media accounts and that they take the time to like and respond to their fans! From the beginning when they were still very new, it was so important for them to interact with their fans and they did just that, liking and commenting to as many fans as they could; they made us feel like we were their friends and not just their fans. As time went on and they grew to a bigger audience, they continued to show us just how much they love and appreciate us for supporting their careers. The feeling of seeing a like from them or reading their replies, is a feeling like no other! They are some of the kindest people, and the fact that they express so often how they wouldn't be where they are without the support of their fans, shows just how much they really appreciate all of us!

One of my favorite interactions from them on social media was February 13, 2016 when they decided to make short, personalized videos and send them to their fans. Stacy and I both received a video from Dan with him saying "Hi Stacy, Hi Tarin. Thank you guys so much for being awesome and supporting our music and helping us spread the word so much. I just wanted to give you a little shout and say Happy Valentine's Day and I love you both and I can't wait to see you soon, see ya"! I think them taking the time out of their busy lives to make these videos for so many of us just made us all feel so loved and appreciated. I know for me, it just meant so much that they cared enough to personalize each video, and hearing him say my name was pretty cool!!

S: In this moment if you had to pick one of the six albums Dan + Shay have released so far including the Christmas album, which one all the way through is your favorite and why?

T: Hitting me with another hard question I see haha. It's nearly impossible to choose a favorite album. Wow, how do I choose just one? Their Where It All Began album holds a very special place in my heart. It was their very first album and the one that made me fall in love with them and their music! The feeling I get when I hear any of the songs from that album just brings so much happiness to my heart. Although, I feel the same way when I hear any of their songs from any of their other albums. Each album is so unique, whether it's a love song or a song about heartbreak, whether you can relate to the song or not, they're all just so special. I don't think there has ever been another artist where I have loved every single song on every single album. I have always had a hard time picking a favorite song from each album so, I am sorry, I honestly don't think I can actually choose a favorite album! I love them all too much!

S: In this moment if you had to pick your top three favorite songs from Dan + Shay (radio singles or not), what would they be? Tell me why each one is your favorite.

T: Well, since I have a hard time picking favorites, let's see if I can pick a top three for songs. This is SUPER hard because again, I love every single one of their songs so much. But if I have to, I guess I will say "Somewhere Only We Know" from their Where It All Began album, "You" from their Good Things album, and "Always Gonna Be" from their Bigger Houses album. I can't exactly say why I chose these three; part of me feels like it may be the way the music hits me and not so much the lyrics. While the lyrics are incredible in all of them, I think I just love the way "Somewhere Only We Know" sounds. "You", my husband and I have been together for 20 years this year and married for 15 years. I feel like this song just makes me feel so happy, and for us being together for many years, and to have so much time left together, this song just hits in the heart. I also think about it being for my daughter, as my only child; I am so blessed to have her in my life and I am so proud to be her mother. I have her and only her, where the lyrics are "you and only you", and "I've got you for the rest of my life, and if all else goes wrong, baby, I'll be alright". As long as I have her and my husband, I'll be alright! "Always Gonna Be" is another one that hits me similar to "You". The lyrics "Even when we're pushing 80, you're still gonna drive me crazy"; being with the same person since I was 15 years old, we've spent what seems like a lifetime together already haha; we sometimes drive each other crazy, but we hope to be driving each other crazy at 80! And again, just the music alone to these three songs (really all of their songs) is composed perfectly and just makes your heart feel good!

S: What are the top two things you love most about Dan + Shay and why?

T: The top two things I love most about Dan + Shay and why? The fact that they are so appreciative of their fans makes them that much more incredible. So that is one thing I love about them! The second thing I love most about them is that they have stayed humble even after growing into this huge country duo and gaining thousands of fans! They have stayed true to themselves and that is so wonderful.

My experience of being a fan of them for the past 11 years and counting has been absolutely incredible! I found them at a time in my life where I needed just a little something extra to help me through my days. Getting to spend so much time with my mom, taking road trips with her to go see them, is something I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life. Making so many new friends who I got to spend time with while we waited in line to see our favorite country duo or hang out with after the shows. They are now lifelong friends, even if we don't get to talk often or see each other; I love those girls so much! Finally getting to experience a Dan + Shay concert with my daughter, who also loves them, was the cherry on top! Another amazing memory to cherish and hold onto for the rest of my life! I hope there will be many more moments like these to share with my daughter, my mom, and all my D+S girls! These past 11 years of being a Dan +  Shay fan have been some of the best years of my life! I want to Thank Dan + Shay for giving me all of those memories, friendships, and making my heart so happy with their music and their kindness! Also for getting me through one of the worst times in my life, when I (Trigger Warning) lost my first baby and my grandmother at the same time. Without their music, without the friendships I made because of them, I would have struggled even more though that devastating time. I am beyond grateful for Dan + Shay!

Thank you Stacy for being such an incredible friend to me all these years. You are always there for me when I need someone and I truly appreciate our friendship! If it weren't for Dan + Shay, we never would have met and became such good friends!

I have had so much fun answering your questions; thank you for asking me to be a part of your awesome blog!  

Dan, Tarin, and Shay. Picture taken by Rob Norris on August 19, 2017 at the WGAR Country Jam at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea, OH, Picture courtesy of Tarin

Dan, Tarin, Shay, and her mom, Tina. Picture taken by Rob Norris on September 21, 2015 at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair in Centreville, MI - Picture courtesy of Tarin

Tarin's screen record of personalized pre-Valentine's Day message Dan sent to her and I on February 13, 2016

 

Stacy's Friday Thoughts On Dan + Shay

When I became a fan of Dan + Shay in March of 2014, I immediately followed their duo account and individual accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (now X). Back then, I mainly used Twitter (now X), but occasionally I would interact with them on Facebook and Instagram. As I established my connection with the duo over a few months and got to interact with other loyal fans like me, I noticed that quite a few of them traveled all over their area and some all over the country to see the duo in concert. They posted pictures and videos that I would enjoy viewing. Many of them got to meet and take pictures with Dan + Shay at multiple tour stops. I remember thinking to myself back then, "I wish I was able to travel to as many Dan + Shay concerts that my schedule would allow. I would love to have multiple opportunities to have meet and greets and take pictures with them in person. They are so amazing live and I would not get sick of seeing them perform multiple times on one tour." 

Unfortunately, I am not able to travel far to see multiple stops on their tours even though sometimes I wish I could! However, after awhile and even now, I am happy for all of their fans who are able to do all of the traveling to see Dan + Shay in concert. And I am also incredibly grateful that I have had the opportunity to see the duo in concert six times over the last 11 years (and counting hopefully soon!) and that I have been able to meet and take pictures with them twice. Each concert and both meet and greets were very memorable, six nights that I will never forget. Stay tuned for future posts when I review each show I have been to.

While being in attendance at their concerts is one way that I have supported Dan + Shay over the years and will continue to when their tours come near me, I have also supported them in other ways from home. I used to tweet (on Twitter) as many country radio stations all over the United States to add their new singles on add day and then tweeted them again to play these songs (once they were added to the stations playlist). I would also promote the duo by tagging them in my tweets, talking about their songs, how they are kind human beings, etc. Back in 2014 and still to this day, I share posts about them on my personal Facebook and Instagram pages. I will keep doing my part with these things and this blog to help expand their fan base and help to get their songs played more frequently on country radio stations all across the nation.

As far as requesting songs goes now, here is my plan to make a difference to get Dan + Shay's songs played more on the radio in addition to this blog. I do not use X (formerly Twitter) much anymore. However, I am going to start using a combination of Instagram, e-mail, and texting to send messages to country stations all over the nation, starting in my area. You can do one of these methods or a combination as well if you want to hear the duo more frequently on your local country radio station! 

Locally to this day, I do not hear Dan + Shay's songs on the radio as often as I would like. It has been this way for the majority of the last 11 years. I have done my part to change this and while I think it has helped slightly over the years, I want to see the change go even further. I hear their number one songs "Speechless", "Tequila", and "Save Me The Trouble" occasionally. Those songs seem to be their most popular number one's among country radio's target audience. I want to hear each one of these hits a couple of times on a daily basis. Then I would tune in to the radio more, knowing that I would be able to hear my favorite country duo's songs a handful of times each day.

To me, Dan + Shay are two of the most humble, kindest human beings, and incredibly talented, not to mention extremely hard-working artists who have always stayed in their own lane in the country music genre. Their past number one songs deserve more airplay daily and their upcoming singles deserve to be added in a timely matter and played often on country music radio stations everywhere on a daily basis.

I will keep you updated on my progress with doing my part again to make this change happen.

Below is a picture of me wearing one of my Dan + Shay t-shirts and my first pair of cowgirl boots that I bought specifically for their concert last March! I took the second picture from my seat in the upper bowl at the arena!

Dan + Shay Create Excitement For Fans With Upcoming New Music In Instagram Post

Yesterday in an Instagram post on the duo's official account, Dan + Shay started off by thanking their fans for sending them home with the Favorite Duo or Group award at the American Music Awards earlier in the week. 

That was followed by information on what they have been up to since they released their double Christmas album last October.

"PS - we didn't mean to take a long social media hiatus after the double Christmas album blitz lol.", the duo said. Dan + Shay posted video after video and a lot of pictures related to their first full-length holiday album on social media leading up to Christmas last year. I love how much fun they have when posting content, especially when it is centered around an album!

"We've just been riding a big, big wave of inspiration in the studio - making our favorite music we've ever made - and enjoying being at home with our families", the duo wrote. "We'll be back on here spamming y'all as soon as it's ready, but in the meantime, thanks for being patient with us and allowing us to take our time." For me, waiting for their new music is always hard, but I allow them the creative time they need. I always know the long wait will be worth it in the end!

Dan + Shay's latest studio album, "Bigger Houses" was released on September 15, 2023. I will dive deep into this album in a future post. The majority of the songs on it have a very special place in my heart. They typically release a new album every two years or so, which means they are due to release new music and potentially a new album later this year, so this update from them came at the right time. While I still cannot take the "Bigger Houses" album off repeat, I will definitely be ready to hear the new music whenever the duo is ready to release it. I am hoping it will be released in the summer or early fall at the latest. 

"It's important for us to always give you our very best, and we promise we're working our asses off to make sure that's exactly what we do", the duo wrote. They have always worked very hard to deliver their finest work and this time is no exception.

Reading these updates yesterday made me very happy and excited for what is to come! For me, there truly is nothing better than hearing their new music for the first time. It is something fresh and different to make my ears very happy! I cannot wait to listen to what they are currently coming up with! I know it is going to be incredible! Stay tuned for future posts about my memories staying up late to listen to their previous albums on repeat for the first time on their release dates.

Below are a couple of more pictures of Dan + Shay at the American Music Awards on Monday. I love them both, especially the second one that shows them both hugging after it was announced they won their award! It was such a genuine moment!

Screenshot From Dan + Shay's Instagram Post on 05/29/2025 (Picture 6/9)

Screenshot From Dan + Shay's Instagram Post on 05/29/2025 (Picture 7/9)

Dan + Shay Look Sharp Walking The Purple Carpet, Present A Veteran At 2025 American Music Awards

Prior to Dan + Shay taking home their eighth win at the American Music Awards on Monday, the duo also pulled double duties as presenters at the ceremony. They were joined on stage by United States Marine Corps veteran Steve Lucas in honor of Memorial Day. Dan Smyers started off with an introduction of the veteran. He said that over the course of his tenure, Lucas performed his military duties in the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Liberia. Shay Mooney went on to mention that the award show made a connection with Easy Day Foundation that assists veterans including Lucas. 

After they made their connection with the veteran, the trio introduced country music star Lainey Wilson's performance of her new single "Somewhere In Laredo".

Before the broadcast commenced, the duo walked the purple carpet, had their pictures taken, and stopped for interviews with different entertainment news outlets. To me, Amber Lehman, Dan + Shay's stylist always nails their ensembles at award shows. She always does a nice color contrast between both of the guys. They always look sharp. At the AMA's, Dan was dressed in an eye-popping orange suit with a white tank top underneath while Shay went more neutral with a black suit that had a flower in the shirt pocket and a white collared shirt underneath.

Stay tuned for future posts that I will discuss each of the fashion ensembles the duo have worn at the plethora of award shows they have been invited to over the last 11 years.

Below is the YouTube video from the American Music Awards channel of Dan + Shay introducing veteran Steve Lucas that I talked about above. 

Under the video are two pictures of Dan + Shay taken at the AMA's. I think the first one is very cool and epic. I love the duo's poses with their trophies, the background colors, and that you can see their shadows. I think their poses are very natural in the second picture. Their orange and black suits blend in well with the dark background and purple carpet.

Video Courtesy of American Music Awards YouTube Channel

Screenshot Courtesy Of Dan + Shay's Instagram Post

Screenshot Courtesy Of Extra TV's Instagram Post (Picture 9/14)

 

Dan + Shay Recognize Their Fans And Country Music As They Accept Eighth American Music Award

When it comes to fan-voted award shows, Dan + Shay's fans always come through for them in a big way. That fact was no exception when the duo attended the "American Music Awards" on Monday May 26th. Dan + Shay picked up their eighth American Music Award, this year in the Favorite Country Duo or Group category. 

After country artists Shaboozey and Megan Maroney announced that Dan + Shay won, they headed up to the stage to accept their award and give their speeches. 

Shay Mooney started. "Oh my goodness, this is unbelievable. I just, I just want to say thank you guys so much, it's just unbelievable to be invited to things like this", Mooney said. He then said hello to his wife Hannah and four boys at home followed by a thank you to our military for what they do every day so he can do what he loves on a daily basis.

Next up to speak was the other half of the duo, Dan Smyers. "I love you Abby, my wife, our four dogs, Chief, Joy, Mac, and Ghost. I can't wait to see you guys", Smyers said. "The fans, this is a fan-voted award, it means so much. We would have nothing without you." He went on to say, "Country music, you guys are the reason we're here." He ended the duo's speech by also thanking the military for what they do in honor of Memorial Day.

In an interview after racking up their eighth award, the duo talked to reporter Denny Director from Entertainment Tonight on the carpet. He asked the duo about their big win. 

"This category is stacked this year, it's always stacked and, to take this home, shout-out to our fans", Smyers said. "We would have nothing without 'em, honestly. I mean, I know it sounds cliche to say we wouldn't be without 'em, but it's true. This a testament to that."

His singing partner was up next to speak. "You never know, like, you know, growing up and dreaming about getting to come to these award shows", Mooney said. "For one thing, you never dream that you would actually be invited to them, but let alone, like win one and it's just get crazy. You never get used to it. It truly is just a crazy feeling every time."

To me, Dan + Shay remain humble and they are grateful for their fans. These things are very evident after what they said in their speeches last night and after watching their interview with Entertainment Tonight today.

Below is the video of the duo accepting their trophy and giving their speeches last night. The second video is the duo's interview with Entertainment Tonight reporter, Denny Director.

                                           Video Courtesy Of the American Music Awards YouTube Channel

                                          Video Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight's YouTube Channel

Shay Draws Some Songwriting Inspiration From Being A Dad To Four Boys

Shay and his wife Hannah have been blessed with four boys. Their oldest son Asher is eight followed by Ames who is five. Their third son Abram is two. In January of this year, they welcomed their fourth son named Aubrey.

Shay and his co-writers foreshadowed what it would be like to start a family (although Shay does not have any girls!) in the duo's third number one song, "From The Ground Up" on their "Obsessed" album. Stay tuned for a future post with further details on this song and the others I mention in this post. I will give you a little taste of each one now. In the second part of the first verse, the duo sings "We'll walk in their footsteps" (referring to their respective set of grandparents) and continues with the lyrics "We'll build our own family One day at a time". The first verse ends with the lyrics "10 little toes A painted pink room Our beautiful baby looks just like you."

Before the couple's oldest son Asher was born, Shay got inspiration alongside Dan and their other co-writers and penned the poignant track "When I Pray For You", which was featured on the motion picture soundtrack for the movie "The Shack". Prayers are said about what he wants for his son. In the first verse, the duo sings "I talk to God about you And I ain't even met you yet Everybody's waitin' on you here". They go on to sing "I can't wait to feel your heart beat When I lay you on my chest I'm already holding back my tears." Shay on lead ends the first verse by singing "I wanna be the dad that my dad was I hope that I don't mess this whole thing up."

While Shay was not a songwriter on their latest number one single "Bigger Houses", he was really able to connect to the message of it, especially the lyric that mentions children in the second verse, "I can hear the kids making little footsteps Running down the hallway upstairs". 

Since welcoming Asher into the world back in 2017, Shay and Hannah have shared numerous posts with pictures and videos along with heartfelt captions on social media. The tradition has continued with their other three children. Hannah also has a podcast called Unexpected with Hannah Love where she often talks about her family. I will profile some of these posts and include pictures and videos as well as break down some of her podcasts as I continue to develop my blog.

From their social media posts and stories I have seen throughout the years, it continues to be a joy to watch Shay be a father and Hannah be a mother to their handsome, precious boys. I know we do not see every second of their lives on social media, but from what I have viewed, I can really tell they have raised a family where they experience a lot of love and joy in their house on a daily basis.

You can follow Shay and Hannah on Instagram. Their handles are posted below.

Shay's Instagram Account: @shaymooney

Hannah's Instagram Account: @hannah.billingsley 

Here is the most recent family picture that Hannah posted on her Instagram account on May 7th. It is the third slide of the post. 

Photo Courtesy Of Hannah's Instagam Post On May 7, 2025

Dan + Shay Deliver Stunning Unaccompanied Version Of Christmas Standard On "Silent Night"

Dan + Shay released their first full-length Christmas album called "It's Officially Christmas: The Double Album on October 18th, 2024 that features 10 classic songs and 11 original songs from the duo. Stay tuned for a future post about the excitement leading up to this album coming out and more!

While I love every single track on their holiday album that Dan helped co-produce, the one song that stopped me in my tracks when I heard it for the first time was "Silent Night". I always enjoy hearing the duo sing backed up with all of the instruments as well as when they sing acoustically with a combination of the guitar and/or piano. 

However, I truly enjoy when they sing a song with no instruments at all, just their voices. I felt chills and goosebumps when I heard Shay sing the lead and Dan sing and harmonize alongside him throughout the beloved Christmas traditional song the first time. Shay's incredible vocal range is featured in this song, but it is not over-done. And Dan's vocals and harmonies are very clear and stunning.

I do not get to hear his voice very often except when I was near the front at their concerts and when I listen extra closely on their songs. I can hear his harmonies and background vocals. Stay tuned for a future post about which songs you can really hear his vocals on and why I hope he takes a solo or two on an upcoming album.

The music video for "Silent Night" features the duo in black shirts with a darkened background performing the song. It is simple and beautiful.

Enjoy the music video for this song from Dan + Shay's YouTube Channel below!

Dan + Shay's "Bigger Houses" Album Opens With Upbeat Track "Breakin' Up With a Broken Heart"

 Dan + Shay's latest album "Bigger Houses" includes a handful of heartbreak songs. These tracks were written after a period of time when the duo did not know if they would continue their musical journey together. I am so grateful that they worked it all out, that they are still making music (currently in the background) today. Stay tuned for a future post with more details on why their hiatus happened in 2021 and what brought them back together.

"Breakin' Up With a Broken Heart", written by Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney along with their co-writers Zach Crowell and Ashley Gorley, is an up-tempo song that opens up the duo's latest album "Bigger Houses". After the girl left their relationship two months ago, the male protagonist is left to listen to melancholy songs and ponder what mistake he made. After this has gone on for too long, he decides what he needs to do next and sings in the lyrics, "What I need right now is a one-way ticket out".

The chorus of the song paints vivid pictures as the duo sings, "I'm breaking up with a broken heart Taking a vacation to a brand new start". They go on to sing "Sending my tears in a taxi 'Til they turn  happy Leaving all my lonely in the dark Oh, I'm breaking up with a broken heart, oh yeah". When I heard this song for the first time, I thought "Sending my tears in a tax 'Til they turn happy" was such a creative lyric!

In the second verse of this song, the main character details all of the things he is going to do on his getaway from the heartbreak, including "Maybe hit the west coast, anywhere the wind blows Somewhere she ain't". Shay on lead vocals and Dan on harmonies go on to paint more vivid pictures with the lyrics of what the subject plans to do, including "I'll pull up a long gone chair Double shot of just don't care Where the only thing blue is the sky And love ain't on my mind". 

Shay's vocals and Dan's harmonies really break through and tell the story well on this song. I also love the upbeat, country-sounding production with the fiddle, dobro, and mandolin. Dan along with Scott Hendricks have worked together on all of the duo's albums thus far. I cannot get over how they produce every song and make each one sound fresh and different.

As a listener and huge fan, I have been able to connect with this song and the other heartbreak songs on this album in different ways after going through some difficult, tough times in the last few years, including the loss of some very close relatives. When I listened to "Breakin' Up With a Broken Heart" on repeat in 2023 and 2024 and continue to listen to it on a daily basis, it has reminded me that we all go through difficult and tough times in our lives. While we cannot fully let go of grief, for example, we can still take a break, go on a little vacation, and leave it behind for awhile. In other experiences, they have been hard for me to get over at first, but after awhile, I was able to let them go and start on a fresh path.

They say that music can be a source of healing and for me, that is a true statement. I cannot thank Dan + Shay enough for this song and the other heartbreak songs on their latest album. Each one means so much to me for different reasons.

Enjoy this audio video of "Breakin' Up With A Broken Heart" from Dan + Shay's YouTube channel below!

Dan + Shay Perform Harmonious Acoustic Cover Of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" on 102.5 KNIX

When I first heard Dan + Shay's debut album "Where It All Began" on Spotify in 2014, I felt like I was listening to their third or fourth record, not the first one. That is how good it was. Shay's vocals and Dan's harmonies were tight and crisp, the lyrics were very catchy, and the production on each track was refreshing to me. I could really tell they put all of their energy into every aspect of making this collection of songs. Back then, I thought the duo were already at the top of their games and I would expect this exact level from them as time went on. However, they started to top themselves from one album to the next. Shay's voice matured as he got older, Dan's harmonies got even stronger, and they upped their songwriting skills by writing with different songwriters over the years. Dan even experimented with the production techniques as time went on, especially on their second album, "Obsessed". While I love all of the duo's albums, their current album "Bigger Houses" is by far my favorite. When you think country music, this one showcases that all the way through with their storytelling and the production that includes the fiddle and mandolin.

With all of that being said above, it is truly crazy to me how much Dan + Shay have matured in the last 11 years. When I listened to their cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hit "Free Fallin'" today, it took me back to 2014 when I first discovered them. October 15, 2014 was their first time singing the cover at 102.5 KNIX, a country radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. Before they started playing for the radio programmers and listeners in the room, Dan joked that they might forget some of the words, as they had just started playing with and learning the song recently.

The duo remembered all of the lyrics and delivered a strong, harmonious performance. They were both in their 20's in 2014 and look so young in this video, especially Shay. His crazy vocal range is showcased on this song and so are Dan's harmonies. You can hear his harmonies throughout the acoustic cover, especially when he sings the post-chorus with the song title repeated a few times toward the end. Shay's vocal range is still crazy and even stronger now, but his voice has changed a little bit and has matured quite a bit now that he is 33 years old.

The first verse of the song includes the lyrics "She's a good girl, loves her mama Loves Jesus and America too She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis Loves horses and her boyfriend too" while the second verse includes the lyrics "It's a long day livin' in Reseda There's a freeway runnin' through the yard and I'm a bad boy 'cause I don't even miss her I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart". 

Dan + Shay have written many love songs like the lyrics in the first verse including "My Side Of The Fence" "Steal My Love", and "Show You Off" to name a few. On the flip side of the coin, they have also written many heartbreak songs like the lyrics in the second verse of the cover convey, including "Save Me The Trouble", "Heartbreak On The Map", and "I Heard Goodbye". I bet they used this cover as inspiration when it came to writing the songs for their "Obsessed" album that was released in 2016 and the other three albums that followed.

Stay tuned for future posts with my commentary on other acoustic covers they have done over the years.

Enjoy the acoustic video of Dan + Shay's performance of "Free Fallin'" from country station 102.5 KNIX's YouTube channel below.

Dan + Shay Close 60th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards Opening Medley With A Bang

When Dan + Shay performed their Grammy Award-winning song "Tequila" at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, Shay held the last note for what felt like forever. He blew my mind and that note that came out of his stunning voice gave me goosebumps. Fast forward six years to the most recent performance of their smash hit at the Academy Of Country Music Awards on May 8th at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. Once again, he blew my mind, gave me those goosebumps, and then some.

"Tequila" was named one of the "Songs of the Decades" at this award show in honor of their 60th anniversary. The duo's performance was last in the medley of hits from the last six decades and Shay literally ended the celebration on a high note with his incredible voice. He held the "yeah" at the end of the song this time for what seemed like eternity. It was longer than the same note he held during the Grammy Awards performance six years prior. I did not think he could top himself, but he did. The duo received a standing ovation for the performance. With Dan playing the acoustic guitar and hearing his beautiful harmonies and hearing Shay's incredible vocals, the shortened version of the song was flawless from start to finish. It started off soft and then started building up until they reached the finale note. At the end of this post is a video of the epic moment from the ACM Awards YouTube channel that you will not want to miss!

You can look forward to future posts about the excitement around "Tequila" when it was first released, a profile of the song, the numerous sing-alongs that have occurred at Dan + Shay's concerts, their performances of it on the Grammy Awards and other TV appearances, and so much more.

At the 60th ACM Awards, Dan + Shay were nominated in the Duo of the Year category. While Brooks & Dunn took home the coveted trophy at the ceremony, my favorite duo won in my heart after the year they had with their back-to-back number one singles "Save Me The Trouble" and "Bigger Houses" in January, 2024 and January, 2025 respectively at country radio.

Before the show commenced, the duo walked the red carpet. Dan wore a dark orange suit with a white tank top underneath while Shay wore a lilac-colored suit with a leopard-print shirt underneath. Stay tuned for future posts with details about their ensembles as well as their respective wives dresses and outfits at the numerous award shows they have attended over the years.

In future posts, also stay tuned for my commentary on the duo's other performances and the trophies they have won at the ACM Awards. I will also include parts of their acceptance speeches.

Screenshot From ACM Awards Instagram Account

Screenshot from USA Today Life's Instagram Account

Screenshot from CMT's Instagram Account

Dan + Shay's Involvement At The Upcoming American Music Awards

The 2025 edition of the American Music Awards are quickly approaching on Monday May 26th and according to a post on the award shows official website this morning, Dan + Shay will join in on the festivities to present an award during the three-hour ceremony that will air live at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT. on CBS.

The duo is also nominated in the Favorite Country Duo category alongside Old Dominion, Parmalee, The Red Clay Strays, and Zac Brown Band. I have a good feeling that Dan + Shay will take this trophy home because this is a fan-voted award show. In the past, I have seen their dedicated, loyal fans on social media, myself included post screenshots of their daily votes for this award show and some of the other events with the same voting format. This nomination comes after "Bigger Houses" became the duo's 11th number one song at country radio earlier this year on January 19th.

According to the American Music Awards official website, the duo are no strangers to winning at the ceremony. They have collected seven trophies between 2019 and 2022. For four consecutive years between 2019 and 2021, they took home the Favorite Duo or Group - Country award as well as in 2022. However that year, the award title changed slightly to Favorite Country Duo or Group. Dan + Shay have also claimed the Favorite Song - Country trophy for their number one songs "Speechless" in 2019 and "10,000 Hours", their smash-hit collaboration with Justin Bieber in 2020. Lastly, the duo won an award in the all-genre Collaboration of the Year category for "10,000 Hours".

Stay tuned for future posts with commentary on each of Dan + Shay's American Music Awards wins listed above. I will talk about and post videos of their acceptance speeches, and post their red carpet arrival pictures. I will do the same for their past wins at the handful of other country and all-genre award shows.

Next Tuesday, I will do a summary post of Dan + Shay presenting their award, the results of the Favorite Country Duo or Group category, and pictures of them arriving on the red carpet.

Below are two pictures of my "Bigger Houses" sweatshirt that I got for Christmas last year. There will be plenty more to come in future posts about the sweatshirt and Dan + Shay's latest number one song!

https://www.theamas.com/2025/05/2025-american-music-awards-performers-announced/

https://www.theamas.com/nominees/2025-nominees/

https://www.theamas.com/winners-database/?winnerKeyword=Dan+%2B+Shay&winnerYear=

"Nothin' Like You": Dan + Shay's First Number One Hit At Country Radio

 Dan + Shay's first two singles, "19 You + Me" and "Show You Off" went to country radio in 2013 and 2014 respectively. While both songs climbed the chart, they were not able to reach the number one spot. However, that changed for the duo when their up-tempo, feel-good tune "Nothin' Like You" from their debut album went for adds at country radio on February 23rd, 2015. The song, which was written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Ashley Gorley, and Chris DeStefano, climbed the chart slowly, but steadily and on December 5, 2015 (two years to the date that the duo met one another for the first time! Stay tuned for a future post about that!), the duo and their fans received the news that they had officially achieved their first number one song at country radio. All of my request tweets to country radio stations throughout the year had paid off and I was very happy that my favorite country music duo finally reached the top of the chart with this fun, happy, positive song.

"Nothin' Like You" is a song that reminisces about the first meeting with your significant other. It is  about loving someone for exactly who they are. The girl in the song is accepted by the guy for being different and unique. The duo and their co-writers paint a vivid picture of the girl they describe with lyrics in the second verse, "When you're wearin' them worn out jeans Purple untied shoestrings You're a light in the dark And you're stealin' my heart like a gypsy" as well as in the chorus, "Nothin' like you Shades on spinnin' in a summer rain Dancin' when there ain't no music." It continues with the lyrics, "Just the right kind of crazy, baby Somethin' 'bout you Rockin' that rock 'n roll t-shirt We're at a party dressed up But you just doin' your thing Ain't nobody ever seen nothin' like you."

This song has meant so much to me since the first time I heard it. From the time I became a fan in 2014 over ten years ago and to this day, I believe that there really is nothing like Dan + Shay in country music. They have been in their own lane and their production, voices, songwriting skills, and live performances have stood out to me. Everything about them is creative, different, fresh, and unique,

I am also unique and different when it comes to certain things in my life. One of those unique things is the immense passion I have had for supporting the duo since I became a fan in 2014. From listening to their music on repeat daily, interacting with them on social media, and everything else in between, I know that these things will continue for a very long time. The connection I have established with Dan + Shay and to their music over the years is something special that I am incredibly grateful for. I could not think of a more genuine, humble. kind, and incredibly talented to support on a daily basis.

Stay tuned for future posts with my review of the creative instant gratification video and the adorable, fun music video that were made for "Nothin' Like You".

You can listen to the entire song in the YouTube video from Dan + Shay's channel below!

Dan + Shay Use Platform To Promote Animal Adoption, Fostering, And Rescue

Since day one of becoming a part of Dan + Shay's fan base, they have used their platform to produce, write, and sing country music. They have also used their platform to promote and do good in the world, specifically in the area of helping animals. Dan and his wife Abby have been huge advocates for animal fostering, rescuing and adoption, with a big focus on dogs. Today they have four rescue dogs. Stay tuned in future posts for more details on their four dogs, including the horrible situations they were in and how Dan and Abby helped bring them back to full health. I will provide information on the adoption center Abby started with her friend, profile some of the concerts that Dan + Shay donated the ticket proceeds to animal shelters, and other events they have had in the past in relation to animal adoption and rescue.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Abby shared several posts on her Instagram account about getting out to transport dogs from the horrible situations they were in to safety to eventually be adopted. In the first Instagram post on March 17, 2020 she shared in the caption, "Since we are maxed out with four dogs at our house and can't longterm foster during our time at home, I have decided to be a puppy taxi and help transport." She went on to say, "This is a way for me to help the rescue community during these trying times and still commit to social distancing." The first dog she helped transport was named Indy and she was available to adopt through Wags And Walks Nashville.

On August 6, 2020, Dan also joined in and transported a puppy named Payton. He shared a series of selfies on his Instagram account and after introducing her he said in the caption, "not pictured here are the graphic wounds on her neck and ears from a chain that needed to be surgically." He went on to say "despite such horrific treatment from her past "owner", she was nothing but love, tail wags, and kisses." This puppy was also up for adoption at Wags And Walks Nashville.

Abby and Dan's passion for animal fostering, rescue and adoption continues to warm my heart. The couple have the biggest hearts and want to do good, positive things in their community and beyond. Every time either of them posts something about puppies or dogs on social media, it instantly makes me smile.

In fact, early on when Dan and Abby were heavily involved with Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue in Nashville, I would make a donation during their Big Payback campaign.

To see more rescue dog and adoption content during COVID-19 and other periods as well as pictures of Dan and Abby's rescue dogs throughout the last 11 years, you can follow Abby at @abbysmyers on Instagram and Dan at @dansmyers.

Link to Abby's account: https://www.instagram.com/abbysmyers/

Link to Dan's account: https://www.instagram.com/dansmyers/

Screenshot #1: From Abby's Instagram Account

Screenshot #2: From Dan's Instagram Account

Screenshot from Abby's Instagram account on 03/17/2020

Screenshot from Dan's Instagram account on 08/06/2020

Dan + Shay Perform Flawless Cover Of Ed Sheeran's Hit "Perfect" On The Elvis Duran Show

While Dan + Shay write, produce, sing, and perform in the country music genre, occasionally they have stepped outside the country music genre and dipped their toes in other genres. Many of these artists have influenced and inspired them over the years, including Ed Sheeran who is mostly in the pop lane. 

On January 26, 2018, the duo headed to the Elvis Duran Show studio in New York City to perform their rendition of Ed Sheeran's hit "Perfect". Dan, wearing a white t-shirt and green pants, played his acoustic guitar and sang harmonies while Shay, wearing a black t-shirt with a tan jacket and black jeans, sang the lead vocal. To me, their cover of this song on the show was simple and flawless. I watched this video on repeat for some time in 2018. I could not keep my eyes off the duo while they performed and their vocals were beautiful. Every time I listen to their music or hear them perform live, Dan + Shay always blow me away with their strong vocals and harmonies. To me, they really can sing anything and they always make it sound great.

In my opinion, "Perfect" really fits their wheelhouse as far as vocals go and the topics they previously covered in their songs like From The Ground Up" and other songs that they would record in the future like "Speechless" and "For The Both Of Us". Stay tuned for my take on those songs in future posts.

The chorus of "Perfect" paints a vivid picture. Ed Sheeran sings "Baby, I'm dancin' in the dark with you between my arms Barefoot on the grass while listenin' to our favorite song When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath by breath But you heard it, "Darling, you look perfect tonight".

Please enjoy Dan + Shay's cover of this beautiful song on The Elvis Duran Show below.

What Is Next For Dan + Shay In 2025? My Insight And Speculations

In this blog, I will be jumping around the different time periods from the time I became a fan of Dan + Shay through now and looking into the future as well.

The duo have been fairly quiet on social media since the start of 2025. Last year ended with them releasing a double Christmas album on October 18th, which I will discuss in a lot of detail over the course of the weeks and months to come. 

However the silence was broken on Dan + Shay's Instagram story on May 7th, the day before they attended and performed on the 60th edition of the Academy Of Country Music Awards. Stay tuned for a review of their performance on the show in an upcoming post. In the story, the camera was panning around the studio and showed Dan + Shay as well as Ashley Gorley, one of the songwriters they collaborate with. My screenshots below only captured Shay and Ashley. The story was was captioned "dan + shay have been quiet on social media, wonder what they've been up to..." Underneath that caption they provided an answer to the recent silence that read "trying to get the guitar pick out of this guitar (and writing lots of songs that we are very excited about)." 

Dan + Shay's current single "Always Gonna Be" from their "Bigger Houses" was released to country radio on March 3rd. According to the website Country Insider, the track was added at 59 country radio stations. With a couple of stations adding it prior to release day, the song was on the playlist at a grand total of 61 country radio stations on release date, making it the most added song that day. It was written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney along with their co-writers. Ashley Gorley, Jordan Minton, and Jordan Reynolds.

This song is really special to the duo and to me as a fan and I really hope that it makes its way to number one at country radio sometime this year. I will continue to watch it get adds each week and start to climb up the chart. I will post status updates as these things happen. Stay tuned for a detailed look at "Always Gonna Be" in an upcoming post! 

While I think the duo will wait to release new music until "Always Gonna Be" potentially hits number one, you never know when or if they will release new music prior to that happening. They released the "Bigger Houses" album on September 15, 2023. There is usually a two year or more cycle in between albums, so I think there could be an announcement and release date for their sixth studio album later this year. However since they did release their double Christmas album at the end of last year which was a lot of new holiday music, I think they might wait longer to release another full length regular studio album. And as far as tours go, my speculation is that there could be a Christmas tour to promote that album from last year. If that happened, I think it would be toward the end of the year. These are only my speculations on what may or may not happen in the coming months. Once I have more updates on what their plans are for later this year, I will pass them along to you!

Screenshot From Dan + Shay's Instagram Story

Screenshot From Dan + Shay's Instagram Story

https://www.countryinsider.com/news/most-added-it-s-gonna-be-dan-shay/article_067b9390-f9a1-11ef-b4f0-6b19499191e8.html#:~:text=Dan%20%2B%20Shay%20picked%20up%2059,historic%20adds%20for%20the%20single.

My Trip Down Memory Lane As A Dan + Shay Fan: Part Two - 2015

Here is a preview of what to expect on my trip down memory lane as a Dan + Shay fan in 2015. I continued to have Dan + Shay's debut album "Where It All Began" on repeat, my interactions with them on social media occurred daily, I received the surprise of a lifetime from them in February, and I got another opportunity to see them live in concert in October. The year ended on a high note when they scored their first number one song at country radio.

To begin, each time I listened to their first album, I could really tell that Dan + Shay's creative juices were really flowing when writing and producing the songs. This album has a country-pop feel to it and every song is mid-tempo or fully upbeat with the exception of the sad, break-up track "I Heard Goodbye". I remember I used to get up and move and dance quite often to the upbeat songs. My favorite song to dance to was "Nothin' Like You" every time it came on the radio when I was at home. While it is a love song and I have not been in a relationship so far in my life, I was able to make my own connection because it is about being unique and being accepted for exactly who you are with your quirks, flaws and imperfections. 

My interactions with the duo and their interactions with me on social media continued throughout the year, mostly on Twitter (now X) and Instagram. I would tweet about different aspects of their music and Dan himself consistently hit like on them. I would also save or take screenshots of pictures of them from their Instagram account and write about their music in the caption. Dan would also periodically hit the heart button to like them. Back then and to this day, I still do not take for granted the fact that Dan and sometimes Shay on his personal accounts take time out of their busy schedules to interact with me virtually. The connection and friendship I have established with the duo over the years is something very special that I will hold onto forever.

On Valentine's Day, we heard our doorbell ring. I had no idea who it could be. My dad and I opened the door and someone from the floral shop down the road was there to deliver the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. While standing on our front porch, I was pondering who would send me flowers on Valentine's Day. Once my dad and I brought them in our house and set them on the table, the card inside said "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! THERE'S NOTHIN' QUITE LIKE YOU. -- DAN + SHAY". I posted my picture with the flowers on social media to thank the duo. There was a contest on Twitter at the time to like the duo's post on Twitter and you would have a chance to win a bouquet of flowers from them. I did not like the post because I wanted others to receive the flowers, so the flowers were a complete surprise! Dan + Shay made my Valentine's Day and my entire 2015! I could not stop smiling about this day for a long time and the thought of this special memory still makes me smile to this day. This is one of the ways they have shown appreciation to their fans for listening to and promoting their music. I will have more examples of this to come in future posts.

Later that year on October 18th, my friend and I got another opportunity to see Dan + Shay live at the Intersection, the same venue where I saw them in 2014. The "Just The Right Kind Of Crazy" tour was another night that I will never forget. We had VIP access to the show. We got there early to chat with and take pictures with the duo and we were guaranteed spots to stand at the front of the venue! When I walked up to Dan + Shay at the meet and greet before the concert, they remembered me from social media again. I still remember that they thanked me for consistently requesting their current single at the time called "Nothin' Like You" to country radio stations all over the United States. I told them something to the point of that I was very happy to do it because I thought they were so talented and deserved to have their song be played a lot on the radio and I wanted to help it reach number one. During the show they performed several songs from the "Where It All Began" album and some covers thrown in as well. I was singing along to the tracks all night long. While my feet were so tired again from standing for a few hours, Dan + Shay made the fatigue so worth it. 

In the coming weeks and months, I will give a full review of this concert that will include pictures and videos.

On December 5, 2015, Dan + Shay's song "Nothin' Like You" hit number one at country radio. This was the duo's very first number one and on their Facebook account, they posted a picture of them holding a sign that read "THANK YOU TO COUNTRY RADIO + OUR FANS! THERE'S NOTHIN' LIKE A #1!" and the caption on the post said "We are so proud to say that #NothinLikeYou is officially the #1 song in the nation. THANK YOU Country Radio, Team W.A.R., + our fans for making this dream come true. Let's celebrate together! +" The tune was released to country radio on February 23rd and to this day, it makes my heart so  happy this song made it to the top of the chart at the end of the year! All of the requests I made to stations on social media throughout the year paid off. Slow and steady wins the race and it worked for Dan + Shay!

Dan + Shay's Facebook page link to read full caption and picture from that post of the duo celebrating "Nothin' Like You" when it hit No. 1 at country radio on December 5, 2015: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AcpPbfCxZ/

My Trip Down Memory Lane As A Dan + Shay Fan: Part One - 2013 And 2014

 I first heard Dan + Shay's debut single "19 You + Me" on my local country radio station B-93 (93.7 FM) in October of 2013 and a handful of other times in early 2014. I really liked the sound of their voices, the lyrics, and the production on the track. It was a breath of fresh air for me from what I had been hearing on the radio during that period. However, at the time, I did not think to look up the name of the song or who sang it.

I finally got the answer to my question of who sang the song and the title in late March of 2014. I had a free Spotify account to stream music. One day I saw an advertisement on the app that said you could stream Dan + Shay's debut album "Where It All Began" for free one week before it was released. I looked at the track list and found out that the title of the song I had been hearing on the radio was called "19 You + Me". After one listen through of the 12-song collection, I was instantly hooked on this duo's music. Their vocals and harmonies were strong, the lyrics were fresh, creative, and clever, and the production was refreshing to hear. Listening to each track, I felt like I was right there in the stories they were telling. I listened to that album on repeat for a long period of time and I still circle back to it today when I want to feel the nostalgia and emotions from when the duo broke onto the country music scene. They have come so far since then!

In the coming months, I will profile each song from this album. These posts will include my review on all of the different aspects of the specific track that I am spotlighting at the time.

After I became a fan, I started to follow Dan + Shay on social media (Facebook, Twitter (now X), and eventually Instagram). I was very impressed to find out through their tweets and posts that they controlled their own accounts and still do to this day. Dan is the main contributor on the duo accounts and his personal accounts when it comes to the online interaction with fans. Over the last 11 years and still to this day, I will never take for granted my tweets Dan used to favorite and retweet, the replies he sent, and his likes and replies to my posts on Facebook and Instagram. 

I also appreciate that they control their own social media accounts because their fans get to read the posts from their point of view. I can hear Dan's voice writing the posts through the words he uses. This is extra clear and evident when he has posted long recaps of each of their tour stops over the years.

To end 2014 on a high note, my friend and I got the opportunity to see Dan + Shay perform live for the first time at The Intersection. To me, the duo sounded even better live than they did on their album. My friend and I were in the middle of the standing-room only venue. While my feet were tired from standing after the concert, Dan + Shay made it so worth it!

When the concert was over, I received another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and take a picture with the duo. The only requirement was that I had to purchase one piece of merchandise, so I bought a tour t-shirt. When my friend and I got to the front of the line, we said hello to Dan + Shay. I still remember when Dan saw me come up, he said he remembered me from social media! He thanked me for listening to their music and promoting it on social media. Those comments from him meant so much to me then and still do today! 

In the coming months, I will give a full review of my first Dan + Shay concert and additional meet and greet details in a separate post that will include pictures and videos!

2013 was the start of me hearing the duo on the radio, although I did not know who they were, and in 2014, I found out who they were and immediately fell in love with their music and the way that they interacted with their fans on social media and in person. My first year of being a fan was one for the books and things only got better as the years went on! I will continue my trip down memory lane with exciting highlights from 2015 in a future post!