Over the past few years, former Dance Moms star and burgeoning pop girl Tate McRae has gathered a cult following (and more than a few comparisons to a young Britney Spears) with profound lyrics like “We can uh-uh in it / While you drive it real far.” But following the release of her third album, So Close to What, the 21-year-old may have hit a minor speed bump. According to a press release sent out on Wednesday, she’s been confirmed as a collaborator on controversial country artist Morgan Wallen’s upcoming album.
Last week, Wallen confirmed on X that his aptly titled upcoming album, I’m the Problem, is set to feature his first recorded duet with a woman artist. (For what it’s worth, I’m the Problem is Wallen’s fourth studio album, and he has been releasing music for over a decade.) Per Billboard, the names of fellow country artists Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, and Miranda Lambert have been thrown around, but eagle-eyed fans noticed that McRae teased her involvement on social media. On Tuesday, the “Sports Car” singer posted an Instagram Story featuring a bright-orange jersey emblazoned with her own name (stylized as “T8”), just below an “MW” logo that looks awfully similar to that of Wallen’s merch brand. Now, it’s been confirmed: McRae will be featured on a song called “What I Want.”
Already, the collaboration has ruffled some feathers. “Tate mccrae collabing with Morgan Wallen she is the MAGA barbie y’all accused Addison of being,” one fan wrote, while another called her “carrie underwood’s firstborn.” They’re fair to have qualms about this team-up — Wallen was once caught on-camera using a racial slur, and he also had a 2020 Saturday Night Live spot canceled after he was filmed partying maskless with a bunch of college students. (You may have heard about his comeback SNL appearance earlier this month, which he ended by abruptly walking offstage and then posting, “Get me to God’s country” with a private-jet pic on Instagram.)
So you can imagine why fans might be mad about McRae collaborating with, well, someone like Wallen. I hope for her sake it was worth it.
