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The War and Treaty are an American husband and wife duo consisting of singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter.[1][2] Their debut studio album Healing Tide (2018), received critical acclaim upon its release. Soon afterwards, they released their sophomore album Hearts Town (2020), which featured a collaboration with American singer Emmylou Harris, and spawned the Triple A top 40 hit single "Five More Minutes".[3] In 2022, they signed to UMG Nashville, and released their major label debut Lover's Game (2023). Their collaboration with Zach Bryan on the song "Hey Driver" reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The War and Treaty | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Albion, Michigan, US |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Website | thewarandtreaty |
In 2023, The War and Treaty became the first black duo to be nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Duo of the Year;[4] along with being the first black duo to be nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Duo of the Year.[5] They have received two nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. An upcoming biopic based on the group’s life is set to be released.[6][7]
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In 2016, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount released the duet album Love Affair as Trotter & Blount.[8] In 2017, The War and Treaty released the EP Down to the River, described as a mix of 'blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country' and heralded by Estey as 'a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption'.[9][10] Yet the two can sensually help heal the wounds from those confessional blasts with a sweet ballad like "Till The Mornin’" — they truly live up to the dynamic tension of their moniker.'[10]
In 2018, Rolling Stone reported The War and Treaty's debut album Healing Tide was due for release on August 10, 2018, describing the lead single as a 'joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul'.[11]
On September 25, 2020, The War and Treaty released their sophomore studio album, Hearts Town, on Rounder Records. On April 18, 2021 they joined Dierks Bentley for a performance of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards.[12]
The group signed a major label deal with Universal Music Group Nashville in May 2022.[13] They performed a cover of "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" alongside Brothers Osborne at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2022 and surprise-released their second EP Blank Page on the same day.[14] Their major label debut album Lover's Game, was released on March 10, 2023.
The duo collaborated with American country star Zach Bryan on the track "Hey Driver" from his self-titled fourth studio album. The song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 marking the duo's first appearance on the chart.[15]
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From 2003 to 2011, Michael served in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and served in Iraq and Germany. His highest achieved rank was Private First Class.[16]
During his deployment, his unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein's private palaces, which had a piano in its basement. Michael learned how to play the instrument when his company commander, Captain Robert Scheetz, encouraged him to toy around with the piano knowing he had a passion for singing. Scheetz was killed on a mission shortly after. Michael wrote his first song in Scheetz's honor and sang it at his memorial. He then began performing at the services of other fallen soldiers.[17]
The duo performed and endorsed Kamala Harris for president on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.[18]
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Studio albums
| Title | Album details[19][20] | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Curr. Sales [21] |
US Heat. [22] |
US Indie [23] | |||
| Love Affair[24] (as Trotter & Blount) |
|
– | – | – | |
| Healing Tide[25] |
|
– | 11 | 26 | |
| Hearts Town[27] |
|
70 | – | – | |
| Lover's Game |
|
56 | – | – | |
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Down to the River[29] |
|
| Blank Page[30] |
|
Singles
As a lead artist
| Title[20] | Year | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Triple A [31] |
US AC [32] | |||
| "Hi Ho"[33] | 2016 | — | — | Down to the River |
| "Healing Tide"[34][11] | 2018 | — | — | Healing Tide |
| "Are You Ready to Love Me?"[35] | — | — | ||
| "Jealousy / Hustlin'"[36] | 2020 | — | — | Hearts Town |
| "We Are One"[37][38] | — | — | Charity single | |
| "Five More Minutes"[39] | 22 | — | Hearts Town | |
| "Everything New (Sessions)" (with John Mark McMillan) [40] |
2021 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "That's How Love Is Made"[41] | 2022 | — | — | Lover's Game |
| "Lover's Game"[42] | — | — | ||
| "A Sunday Kind of Love"[43] | 2023 | — | — | TBA |
| "Stretch Out"[44] | — | — | ||
| "Cold" (Live from The Academy of Country Music Honors) [45] |
— | — | Non-album single | |
| "Called You By Your Name" | 2024 | — | — | TBA |
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (with Josh Groban) |
— | 22 | Non-album single | |
As a featured artist
| Title[20] | Year | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Triple A [31] | |||
| "America the Beautiful" (Kristin Wilkinson and Matt Rollings featuring Trisha Yearwood, Keb' Mo', Amy Grant & The War and Treaty)[46] |
2021 | — | Non-album singles |
| "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Jason Isbell & The War and Treaty)[47] |
— | ||
| "Chuck-will's-widow" (Video Mix) (Amy Ray featuring The War and Treaty & Michelle Malone)[48] |
— |
Other charted songs
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" | 2023 | Brothers Osborne | Stoned Cold Country | [57] |
| "Hey Driver" | Zach Bryan | Zach Bryan | [54] | |
| "From a Distance" | — | More than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith | [58] |
| Year | Ceremony | Nominated Work | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Americana Music Honors & Awards | The War and Treaty | Emerging Artist of the Year | Won | |
| 2020 | Folk Alliance International | Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| 2021 | Pop Awards | Band/Group of the Year | Nominated | [59][60] | |
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | Duo/Group of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Won | ||||
| 2023 | CMT Music Awards | "That's How Love is Made" | Duo/Group Video of the Year | Nominated | [61] |
| Academy of Country Music Awards | The War and Treaty | Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Americana Music Honors & Awards | Duo/Group of the Year | Won | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated | [62] | ||
| "Blank Page" | Best American Roots Song | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Academy Of Country Music Awards | The War And Treaty | Duo of the Year | Nominated | [63] |
| People's Choice Country Awards | "Hey Driver" - Zach Bryan feat. The War and Treaty | The Collaboration Song of 2024 | Nominated | [64] | |
| The War And Treaty | The Group/Duo of 2024 | Nominated | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year | TBA | [65] |
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- "Hey Driver" did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Top 20 New Music Singles Chart.[50]
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