The War and Treaty is an American husband-and-wife duo consisting of singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. Their debut studio album, Healing Tide (2018), received generally favorable reviews upon its release. Their second album, Hearts Town (2020), featured a collaboration with Emmylou Harris and had a Triple A top 40 hit single "Five More Minutes." In 2022, they signed to Universal Music Group Nashville, and released their major label debut, Lover's Game (2023). Their collaboration with Zach Bryan on the song "Hey Driver" made the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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; along with being the first Black duo to be nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Duo of the Year. The duo was nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" for the CMA Awards in 2024 and received an Emmy for their work with the NFL's Tennessee Titans in 2025.
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.
Career In 2016, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount released the duet album Love Affair as Trotter & Blount. In 2017, the War and Treaty released the EP Down to the River, said to be a mix of "blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, and country" and commended by Estey as "a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption." According to Estey, "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."
In 2018, Rolling Stone reported that the War and Treaty's debut album Healing Tide would be released on August 10, 2018, saying that the lead single is a 'joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul'. On September 25, 2020, the War and Treaty released a second album, Hearts Town, on Rounder Records. On April 18, 2021, the duo joined Dierks Bentley for a performance of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards.
The duo signed a major label deal with Mercury Nashville Records/UMG Nashville in May 2022. They performed a cover of "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" alongside the Brothers Osborne at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2022, and as a surprise, released their second EP Blank Page on the same day. The War and Treaty's major label debut album Lover's Game came out on March 10, 2023. The duo collaborated with Zach Bryan on the track "Hey, Driver" on 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.
In 2024 , The War & Treaty collaborated with Bon Jovi on their single, "The People's House," the single coming from Bon Jovi's latest album, Forever.
The duo released their sixth album, The Story of Michael and Tanya, which is inspired by their love story, on June 19, 2026.
Personal From 2003 to 2007, Michael served in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. He served in Iraq and Germany and was a private first class.
During deployment, his unit stayed at a private palace of Saddam Hussein which had a piano in the basement. Michael learned how to play piano when his company commander, Captain Robert Scheetz, encouraged him to do so, knowing that he had a passion for singing. Scheetz was killed on a mission shortly afterwards. Michael wrote his first song in Scheetz's honor and sang it at his memorial. He began performing at the services of other fallen soldiers. The duo performed and endorsed Kamala Harris for president on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USCurr.Sales USHeat. USIndie Love AffairReleased: March 4, 2016 Label: Seven49Group Format: CD, digital download — — — Healing TideReleased: August 10, 2018 Label: Strong World Entertainment Format: LP, CD, digital download — 11 26 Hearts TownReleased: September 25, 2020 Label: The War and Treaty Corporation Format: LP, CD, digital download 70 — — Lover's GameReleased: March 10, 2023 Label: Mercury Nashville, UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, digital download 56 — — Plus OneReleased: February 14, 2025 Label: Mercury Nashville, UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, digital download — — — The Story of Michael and TanyaReleased: June 19, 2026 Label: Atlantic Format: LP, CD, digital download — — —
EPs + List of EPs Title Album details Down to the RiverReleased: October 19, 2017 Label: Strong World Entertainment Format: Digital download Blank PageReleased: November 9, 2022 Label: Mercury Nashville, UMG Nashville Format: Digital download
Singles As a lead artist + List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Chart positions Album USTriple A USAC "Hi Ho"2016 — — Down to the River "Healing Tide"2018 — — Healing Tide "Are You Ready to Love Me?" — — "Jealousy / Hustlin'"2020 — — Hearts Town "We Are One" — — "Five More Minutes" 22 — Hearts Town "Everything New (Sessions)"2021 — — "That's How Love Is Made"2022 — — Lover's Game "Lover's Game" — — "A Sunday Kind of Love"2023 — — rowspan="2" "Stretch Out" — — "Cold" — — "Called You By Your Name" 2024 — — Plus One "Do You Hear What I Hear?" — 22
As a featured artist + List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Chart positions Album USTriple A "America the Beautiful"2021 — rowspan="3" "The Times They Are a-Changin'" — "Chuck-will's-widow" —
Other charted songs + List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US AUS CAN IRE WW "Hey Driver"2023 14 — 14 29 33 RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BPI: Silver MC: 3× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum Zach Bryan
Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album Ref. "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" 2023 Brothers Osborne Stoned Cold Country "Hey Driver" Zach Bryan Zach Bryan "From a Distance" More than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith
Awards and nominations + YearCeremonyNominated workCategoryResultRef. 2019 Americana Music Honors & Awards The War and Treaty Emerging Artist of the Year 2020 Folk Alliance International Artist of the Year 2021 Pop Awards Band/Group of the Year Americana Music Honors & Awards Duo/Group of the Year 2022 2023 CMT Music Awards "That's How Love is Made" Duo/Group Video of the Year Academy of Country Music Awards The War and Treaty Vocal Duo of the Year Americana Music Honors & Awards Duo/Group of the Year Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year Grammy Awards Best New Artist "Blank Page" Best American Roots Song 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards The War And Treaty Duo of the Year People's Choice Country Awards "Hey Driver" The Collaboration Song of 2024 The War And Treaty The Group/Duo of 2024 Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year
Notes
References
External links Official website The War and Treaty on Facebook The War and Treaty on Twitter