How Shay Mooney Convinced A Rising Country Artist To Pop The Question

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Dylan Marlowe credited Shay Mooney with inspiring him to buy an engagement ring and pop the question to his now-wife, Natalie Marlowe. The Georgia-born country artist shared the story with brothers and podcast co-hosts Dan and Reid Isbell on the latest episode of God’s Country.

The Isbells deemed Marlowe a “God's Country Artist to Watch in 2024.” He joined the podcast to discuss “his Turkey Season Grand Slam, his new song ‘Bat out of Hell with a Boat on the Back,’ and how his pet chicken named Lemon Pepper is more like a dog than a chicken. …(and) Dylan’s footage of his drive-by ghost encounter,” Dan and Reid share in the episode description.

Marlowe credits the Dan + Shay star as “the reason that I got married.” Marlowe said he was “struggling” with the idea that, as he was beginning his career, marriage would be “crazy,” and his career could be “over. That was the lie I had in my head.”

The Isbell brothers — who have written music for Luke CombsMiranda LambertScotty McCreeryJon PardiLainey Wilson and others — nodded, and acknowledged, “the industry wants you to think that.”

“So, I sat down with Shay — because he did a podcast with his wife [Hannah Love Mooney] that I heard, and it sounded like me. Like, when he was 25 — I was 25 — he was doing this and struggling with this, and so, I just shot him a message on instagram. I was like, I heard your (podcast). … He was like, I’d love to take you to coffee next week. So, we go to coffee next week. This was supposed to be an hour, and we talked (for about) four hours. And I went, like, four days later and bought a ring. So, shoutout to Shay.”

Marlowe and his wife tied the knot in May 2023, and released “You Were Right (Nat’s Song)” on the same day as a surprise for her. Marlowe posted a video on Instagram at that time, set to the heartfelt ballad and sharing glimpses of the couple’s stunning wedding day. He wrote in his caption, “my sweet side.”

Now, Marlowe is getting ready to join Mooney and his duo partner, Dan Smyers, on Dan + Shay’s summer headlining tour dates. The “Heartbreak On The Map Tour” will kick off its summer dates, which also include special guest Jake Owen, on July 18 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tour will stop in New York, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Washington and other destinations before coming to a close on September 21 in Greenwood Village, Colorado, per the list of tour dates.

“One of our favorite things about country music has always been how intertwined it is with the outdoors,” Dan and Reid Isbell said in a statement when God’s Country launched. They hope to “bring the outdoor enthusiast or country music lover an up close and personal look into the minds of some of the best songwriters and artists of the genre — a place where they can be honest about struggles, relationships, their connection to the outdoors, the music business, family, whatever they feel comfortable talking about. We can’t wait to see where this partnership will lead and who this podcast will reach.”

The iHeartPodcasts/MeatEater show is available anywhere you listen to podcasts, including in the iHeartRadio app. Select country stations will broadcast the show between 7-11:30 p.m. local time on Sunday evenings. Find God's Country here.


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