- Tate McRae says country music influenced her growing up and welcomed the chance to record with Morgan Wallen.
- The Canadian pop star recorded the duet remotely and says she doesn’t regret the collaboration despite fan backlash.
- McRae frames criticism as learning, and credits 2025’s chart success and touring for her breakout year.
Tate McRae opens up in Rolling Stone cover story
Tate McRae sat for a Rolling Stone cover story this month and addressed the surprise and criticism that followed her duet with Morgan Wallen. The Canadian singer — who rose to pop stardom with hits from her third album So Close To What — told the magazine the collaboration felt natural because country music is a big part of her roots.
Why she said yes to the Wallen duet
McRae explained she grew up around country music and even attended the Calgary Stampede, where artists from Shania Twain to newer country stars perform. When she was offered the duet on Wallen’s single “What I Want,” McRae said she welcomed the chance to cross genres and try folk or country sounds she’s long admired. She emphasized the decision was about the song itself. “I honestly just got the opportunity to do a country song, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is cool,’” McRae told Rolling Stone.
Addressing the backlash
The duet drew surprise because Wallen has been a polarizing figure since his past use of a racial slur resulted in industry fallout. McRae declined to dwell on Wallen’s history in the interview; instead she framed criticism as part of a learning process. She said she recorded her part remotely and has not met Wallen in person, adding, “I don’t think you should regret anything in life, because it gives you so much clarity.”
Learning from controversy
“I think controversy and criticism is a way of learning and figuring out what you want to move forward with, and how that shapes you as a person,” McRae said. She positioned the experience as informative rather than defining, saying the reaction helped clarify her artistic boundaries and priorities moving forward.
A banner year for Tate McRae
2025 has been a major year for the 22-year-old (born 2003) pop star. McRae was named Billboard Canada’s Top Canadian Artist for 2025 and scored her first No. 1 album in Canada with So Close To What. The album climbed back into the top five after a deluxe edition release, and McRae completed a successful global Miss Possessive tour that boosted her profile.
What’s next
McRae hinted she still wants to explore folk and country influences in the future, but said genre-crossing will be a considered choice after seeing how a single can connect to wider conversations. For now, she’s focusing on music, growth and the lessons from a very public collaboration.
Related: Read the full Rolling Stone cover story for more quotes and context.
Image Referance: https://ca.billboard.com/music/music-news/tate-mcrae-morgan-wallen-backlash