The War and Treaty

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. 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 their latest album, Forever (Bon Jovi album). The duo released their sixth album, The Story of Michael and Tanya, which is inspired by their love story, on June 19, 2026. 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. "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. Donelson, Marcy. "The War and Treaty Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2020. Bernstein, Jonathan (2020-09-18). "The War and Treaty's Journey Toward Hope". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-03. "Healing Tide by The War and Treaty Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved October 24, 2018. "Music is a matter of life, death, redemption for The War and Treaty's lead singers, Tanya and Michael Trotter". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-11-11. "CMA Awards 2023: Nominees, Host and How to Watch". WWD. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-11-10. "Nominations Announced for the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards". www.acmcountry.com. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-11-10. Willman, Chris (2024-01-16). "The War and Treaty: How the Best New Artist Grammy Nominees Came to Be 'Friends' With the Emmys, Too, and Win Over Superfan Zach Bryan". Variety. Retrieved 2024-01-16. D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-06-06). "Gilbert Films, Get Lifted Film Co & Harvey Mason Media Producing 'The War And Treaty'; Numa Perrier Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-16. St. Vil, Christine (13 June 2013). "Power Couple: Michael & Tanya Trotter (Blount)". Black and Married With Kids. Retrieved 1 April 2018. "The War & Treaty "Down To The River" A Sight To Behold". Soul Bounce. July 17, 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2018. Estey, Chris (July 17, 2017). "The War & Treaty "Down To The River" A Sight To Behold". Paste. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2018. L. Betts, Stephen (31 May 2018). "Hear Gospel-Blues Duo the War and Treaty's Celebratory New Song 'Healing Tide'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2018. "See All the Performers and Presenters for the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards". Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. "Husband and Wife Americana Duo the War and Treaty Sign to UMG Nashville". 23 May 2022. "The War & Treaty and Brothers Osborne Cover a Rolling Stones Classic at the CMA Awards". Rolling Stone. 10 November 2022. Zellner, Xander (2023-09-06). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Sierra Ferrell & The War And Treaty Debut With Zach Bryan Features". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-14. "'The Story of Michael and Tanya': The War and Treaty release new Juneteenth albumS". WUNC. June 19, 2026. "Michael Trotter, Jr. Collection". loc.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-22. "How The War and Treaty's Michael Trotter Jr., an Iraq War Veteran, Came Full Circle on a USO Tour (Exclusive)". people.com. Retrieved 2024-10-22. Jordan, Chris. "Jon Bon Jovi stumps, sings two songs for Kamala Harris in NC: I'm not here to 'sling mud'". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2024-11-28. "Trotter & Blount Discography". Discogs. Retrieved October 18, 2020. "The War and Treaty Discography". Discogs. Retrieved October 18, 2020. "The War And Treaty (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020. "Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Musicians Chart (August 25, 2018)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018. "Independent Albums (August 25, 2018)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018. "Love Affair by Trotter & Blount on Apple Music". Apple Music. 4 March 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2018. "Healing Tide by The War and Treaty". Apple Music. Retrieved July 1, 2018. "Music". The War and Treaty. Retrieved July 1, 2018. "Hearts Town by The War and Treaty on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 27, 2020. "Hearts Town". The War and Treaty. Retrieved September 27, 2020. "The War and Treaty Announce New Album 'Plus One'". 9 December 2024. "Down to the River by The War and Treaty on Apple Music". Apple Music. 21 July 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2018. "The War and Treaty hit CMA stage, release new EP, pursue greater country stardom". "The War and Treaty Chart History (Triple A Songs)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020. "The War and Treaty Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 December 2024. "Hi Ho - Single by The War and Treaty on Apple Music". Apple Music. 21 July 2017.