# The War and Treaty

The War and Treaty are an American husband and wife duo consisting of singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. 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". 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 Duo was nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" for CMA Awards in 2024 and received an Emmy for their work with the Tennessee Titans in 2025.
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. 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, described as a mix of 'blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country' and heralded by Estey as 'a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption'. 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.'
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'.
On September 25, 2020, The War and Treaty released its sophomore studio 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)" for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards.
The group signed a major label deal with Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville in May 2022. The duo 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 its second EP Blank Page on the same day. The duo’s 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.

## Personal lives

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 and served in Iraq and Germany. His highest achieved rank was Private First Class.
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.
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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US Curr. Sales | US Heat. | US Indie |
| Love Affair (as Trotter & Blount) | Released: March 4, 2016 Label: Seven49Group Format: CD, Digital download | – | – | – |
| Healing Tide | Released: August 10, 2018 Label: Strong World Entertainment (marketed and distributed by Thirty Tigers) Format: LP, CD, Digital download | – | 11 | 26 |
| Hearts Town | Released: September 25, 2020 Label: The War and Treaty Corporation (under exclusive license to Rounder Records/Concord Music Group) Format: LP, CD, Digital download | 70 | – | – |
| Lover's Game | Released: March 10, 2023 Label: Mercury/UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, Digital download | 56 | – | – |
| Plus One | Released: February 14, 2025 Label: Mercury/UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, Digital download | – | – | – |

### EPs

List of EPs :
| Title | Album details |
| Down to the River | Released: October 19, 2017 Label: Strong World Entertainment Format: Digital download |
| Blank Page | Released: November 9, 2022 Label: Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville Format: Digital download |

### Singles
#### As a lead artist

List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | US Triple A | US AC | Album |
| "Hi Ho" | 2016 | — | — | Down to the River |
| "Healing Tide" | 2018 | — | — | Healing Tide |
| "Are You Ready to Love Me?" | 2018 | — | — | Healing Tide |
| "Jealousy / Hustlin'" | 2020 | — | — | Hearts Town |
| "We Are One" | 2020 | — | — | Charity single |
| "Five More Minutes" | 2020 | 22 | — | Hearts Town |
| "Everything New (Sessions)" (with John Mark McMillan) | 2021 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "That's How Love Is Made" | 2022 | — | — | Lover's Game |
| "Lover's Game" | 2022 | — | — | Lover's Game |
| "A Sunday Kind of Love" | 2023 | — | — | TBA |
| "Stretch Out" | 2023 | — | — | TBA |
| "Cold" (Live from The Academy of Country Music Honors) | 2023 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Called You By Your Name" | 2024 | — | — | Plus One |
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (with Josh Groban) | 2024 | — | 22 | Non-album single |

#### As a featured artist

List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | US Triple A | Album |
| "America the Beautiful" (Kristin Wilkinson and Matt Rollings featuring Trisha Yearwood, Keb' Mo', Amy Grant & The War and Treaty) | 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) | 2021 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Chuck-will's-widow" (Video Mix) (Amy Ray featuring The War and Treaty & Michelle Malone) | 2021 | — | Non-album singles |

### Other charted songs

List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | AUS | CAN | IRE | WW | Certifications | Album |
| "Hey Driver" (Zach Bryan featuring The War and Treaty) | 2023 | 14 | — | 14 | 29 | 33 | RIAA: 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 |
| "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" | 2023 | Brothers Osborne | Stoned Cold Country |
| "Hey Driver" | 2023 | Zach Bryan | Zach Bryan |
| "From a Distance" | 2023 | — | More than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2019 | Americana Music Honors & Awards | The War and Treaty | Emerging Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2020 | Folk Alliance International | The War and Treaty | Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2021 | Pop Awards | The War and Treaty | Band/Group of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | Americana Music Honors & Awards | The War and Treaty | Duo/Group of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Americana Music Honors & Awards | The War and Treaty | Duo/Group of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | CMT Music Awards | "That's How Love is Made" | Duo/Group Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Academy of Country Music Awards | The War and Treaty | Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Americana Music Honors & Awards | The War and Treaty | Duo/Group of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | Country Music Association Awards | The War and Treaty | Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | The War and Treaty | Best New Artist | Nominated |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | "Blank Page" | Best American Roots Song | Nominated |
| 2024 | Academy Of Country Music Awards | The War And Treaty | Duo of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | People's Choice Country Awards | "Hey Driver" - Zach Bryan feat. The War and Treaty | The Collaboration Song of 2024 | Nominated |
| 2024 | People's Choice Country Awards | The War And Treaty | The Group/Duo of 2024 | Nominated |
| 2024 | Country Music Association Awards | The War And Treaty | Vocal Duo of the Year | TBA |