The War and Treaty Sign With Atlantic Outpost, Announce Star-Studded New Album

The two-time Grammy-nominated powerhouse duo The War and Treaty are stepping into a bold new chapter. The critically acclaimed married couple, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, have officially signed with Atlantic Outpost and revealed details for their highly anticipated fifth studio album, The Story of Michael and Tanya, scheduled to release on June 19.

The announcement comes alongside the arrival of their soaring new lead single, “Don’t Say Goodbye,” which is out now. The 10-track project represents an ambitious, deeply personal artistic pivot for the group, exploring what their new label describes as the tension between sacred sounds and secular desires.

To help bring this next chapter to life, the duo has enlisted a remarkably eclectic lineup of high-profile friends, mentors, and collaborators. Legendary hitmaker Babyface co-wrote the track “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore,” while the album features guest vocal appearances from Whoopi Goldberg, Valerie June, and Wynonna Judd. The collaborative energy is a testament to the duo’s genre-fluid appeal, a quality that has previously landed them everywhere from the CMA Awards stage to the Newport Jazz Festival.

The major label shift marks a fresh start for the group, who quietly parted ways with Universal Music Group Nashville’s Mercury Nashville imprint following the release of their 2025 album, Plus One. The War and Treaty previously found massive crossover success in 2023 when “Hey Driver,” their collaboration with Zach Bryan, climbed to Number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reflecting on the raw vulnerability of the new material, Tanya Trotter shared that evoking hard, honest emotions first required her to find those parts in herself, noting that there is a strength to the urgency when those feelings finally surface. Michael Trotter echoed that sentiment, explaining that for The War and Treaty, feeling every aspect of what they are writing and singing has grown from representing routine emotions to now demanding that listeners truly connect with their spirit.

Fans looking to experience the new music live won’t have to wait long. The War and Treaty are slated to headline Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on September 13.