The War and Treaty Sign With Atlantic Outpost; New Album Features Whoopi Goldberg, Wynonna

Critically acclaimed duo The War and Treaty have signed with Atlantic Outpost and will release their first album for the label, The Story of Michael and Tanya, on June 19.

The set, which features Whoopi Goldberg, Valerie June and Wynonna, is preceded by first single “Don’t Say Goodbye,” which drops Thursday (May 7).

The new album, which is available for pre-order, explores the “tension between sacred sounds and secular desires,” according to the label. Among the writers on the project are Babyface, who co-wrote the track “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore.”

“Evoking hard, honest emotions first required me to find those parts in myself,” Tanya Trotter said in a statement. “Once you find them, there’s a strength to the urgency that feels like you’ll be at your wits’ end if you don’t express that emotion.”

Michael Trotter added, “For The War and Treaty, feeling every aspect of what we’re writing and singing has grown from representing routine emotions to now demanding that people connect with our spirit.”

The married couple was named duo/group of the year by the Americana Music Honors & Awards in 2022 and 2023 after winning emerging artist of the year in 2019.

The two-time Grammy nominees were previously on Universal Music Group Nashville’s Mercury Nashville imprint. They parted ways with the label following the release of their most recent album, 2025’s Plus One.

The War and Treaty reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023 with “Hey Driver,” their collaboration with Zach Bryan. 

Billboard honored The War and Treaty with its Groundbreaker Award at the 2024 Country Power Players event for their boundary-busting musical appeal, which makes them equally at home on the CMA Awards stage, at the Newport Jazz Festival or performing as part of a tribute to Jon Bon Jovi at MusiCares.

The duo will headline Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 13. Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 15 through AXS.com.

The Story of Michael and Tanya track list

1. Litty (featuring Whoopi Goldberg)
2. Don’t Say Goodbye
3. You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore
4. Shouldn’t Have
5. Forgive Me
6. Darlene & Gene
7. Reclaim All of Your Time (featuring Valerie June and Wynonna)
8. Lay This Bottle Down
9. Don’t Give Up Now
10. Holy Ghost Fire