Tate McRae is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer known for chart-topping songs like “Greedy,” “Exes,” and “Just Keep Watching.” She built her early reputation as a competitive dancer before shifting into music, and within a few years she went from posting covers online to selling out arenas across North America and Europe.
Early Life and Dance Background
Tate Rosner McRae was born on July 1, 2003, in Calgary, Alberta. She started competitive dance training as a young child and rose through the ranks of the dance world quickly enough to earn a spot as a finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” in 2016, becoming the youngest finalist in the show’s history at the time.
Dance remained central to her identity even after music took over as her main focus. That training shows up in her live shows and music videos today, where choreography is often as much a talking point as the songs themselves.
Career Beginnings and Breakout Single
McRae started uploading original songs to YouTube under a series called “Create With Tate,” where she wrote and recorded a new track once a month. The project caught attention, but it was her 2017 single “One Day” that turned her into an online phenomenon. The song eventually earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a rare feat for an unsigned teenager at the time.
That momentum led to a recording deal with RCA Records, and McRae spent the next couple of years releasing singles and building an audience before her first full studio album arrived.
Studio Albums and Musical Evolution
McRae’s catalog now spans three studio albums, each one marking a distinct phase of her sound and public image.
1. I Used to Think I Could Fly
Released in 2022, McRae’s debut studio album leaned into moody, confessional pop centered on breakups and self-doubt. The lead single “You Broke Me First” had already gone viral before the album’s release and became one of the most-streamed songs of that year, giving the record built-in momentum from the start.
2. Think Later
Her second album, released in December 2023, pushed McRae toward sharper, more club-influenced production. The single “Greedy” became her signature hit, climbing into the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing her as a genuine pop chart contender rather than a viral one-off. The choreography-heavy music video for “Greedy” also drew comparisons to early-2000s pop stars for its dance-forward presentation.
3. So Close to What
McRae’s third studio album arrived on February 21, 2025, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. Built around the idea of growing up when the future still feels wide open, the album included the singles “It’s ok I’m ok” and “2 hands.” A deluxe edition followed on November 21, 2025, adding several additional tracks to close out the album’s era. McRae also contributed the song “Just Keep Watching” to the soundtrack of “F1: The Movie” in May 2025, extending her reach into film.
Miss Possessive Tour and Live Performances
To support “So Close to What,” McRae launched her Miss Possessive Tour in March 2025 with a headlining show at Mexico City’s Pepsi Center. The 50-date run covered North America, South America, Europe, and the UK, including a stop at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in August 2025 and festival appearances along the way. The tour wrapped in early November 2025, closing out one of the busiest live schedules of her career so far.
Her stage shows are built around the dance training that first put her in the public eye, with tightly choreographed routines that reviewers and fans have repeatedly pointed to as a differentiator from other pop acts touring arenas and stadiums.
Awards and Industry Recognition
McRae’s rise has come with a growing list of industry recognition, including a Billboard Hitmaker honor tied to her 2025 chart performance. “So Close to What” debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 marked her first album to top that chart, following strong but not chart-topping runs from her first two records. Her festival resume has also expanded, with a headline slot at Lollapalooza in Chicago in August 2026 marking one of her biggest single-day audiences to date.
What’s Next for Tate McRae
As of mid-2026, McRae has confirmed she is working on her fourth studio album, tentatively referred to by fans as TM4. In an interview with Billboard for its Women in Music 2026 feature, she discussed her songwriting process and confirmed the new project was underway, while noting she was still figuring out its direction rather than chasing a specific expectation from fans.
Reports have placed her in the studio with high-profile collaborators including Ryan Tedder, Max Martin, and Daniel Nigro, and she has also spoken publicly about drawing inspiration from Dolly Parton’s songwriting catalog while shaping the new record. No release date has been announced, and estimates from fans and industry outlets range from late 2026 into 2027.
Songwriting Style and Collaborators
McRae writes or co-writes most of her own material, a detail she has pointed to often when talking about her career. Her songs tend to favor plain, conversational lyrics over metaphor-heavy writing, which is part of why tracks like “Greedy” and “You Broke Me First” translate so easily into short-form video clips.
Over the years, she has worked with a rotating group of high-profile producers and songwriters, including Ryan Tedder, Julia Michaels, and Charlie Puth on earlier releases. That list has expanded further during work on her fourth album, with reports placing her in sessions with Max Martin and Daniel Nigro as well.
Fashion and Public Image
McRae’s visual identity has shifted alongside her music. Her early releases leaned into a casual, girl-next-door look, while the “Greedy” and “So Close to What” eras brought a more polished, dance-forward aesthetic with tailored stage outfits built to move.
She has also become a recurring presence at major fashion events, appearing at award shows and industry functions in looks from established designers. Outlets covering pop culture and fashion have noted her willingness to experiment with silhouettes rather than stick to one signature style, which has made her a frequent subject of red carpet coverage.
Chart Performance and Industry Milestones
McRae’s chart trajectory has moved steadily upward across her three studio albums. “I Used to Think I Could Fly” built her name recognition, “Think Later” delivered her first top-five Hot 100 hit with “Greedy,” and “So Close to What” gave her a first number-one album on the Billboard 200.
That progression is part of why industry outlets have started framing 2026 as a consolidation year for McRae rather than a breakout year. A Billboard Hitmaker honor and a Lollapalooza headline slot both point to an artist whose audience has moved past early virality into a more established fan base.
Influence on Aspiring Dancers and Young Artists
Because McRae’s public career started in competitive dance rather than music, she is often cited by younger dancers and singers as proof that a performance background can translate into a recording career. Her choreography-forward music videos and tour sets keep that dance identity visible even years after she stopped competing.
She has spoken about balancing the two disciplines rather than treating one as a stepping stone to the other, and that dual identity, dancer and recording artist, continues to shape how she approaches new releases, tours, and live performances.