The Stellas are a married Canadian

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

duo from

Whitby, Ontario Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Ajax and west of Oshawa, on the north shore of Lake Ontario and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region. It had a population of 138,501 at the 2021 census. It ...

. They finished in fourth place on the second season of the CMT series ''

Can You Duet ''Can You Duet'' is an American reality-competition show on CMT. The show was produced by FremantleMedia, the same company that produces ''American Idol''. The show premiered on April 14, 2008, and the first season ended on June 13, 2008. Six ...

'' in 2009. Their self-titled debut album was released by

EMI Music Canada EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

in September 2011. The first single was a cover of the

Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction were a London based folk and soft rock band. They are notable for the 1988 hit songs " Perfect" and " Find My Love", both taken from the group's multi-platinum selling debut album, '' The First of a Million Kisses''. The ...

's song " Perfect". In July 2014, the duo released "Gravy", which doubles as the first single off their second album. An Irish

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...

showband by the same name was active in the sixties releasing a single covering

Wooly Bully "Wooly Bully" is a song originally recorded by novelty rock and roll band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1964. Based on a standard 12-bar blues progression, it was written by the band's frontman, Domingo "Sam" Samudio. It was released as a sin ...

and "

Fortune Teller Fortune telling is the practice of prediction, predicting information about a person's life.J. Gordon Melton, Melton, J. Gordon. (2008). ''The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena''. Visible Ink Press. pp. 115-116. The scope of fortune telling ...

Personal life

Brad and MaryLynne met when they were age 20. The married couple has been together for sixteen years playing in bands and writing

country pop Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...

music. Brad played bass in rock bands for years, but was drawn to writing country. MaryLynne had never written songs until she met Brad. She grew up one of eight kids, which her late father supported as a musician (he was once a member of

The Platters The Platters was an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The a ...

). MaryLynne and Brad both performed in cover bands and hosted a weekly open mic where they eventually became a musical duo. The couple also opened a 15,000-square-foot music school, The Music Scene, which included a stage and auditorium. Brad and MaryLynne have two daughters,

Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

and Maisy , who are known for their roles on the ABC show '' Nashville''.

Career

In 2009, The Stellas tried out for the U.S. show ''

'', performing songs by

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...

and

Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...

. Following their audition for the Country Music Television show, The Stellas performed weekly for millions of American viewers and earned fourth place in the competition. This led fellow Canadian and multi-platinum artist, Johnny Reid, to offer The Stellas the opening slot on his sold-out Canadian tour. Eventually, Brad and MaryLynne inked a deal with

. In 2012, they released their self-titled album, which was produced by Britain's Nick Trevisick ( Paramore, Katy Perry, Sting). The Stellas wrote most of the songs on their 10-track self-titled debut album, except for a cover of

's “ Perfect” and a live version of

Boudleaux Bryant Felice Bryant (born Matilda Genevieve Scaduto; August 7, 1925 – April 22, 2003) and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant (; February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987) were an Americans, American husband-and-wife country music and pop songwriting team. They ...

's “

Love Hurts "Love Hurts" is a song written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is most well known from the 1974 international hit version by Scottish hard rock band Nazare ...

”. Collaborations on the album include Trevisick on “Take It Slow”,

Pistol Annies Pistol Annies are an American country music group composed of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley. The trio gave its debut performance on April 4, 2011, on the CBS special Academy of Country Music's ''Girls' Night Out: Supersta ...

’ Angaleena Presley on “I Can’t Listen to Love Songs” and multi-platinum Nashville songwriter

John Scott Sherrill John Scott Sherrill is an American songwriter whose work is primarily in the field of country music. His brother, Donn Sherrill, was a Vanderbilt student. He introduced John Scott to his fraternity brother, Scott Siman who recorded demos of his ...

(

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is a retired American singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are " Me and Bobby McGee", " For the Good Times", " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and " Help Me Make It Through the ...

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...

) on “Wished for You”. The Stellas were featured on volume 6 and volume 7 of the ''Now Country'' Canada albums. They are one of the two Canadian acts featured on those albums. They are also featured on ''The Best of Now Country'' Canada album that came out in May 2014. The Stellas have supported multiple sold-out tours with

Zac Brown Band Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukul ...

. Zac Brown recorded and released a song called "Let It Rain" that he wrote with Brad for his EP '' The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1'' (released in 2013). It is the only song on that album that Dave Grohl plays drums on. In July 2014, The Stellas released "Gravy", a blend of twang and tongue-in-cheek humor that doubles as the first single from the duo's second album. Fred Wilhelm, who helped The Stellas write "Gravy", co-wrote several other songs, including a track called "It Wouldn't Be This".

Awards

The Stellas have been nominated for eleven awards. They won the 2013

CCMA CCMA may refer to: * Central Committee of Anti-Fascist Militias, during the Lluís Companys's government of Catalonia, in the Spanish Revolution *Canadian Country Music Association, the association of the Canadian country music industry * Catholic ...

Group or Duo of the Year award, the 2013 CMAO Group or Duo of the Year award and the 2012 CCMA Video of the Year award. Brad has also been nominated for the Glenn Cole Award, RCTA, JUNOES, and RIAA awards.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Music videos

Songwriting credits

Brad Stella

* Matt York – “Lucky Man” (2009) * Jake Mathews – “Our Own Back Yard” * The Orchard – “Stick to Your Guns” (2012) *

– “Let It Rain” (2013) * Lennon & Maisy - “Christmas Coming Home” (2012) * The Stellas – “Christmas Comin’ Home" * The Stellas – “I Can’t Listen to Love Songs” * The Stellas – “In This House” * The Stellas – “Riding in the Back Seat” * The Stellas – “Take It Slow” * The Stellas – “I Wished for You”

MaryLynne Stella

* The Orchard – “Stick to Your Guns” (2012) * Lennon & Maisy - “Christmas Coming Home” (2012) * Pete Lesperance – “Satellites” (2012) * The Stellas – “Christmas Comin’ Home" * The Stellas – “I Can’t Listen to Love Songs” * The Stellas – “In This House” * The Stellas – “The Game” * The Stellas – “Woe Is Me” * The Stellas – Life of Riley" * The Stellas – “Take It Slow” * The Stellas – “I Wished for You”

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
The Stellas
at CMT {{DEFAULTSORT:Stellas Canadian country music groups Country music duos Musical groups established in 2009 Musical groups from the Regional Municipality of Durham Whitby, Ontario Canadian musical duos Male–female musical duos Married couples 2009 establishments in Ontario Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year winners