Saying that Madeline Merlo has had a busy six months is putting it rather lightly.

The up-and-coming pop-country singer-songwriter opened for country star Riley Green’s Canadian tour; she sung on other country star Jelly Roll’s new album; she performed at CMA Fest in Nashville; she was nominated for two BC Country Music Association Awards; she covered Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think Of Me”; she released a new single that has quickly become the most-added song on Canadian country radio; oh yeah, and she got married. 

Fittingly for where she’s at in life—she says of marriage: “10 out of 10, would recommend”—“Tim + Faith” is a love song. 

“It’s a love song about a love song,” Merlo says via phone. “It’s about a couple hearing a song that kind of brings them back.”

With a soft melody reminiscent of classic ’90s country passion-ballads, “Tim + Faith” lets Merlo’s impressive vocals carry the story. “It’s a cowboy kiss a heart don’t forget/Red quilt in an old truck bed,” she sings. “Some love never fades when the radio plays/I see you and me, Tim and Faith.”

The nods to the ’90s—catchy instrumentals, crescendoing chorus, lyrics that are meant to be belted—were intentional.

“‘Tim + Faith’ was certainly inspired by the ’90s sonically and lyrically, and of course with highlighting Tim and Faith’s iconic love story as well,” she says. “I grew up in the ’90s and listened to the country music of that time. It was a really pivotal genre and moment in time for me, because there were so many powerful artists on the radio.” 

Of course, the single’s title references two country music greats: husband and wife Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. For Merlo, they have long been #couplegoals.

“They’ve both been very open and transparent about their relationship and just how much they respect each other—and their loyalty to each other,” she says. “They’ve toured together, they’ve made music together, they’ve got a great family together. I don’t know them personally, but they’ve always felt like a really good couple to look up to.”

She grew up in Maple Ridge, where she rode horses—giving her an early and organic introduction to the world of country music.

“At the barn they’ve got country music playing, so it was a big part of my childhood,” says Merlo, who writes all of her own songs. “I loved the big powerhouse vocalists like Martina McBride and Faith Hill and Shania and Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert.”

In 2020, Merlo won NBC’s songwriting competition Songland. Her most recent album, 2022’s EP Slide, was praised by Billboard and MusicRow, among others. With “Tim + Faith” climbing the charts, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before her own name is uttered among the greats she grew up singing along to.