Maddie & Tae Talk Tackling Motherhood Together at the 2023 CMA Awards: 'It's Really Special' (Exclusive)

Maddie & Tae have been songwriting partners and BFFs for years — and now the two are tackling motherhood together.

The country music duo attended the 57th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and opened up to PEOPLE on the red carpet about how being new moms has informed their friendship and songwriting. 

“It’s like we have each other with our marriages, with our babies. We’re going through all the same things together,” says Maddie Marlow Font. “It’s really special.”

“It’s even more fun, if it wasn’t already fun enough,” adds Tae Dye Kerr of sharing experiences with her musical collaborator. 

Three weeks after the singer-songwriters wrapped up their summer tour, Marlow Font, 28, welcomed her first-born, son Forrest, with her husband Jonah Font in September. Her son, whose name she says was in part inspired by indie singer Forrest Frank and because she lives in a rural area outside of Nashville, is only a year-and-a-half apart from Dye Kerr's daughter Leighton Grace. 

The “Girl in a Country Song” singers, who are nominated for vocal duo of the year at the CMA Awards, revealed that their experiences with motherhood have even informed new music that’ll be on the way soon. According to Marlow Font, “there’s a couple songs” on their yet-to-be-announced album that’s due out early next year that draw from the “new perspective and so much inspiration” that comes from being a new mom. 

With their busy schedules dedicated to both music and their families, Dye Kerr, 28, also opened up about how they’ve both been working on striking an appropriate balance. The performer says, “I think just realizing that you might have been able to give yourself 100% to one certain thing, but now you just aren’t able to. And that’s OK.”

Check out PEOPLE's full CMA Awards coverage to get the latest news on country music’s biggest night.

“Your priority is your little baby,” she continued, admitting that her daughter already has nicknames for her musical partner (Auntie Mad) and their project together (Momma Mat). 

Marlow Font echoed her statement by saying, “There’s days when I’m CEO and there’s days where I’m a better mom.”

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The “Heart They Didn’t Break” artists shared that they’re lucky to have such strong support from their husbands, too. “They are champs. We couldn’t do it without them. We have the best husbands,” Marlow Font says. “They are such present fathers and I am so grateful that my baby is going to be raised by a man that is so present and so intentional and just so much love.”

The duo, whose best duo nomination marks their 10th time in the category, shared that — even as they’re occupied with the new additions to their families, they still hangout as friends at least twice a week and are in “constant contact.” 

Next year, they’ll team up yet again to release their third studio album.

The 2023 CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream exclusively on Hulu the following day.