After more than a decade together, The Shires, a British country music duo, are going on a break. Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes announced their decision on Instagram last week. The duo has released six studio albums and won a CMA Award during their time together. Rhodes shared that the decision to take a break was not easy for her.
The Shires formed in 2013 after Earle posted on Facebook looking for a country music partner, and Rhodes responded. They released their first album, Brave, in 2015. Their second album, My Universe, released in 2016, became the fastest-selling UK country album at that time. They completed three headlining tours between 2015 and 2018, and all six of their albums reached number one on the UK Country charts.
Rhodes mentioned that she wants to spend more time with her family during this break. Earle expressed his support for her decision and noted that they remain good friends. He also mentioned the possibility of making music together again in the future.
In their announcement video, the duo thanked their fans for their support over the years. Fans will have a few last chances to see The Shires perform before their break. They will play 15 shows across the UK, with their final performance scheduled for December 3 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
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Source: popculture.com, by Anthony Farris