Dylan Marlowe and Wife Natalie Dish On Their Love Story And Life As Dog Parents To Bailey And Banks

The pair make history as the first-ever couple to appear on The Pupdate.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

April 1, 2025

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Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran

Dylan Marlowe and his wife, Natalie, join us in a cozy suite high above Music City at the JW Marriott Nashville with their adorable pups in tow: Banks, the playful Boykin Spaniel, and Bailey, the lovable Golden Retriever. They are the first couple to appear on The Pupdate together, making this episode extra special as they share stories about their life together, their love story, and their beloved furry companions. 

Meet Bailey and Banks

Settled on the couch, Dylan and Natalie introduce us to their well-behaved pups. 

First is Bailey, who according to Natalie, “just wants to be pet like 24/7. She wants to cuddle.” 

Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran
Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran

“Bailey is a human,” Dylan insists. “She doesn’t know she’s a dog.” 

But don’t let that fool you, she has a “wild” side too. 

“On the other hand, If you say, do you want to go on a ride, she’s going to be ready to go,” Natalie smiles. 

Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran
Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran

Dylan, who is currently touring with his best bud Conner Smith and will join Bailey Zimmerman on the road this summer, says Banks is his “bus dog.”  

“She just sits in the front lounge all day and she’s good on the road,” he reveals. 

Banks also joins Dylan on his hunting trips, where she “gets everything that we shoot.” 

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YouTube video

After formal introductions to their dogs, the couple gave us the lowdown on how they met, which might surprise some fans. 

How Dylan and Natalie Met

“I guess we’ve never said this in an interview, but we met at a private Luke Combs / Brett Young concert that my buddies put on in their backyard for his 18th birthday party. And I was kind of intoxicated…Back in my wilder days and Nat did not want anything to do with me,” Dylan admits. 

Natalie initially thought “maybe we’ll pass” on the chance to get to know Dylan, but he came up with a plan. 

“I’ll tell you guys the perfect way to get a girl’s number. This is what I did,” he shares.

“So we walked inside because Brett Young was inside. He probably has no idea the story exists, or Luke, I’ll probably tell him about it one day. But I walked inside and Brett Young was taking pictures with some of my friends’ buddies that put the thing on and my phone was not dead, but I turned my phone off and I said, ‘Hey Nat, my phone died, but I really want to take a picture of Brett Young. Can you just snap a picture? Just text it to me. Just send me the picture.’”

Lucky for Dylan, the plan worked. 

“So that’s how I got her number,” he says proudly. 

“I just wasn’t so sure. And then here we are married,” Natalie sweetly added. 

Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran
Dylan Marlowe, Natalie Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran

The couple said “I do” on May 19, 2023. 

Married Life

In the nearly two years that they’ve been married Dylan and Natalie have learned a lot about themselves.   

Dylan says the biggest lesson he’s learned so far is that life isn’t about just him anymore. 

“I think you learn how selfish you are as a human, just naturally selfish….Just caring about myself, not really out of selfishness purposefully, but just intentionally as just human creatures. We’re just selfish,” he explains. “So learning how to not be selfish and be like, ‘oh, well when we pack the car, I can’t just pack my stuff and be done. I have a whole other person I have to really account for.’”

He admits he’s “probably not the best at it yet” but Natalie quickly corrects him assuming him, “No you’re great!” 

They’ve learned to navigate challenges together, including long stretches apart. Starting their relationship long-distance prepared them for the demands of a touring lifestyle, which can often be incredibly tough.

“We started dating and it was so hard to date long distance as anybody would struggle with that. 

But it also prepared us for marriage and what we’re going through now. Because I mean, the road is not for every life, I’m going to be honest,” she confesses. “And it’s hard, but you have to be able to trust and communicate. And that’s what we essentially did right from the start.”

Overall she says, “I think marriage has been such a gift… I’ve just absolutely loved it. It’s changed kind of who we are and strengthened our relationship deeper than we realized it could.” 

Dylan Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran
Dylan Marlowe; Photo by Sean O’Halloran

“Picture Perfect”

Dylan Marlowe was in high spirits when he joined us for The Pupdate, having just found out that his single “Boys Back Home” had become his first No. 1 hit. Since then, he released the heartfelt track, “Picture Perfect,” which happens to be inspired by Natalie and their life together. 

Of the song, Dylan shares, “I’m in that season of life where me and my wife Nat have been thinking about kids and farms and the stuff you never think you’re ready for in life until this point. ‘Picture Perfect’ is the perfect song to capture exactly that…I know there’s a million other people going through this same season so I hope y’all can relate to this one!”

He also adds that it’s “my favorite song I’ve ever been a part of.” 

YouTube video

Fans can catch Dylan performing this track and more on the road all year long. Visit his official website for a complete list of tour dates. 

Thank You To Nom Nom

This series is created in partnership with Nom Nom. Nom Nom is here for dog parents, who are eager to add enrichment and excitement to their dog’s mealtimes (and lives) with vet-developed food that’s nutritious and delicious.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.