Madeline Merlo Reveals How ‘Broken Heart Thing,’ Her New Duet With Dustin Lynch, Came To Life [Exclusive]

A freshly broken heart can be one of the most difficult things for someone to navigate. Knowing this, Madeline Merlo channeled pain and confusion into her new song, “Broken Heart Thing” featuring Dustin Lynch, offering comfort to those who have experienced similar heartache.

The 2024 CCMA Female Artist of the Year nominee first caught wind of this song from her publisher and upon first listen, she instantly fell in love with the raw emotions that are surrounded by a soft, yet alluring melody.

“The first time that I heard it, I was really struck by the melody. It felt super hypnotic and just ear-wormy, so I really really loved that,” Merlo told Country Now. 

Turning It Into A Duet

James McNair, Lalo, Guzman, and Michael Tyler originally penned “Broken Heart Thing” as story told solely from a male’s point of view. However, Merlo and her producer, Zach Crowell, decided to change a few things up to make it a female-centered duet with a narrative told from the perspective of both ex-lovers. Once it officially became a duet, Merlo summoned one of her “favorite” voices in country music – 9x No. 1 hitmaker, Dustin Lynch – to help her finish out the song. 

“My brain went to Dustin first. He has one of my favorite voices in Nashville and I’d worked on some of his music as a background singer and I’d done a couple of things with him. I was just crossing my fingers and asked him if he would sing it with me. He said, ‘yes,’ and I just feel like he added so much to it. I’m just so excited for people to hear it.”

The Song Takes Listeners On A Journey Through Heartache

The pair of artists come together to show the devastating effects that a recent heartbreak can have on both parties. They offer a string of mesmerizing harmonies as they try to come to terms with the fact that their relationship has failed and that they now have to learn how to navigate this new chapter of singleness. Along with feeling captivated by the track sonically, Merlo admits she also felt incredibly drawn to the relatable storyline. 

“The message, I just found it so visual. I feel like it really captured that feeling and emotion where you’re post-breakup and struggling through it and you sort of know that maybe it’s for the best, but you’re don’t even know how to handle it, I guess. I just felt like it was super honest and I really, really loved it,” she explained.

It’s clear through their powerful deliveries that this is no easy task, and that there are bound to be a few bumps in the road. Merlo opens the tune by illustrating the various ways she’s tried to combat the pain that is so unfamiliar to her. Lynch eventually joins her in sharing his side of the story, where he lays out a vulnerable portrayal of the suffering he’s enduring after not getting closure from their breakup. 

As they reach the chorus, the country singers acknowledge that they are both mourning in their own ways and accept that mistakes are inevitable on their paths to healing.

“I’m still getting used to this broken heart thing/ Sit in the dark thing/ Smiling when I’m falling apart thing / Pictures in hallways/ Hearing our song play/ Thinking ‘bout you all night and all day/ Missing you’s different drinking alone/ If you see my name come across your phone/ Sorry baby I’m still new to this broken heart thing/ I’m still getting used to this broken heart thing,” they sing with a sadness in their voices.  

Merlo Announces New EP, “ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door)”

“Broken Heart Thing” marks the first peek into Merlo’s forthcoming EP, ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) coming October 11, and follows previously released songs, “Makeup,” “Take A Broken Heart” and Tim + Faith,” as well as her Slide EP of 2022.

The Canadian-born songstress expressed true excitement while discussing the new collection, claiming it to be the “best music” she’s ever made. 

“I definitely think it’s a step forward. I think that with this project I just really buckled down and wrote so much and just wanted each song to feel different. I feel like it was just my best foot forward as a songwriter and as an artist and I think that we totally accomplished that,” she shared. 

Merlo continued, explaining that the collection “tells a story of stumbling through love and feeling like you’re not where you’re supposed to be.”

Relating To The Title Track

She also opened up about the fact that the title track, “One House Down (From A Girl Next Door),” truly sums up who she is as a person and illustrates her experience with being an outsider that feels like she is different from everyone around her. 

“There’s just a lot of honesty and authenticity in this project and a lot of stumbling through love. Then at the end, you kind of get to a conclusion where you end up with the person you’re supposed to end up with, which is a cool arc,” she added.

Even though summer is nearing the end, festival season isn’t over yet. Fans will have several more opportunities to catch Madeline Merlo performing on stage at festivals through the fall, including Boots and Hearts and GoldenSky.