Tate McRae has mixed feelings about being compared to pop icon Britney Spears. The 21-year-old singer shared her thoughts in a recent interview with The Independent, timed to the release of her third studio album, So Close to What, which dropped on Friday, Feb. 21.
McRae called the comparisons to a young Britney Spears both “flattering and scary.” She said, “It’s such a crazy statement because no one can compare to Britney Spears. It’s like comparing someone to Michael Jackson! She’s the blueprint.”
The Canadian singer, who is also a professional dancer, rose to fame after finishing third on So You Think You Can Dance at just 13 years old. She later began sharing her music on YouTube and has since earned five Billboard Hot 100 hits. In 2023, she made her debut on Saturday Night Live.
McRae’s music video for her single “Exes” drew inspiration from Spears and Christina Aguilera. In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, she said, “We were taking inspiration from the greats, like Britney and Christina. I’ve always dreamed of doing a full dance music video, and this was my chance to pay homage to my idols.”
She also acknowledged that being compared to Spears is an honor. “Britney’s the queen. People will always compare newer artists to legends, so it’s cool to hear those comments,” McRae said.
However, the release of her latest album didn’t go as planned. Some of the songs were leaked online before the official drop. McRae addressed the issue during a Spotify listening event at The Living Room in Los Angeles on Feb. 18. She said, “Unfortunately, a lot of the album got leaked, which was a huge bummer. It made me look at the project differently.”
She admitted feeling devastated but decided to take control of the situation. “I wrote a couple more songs to regain some control. It was all I could do,” she explained.
McRae is set to return to Saturday Night Live on March 1, where she will likely showcase new music from So Close to What. Despite the challenges, McRae remains focused on her career and the legacy she hopes to build.
Read more:
