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The two women, who are married toDan SmyersandShay Mooney, respectively, have served as the inspiration for many of the country duo’s smash hits, but they’re also a big reason why their husbandsdidn’t quit their musical careers after hitting a rough patch two years ago.
Mooney, 31, shares a similar sentiment regarding his wife, Hannah, who was instrumental in helping him manage his newfound sobriety.
“She is an absolute angel, my wife, She was my lifeline through all of this,” he says. “It’s not an easy thing to kind of sit back and watch the person that you love destroy themselves with what they eat and with drinking too much.”
Rather than demand her husband change his lifestyle, Hannah, 32, couldn’t have been more supportive, Mooney says.
“She was so patient with me, knowing that she couldn’t be like, ‘Shay, you got to stop drinking so much.’ Because I would’ve been like, ‘Oh, yeah. Well, I’m going to drink more.’ She knew it was this thing whereI had to get to that place on my own.”
Mooney, who shares sons Asher, 6, Ames, 3, and Abram, 8 months, with Hannah, originally decided to give up alcohol and cut sugar from his diet after facing anxiety attacks and being “too tired to play with my kids.”
Shay Mooney with wife and childrenn.Laura Moll / @lauramollphoto
Laura Moll / @lauramollphoto
Now, Mooney says that, together, he and Smyers have “redefined what we think success is,” as they focus more on the people in their life who really matter.
Adds Smyers: “Our relationships at home are in such a great place because of the work we’ve done personally, individually, and I think it all trickles down.”
Dan Smyers and wife with dogs.Patrick Tracy
Patrick Tracy
“She continues to save my life every day, honestly. I can’t say enough good things. She just has such a different outlook on life than I do," he says. “I feel like I’m a natural pessimist. I’ll see a spot in the grass that’s not looking good. She’ll be like, ‘But look at all the green grass.’ She sees just the hope and positivity and happiness and optimism and everything.”
Smyers also credits his wife for being able to help him take a step back and relax when he gets overwhelmed.
“If I start complaining or spiraling, she’ll be like, ‘All right, let’s pause for a sec. Take a deep breath. Let’s discuss the situation.’ She’ll help me find the good in things because she does see the good in everyone," he explains. “She’s helped me through dark times when I was sad. Who knows? I may have quit music or moved back to my hometown, but she’ll just talk me off the ledge and calm me down.”
“The thing about happiness I’ve found is it don’t live in bigger houses.”
For more on Dan + Shay, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
source: people.com
