Tate McRae Faces Canadian Backlash, Sparks Jack Hughes Romance Rumors, and Headlines Osheaga 2026
Tate McRae is everywhere right now — and not just on the charts. The Calgary-born pop star is at the center of a swirling cultural moment that combines Olympic drama, a buzzy romance rumor, a Canadian patriotism controversy, and a blockbuster festival booking. Here is everything happening with Tate McRae this week.
Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Dating Rumors Intensify After Olympic Gold
The biggest story surrounding Tate McRae right now is her rumored relationship with New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes — the very player who scored the overtime gold-medal winner for Team USA against Canada on February 22, 2026, at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The pair were first spotted together in November 2025, photographed sharing dinner at Anton's restaurant in New York City's West Village. McRae was later seen at a New Jersey Devils game cheering from the stands. Hours after Hughes' historic overtime goal, McRae posted a sun-kissed selfie on Instagram Stories accompanied by a goat emoji and a pink heart with a blue arrow — widely read by fans as a quiet celebration of Hughes' triumph. Neither McRae nor Hughes has officially confirmed the relationship.
Tate McRae's Canadian Controversy: Team USA NBC Ad Backlash
Long before the gold medal drama, Tate McRae was already in hot water with Canadian fans. The 22-year-old GRAMMY-nominated singer starred in NBCUniversal's "Legendary February" promotional campaign, appearing in the Italian Alps to hype Team USA athletes and the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics for American audiences.
The backlash from Canadian fans was swift and sharp. McRae responded directly on Instagram Stories, writing: "Y'all know I'm Canada down." The controversy was amplified after the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime for gold, with some Canadian fans calling for a boycott and sharing screenshots of themselves blocking the singer on social media. McRae, who now lives in Los Angeles but remains a fixture at Calgary Flames games, found herself caught between her professional obligations and her national identity.
Fan Reactions at a Glance
| Reaction Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Boycott calls | Some Canadian fans urged others to block and stop streaming her music |
| Lighthearted pushback | Many fans kept reactions humorous, jokes about Canada's loss |
| McRae's response | Posted "Y'all know I'm Canada down" on Instagram Stories |
| Relationship angle | Romance rumors with Hughes, who scored winning goal, deepened the narrative |
Tate McRae to Headline Osheaga 2026 in Montreal
Despite the controversy — or perhaps fueled by her heightened profile — Tate McRae is set for one of the biggest bookings of her career. The pop star was announced as a Saturday headliner at Osheaga 2026, Montreal's flagship summer music festival. She joins Twenty One Pilots and Lorde as top-billed performers. Three-day general admission tickets start at $425 USD.
Tate McRae Career Snapshot
Tate McRae, born in Calgary and raised partly in Oman before returning to Alberta, began dancing at age 4 and writing songs shortly after. She has evolved into one of the biggest Gen Z pop artists in the world, earning GRAMMY nominations and a career-high 41-goal season in her streaming numbers. Her previous high-profile relationship with The Kid LAROI ended in late 2025.
Her connection to hockey is deeply personal — her brother played the sport growing up while she trained at the Alberta Ballet school — making the current romance rumors with Jack Hughes feel fitting for a star who has always straddled the worlds of music and the ice.
