- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Dan + Shay Release 'Most Important' Song About Suicide Prevention
The country duo's new track 'Say So' was inspired by the death of their friend Ben Vaughn.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:38pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Dan + Shay's new song 'Say So' shines a light on the importance of mental health support and suicide prevention.Beverly Hills TodayDan + Shay have released a new song called 'Say So' that they are calling 'the most important release of our career so far.' The track deals with the theme of suicide prevention and was inspired by the death of their friend Ben Vaughn, a music industry executive who took his own life in 2025. The duo hopes the song will offer hope to those struggling with mental health challenges.
Why it matters
Dan + Shay are known for their love songs, but they felt it was important to release a song addressing the serious issue of suicide prevention, especially given the challenges many people are facing in the current climate. The song's message of reaching out for help when struggling could potentially save lives.
The details
In the song, Dan + Shay sing 'I'll be there every time you call/ Pick you up every time you fall/ If you're going through hell, you're not alone/ If you need somebody, say so.' The duo says they were inspired to write the song after the death of their friend Ben Vaughn, a music industry executive who took his own life in 2025. 'As we were talking about Ben, we were just like, 'Man, I wish we would've known. I wish we could have reminded him that there's always somebody on the other line,'' Dan Smyers tells Variety.
- Dan + Shay released the song 'Say So' on April 3, 2026.
- Ben Vaughn, the music industry executive who inspired the song, died by suicide in 2025.
The players
Dan + Shay
A popular country music duo consisting of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney.
Ben Vaughn
A music industry executive who died by suicide in 2025, inspiring Dan + Shay to write the song 'Say So' about suicide prevention.
What they’re saying
“As we were talking about Ben, we were just like, 'Man, I wish we would've known. I wish we could have reminded him that there's always somebody on the other line.'”
— Dan Smyers
“We felt like with [our forthcoming album] project in particular, we needed to come with this song first. We live in a crazy world right now. Obviously in the first verse it touches on Ben's story, and it is very heavy, but I think that the rest of this song really offers hope to people.”
— Shay Mooney
“Talking about these things can oftentimes prevent somebody from getting to that point where they do feel hopeless. It isn't just for people who are already at their wit's end.”
— Shay Mooney
What’s next
The duo hopes the song will become a hit and help many people who are struggling with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide. They are encouraging anyone in need to reach out for the free, confidential help available 24/7 by calling or texting the national lifeline at 988.
The takeaway
Dan + Shay's decision to release a song addressing the serious issue of suicide prevention, inspired by the tragic loss of their friend, demonstrates their commitment to using their platform to support mental health awareness and provide hope to those in need. This song could potentially save lives by encouraging people to reach out for help.
