Canadian pop sensation Tate McRae has made a surprising revelation about her early childhood, disclosing that her mother performed specific hip-stretching exercises on her as a baby to cultivate lifelong flexibility. The 22-year-old singer, renowned for her remarkably supple dance moves and electrifying stage performances, shared this personal anecdote during a candid interview on the Las Culturistas podcast.
Unconventional Early Training Methods
McRae explained her mother's unusual approach to developing her physical capabilities from infancy. 'My mum says your hips form before you're two years old, so if you stretch your babies' hips, and she did this to me, she would stretch me in the splits before I was two,' the singer recounted. 'So my hips are naturally open because she formed my hips that way. That's a trick if you want to have a dancer daughter.'
The popstar described the intense stretching sessions she endured as a young child, revealing: 'They would take your first leg on a chair, your back leg on a chair and then sit on your knees. And you'd just be sobbing, for like minutes.' Despite the discomfort, McRae acknowledges these early interventions contributed to her exceptional flexibility, which became foundational to her dance career.
Rigorous Dance Background and Training
McRae's dance journey began formally at age six when she started attending Canada's prestigious Alberta Ballet School, committing to an intensive schedule of 11 hours daily. Her childhood was dominated by dance, with free time filled with competitions and galas. To further enhance her flexibility, she undertook additional lessons in rhythmic gymnastics with what she describes as 'super-intense Russian coaches.'
At just 13 years old, McRae joined the cast of the 13th season of a popular reality dance competition, achieving third place and making history as the highest-placing Canadian contestant in the show's history. Her performance during the competition included a remarkable backwards walkover that prompted judge Paula Abdul to declare: 'You are a gift from God.'
Transition from Dance to Music Stardom
In 2011, McRae launched a dance-focused YouTube channel that eventually led to her dancing for fellow Canadian Justin Bieber during his 2016 Purpose world tour. By 2017, she had pivoted toward singing, posting original songs to her YouTube channel that ultimately helped secure a recording contract with RCA Records in 2019.
Reflecting on her artistic evolution, McRae told the podcast: 'It's always been about not being able to explain myself, but then being able to fully through dance and singing and feeling so seen exactly how I want.' Her musical talent has earned significant recognition, including a Grammy nomination this year for Best Dance-Pop Recording for her song Just Keep Watching from the F1 movie soundtrack.
Recent Personal Life Developments
Most recently, McRae has been romantically linked to NHL star Jack Hughes, with the pair spotted together in New York City just before Christmas. The singer, who split from Australian rapper Kid Laroi approximately six months ago, was first connected to Hughes in November when they enjoyed dinner together in Manhattan.
Hughes, who plays for the New Jersey Devils under an eight-year, $64 million contract, has been seen with McRae on multiple occasions, including her attendance at a New Jersey Devils hockey game at the Prudential Center. The rising star has spoken candidly about the challenges of navigating public scrutiny following her high-profile breakup, telling Rolling Stone: 'It was really scary and overwhelming, I would never talk that way, even about my friends' lives.'
As McRae continues to ascend in the music industry, her unique upbringing and rigorous training background provide fascinating insight into the dedication and unconventional methods that have shaped one of pop music's most dynamic performers.
