Country singer Smyers, a Wexford native, up for vocal duo nod

Do the math, country singer-musician Dan Smyers might say.

The Wexford native, who has a degree in finance from Carnegie Mellon University, is one-half of the country duo Dan + Shay, which, for a third consecutive year, is among the five nominees for the prize of vocal duo of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

And he's done it all in just 10 short years, after graduating in 2006 from North Allegheny High School.

Oh, and that plus sign in the duo's name? It actually stands for “and,” not “plus,” just like it does in the duo's 2013 breakthrough single, “19 You + Me.”

Smyers and his musical partner, Shay Mooney, are nominated in the ACM category that, for about a decade, functioned essentially as the Brooks & Dunn category. The legendary duo, who announced their split in 2009, won the award year after year.

“It's a great category. We're proud to be a part of it,” says Smyers, 28. “Just to get in any ACM awards show is an honor in itself ... whether we win or lose.”

Dan + Shay joins Florida Georgia Line, Joey + Rory, Maddie & Tae and the Brothers Osborne in the vocal duo category. Smyers and his partner also were nominated in the category in 2014 and 2015. They won't perform live at this year's show, but they did last year, when they shared the stage with Nick Jonas to sing a couple of tunes. CBS will broadcast the 51st annual ACM Awards at 8 p.m. April 3.

Meanwhile, the duo continues to tour, both as opening acts for top-selling artists such as Darius Rucker — who is bringing his “Good for a Good Time” tour on June 26 to First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown — and as headliners in sold-out shows at smaller venues.

Smyers and Mooney also have done some special shows, such as during a recent local filming session for an episode of ABC's “The Bachelorette,” premiering May 23. Dan + Shay performed for JoJo Fletcher and at least one of her suitors at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Fayette County, and The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. The duo has appeared in many other television broadcasts, including “Good Morning America” and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Dan + Shay entered the national scene in 2013 with a song about a summer romance, “19 You + Me,” which has been certified platinum and was accompanied by a much-viewed video. The corresponding album, “Where It All Began,” with 12 self-penned songs, was released by Warner Bros. Records in April 2014 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart. Another single from that album, “Nothin' Like You,” hit No. 1.

The Top 10 single “19 You + Me” became one of those breakout hits that puts new artists instantly into the limelight.

“It definitely put us on the map quickly,” says Smyers, who met Mooney in 2012 in Nashville and immediately paired up with him to write songs and sing. “We got together, and things just clicked very quickly.

“It's been fun,” Smyers says. “We've been working hard, and … we're just happy to do it.”

Dan + Shay's newest single, “From the Ground Up,” is climbing, and Smyers is hoping to release a new album this summer.

Although Smyers always has been interested in music, he at first embarked on a more traditional route after high school. He went to Carnegie Mellon and graduated in 2010 with a finance degree — an interesting left-brained complement to his right-brained music.

“Throughout college, I was still playing music,” Smyers says. “When I graduated, I got my degree and said, ‘Now, I can do anything I want,' and moved to Nashville.”

The college degree will last forever and is immune from career fluctuations, he says.

“I'm glad I got my degree; it taught me a lot about hard work,” Smyers says. “I can apply (finance) to my own life. … Music, it's a business, too. At the end of the day, you've got to keep your stuff in line.”

Smyers has fond feelings about his hometown, whether it's his upbringing in the North Hills, his college days at CMU or just experiences in the Western Pennsylvania region.

The Pittsburgh area may not seem like a place that would rear several national country acts. But Smyers joins other Pittsburghers such as Rissi Palmer and The Stickers in gaining national recognition for country music.

The regional success in Pittsburgh comes as no surprise to Smyers, given the culture here and huge country fan base.

“I think it's a blue-collar town. Everybody values hard work and family and relationships,” he says. “I think that's what country music is about.”

Kellie B. Gormly is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.