Most people see the Grammys and the fur coats and the sold-out arenas. They see Ben Haggerty—the guy the world knows as Macklemore—and they assume it was an easy ride to the top. But behind the scenes of the "Thrift Shop" fame is a woman named Tricia Davis, and honestly, their relationship is probably more impressive than the diamond records.
They didn't meet at an industry party. There were no VIP ropes or champagne flutes. Instead, they met on MySpace back in 2006. Think about that for a second. While most of us were busy picking our "Top 8" and customizing profile songs, these two were starting a foundation that would eventually survive addiction, massive fame, and the chaos of the music business.
Tricia Davis: More Than Just "Macklemore's Wife"
If you look at Tricia’s resume, it’s kinda wild how much she’s pivoted. She started out as a nurse. She actually graduated from Seattle Pacific University and was working in the medical field while Ben was still a local rapper trying to find his footing.
But as the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis machine started picking up steam, she didn't just sit on the sidelines. She basically became the backbone of the entire operation. We’re talking:
- Tour Manager: Handling the logistics of global tours.
- Video Producer: She worked on the "Same Love" and "Can’t Hold Us" videos.
- Stylist: Helping craft that specific aesthetic that defined an era.
Basically, she’s a business partner who just happens to be married to the talent.
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The Reality of Loving Someone in Recovery
It wasn't all highlights and hit singles. When Tricia and Ben first started dating, Ben was struggling hard with drug addiction. Tricia has been vocal about the fact that her family was, understandably, pretty worried. Her mom, Diana, didn't exactly trust him at first. Ben used to sneak in and out of their house.
Honestly, loving an addict is exhausting. Tricia stayed. She was there through the relapses—including a significant one in 2014 and another during the 2020 lockdowns. Most people would have walked away, but she saw the potential he had long before he became a household name.
In a 2013 interview, she mentioned that she knew he was "worth it" from the first time she saw him perform. That’s a level of intuition most of us wish we had.
A Wedding Based on Principles
They dated for seven years before getting engaged in January 2013. But they didn't rush to the altar. They actually waited until June 27, 2015, to get married.
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Why the wait? They wanted to wait until the Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality. Ben has always been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights—his song "Same Love" was a massive cultural moment—so they felt it was only right to tie the knot once everyone in the U.S. had that same right. They got married just one day after the historic Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. Talk about timing.
Raising Three Kids in the Public Eye
Macklemore and wife Tricia have three children now:
- Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty (born May 2015)
- Colette Koala Haggerty (born March 2018)
- Hugo Jack Haggerty (born July 2021)
Ben's relationship with his eldest, Sloane, is particularly famous among fans. She’s basically his creative director at this point. He’s featured her in music videos (like "Growing Up") and even involved her in his Bogey Boys golf apparel line.
But it’s Tricia who keeps the wheels from falling off. Ben often posts these long, heartfelt tributes on Instagram about how she exceeds every expectation of motherhood. He calls her his "world." It sounds cheesy, but when you look at their history, it feels earned.
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What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a misconception that Tricia is just a stay-at-home mom who got lucky. In reality, she’s a former nurse who became a high-level executive in her husband's multi-million dollar business. She’s the one who was printing 20 T-shirts at a time when only 15 people showed up to the shows.
She didn't marry a millionaire; she helped build one.
Moving Forward
If you’re looking at their story as a template for your own life, here are the real-world takeaways:
- Invest in the person, not the status. Tricia saw the artist before the world did.
- Business and pleasure can mix, but it takes work. They’ve managed to be partners in both senses of the word by defining their roles clearly.
- Sobriety is a team sport. Ben’s recovery is his own, but Tricia’s support (and his relationship with his mother-in-law, which is now great) proves that a strong support system is non-negotiable.
The next time you hear "Thrift Shop" on the radio, remember it wasn't just a lucky break. It was a decade of MySpace messages, nursing shifts, and a woman who refused to give up on a guy who was still finding himself.