Country singer and Potomac native Maggie Rose received a surprise marriage proposal during her last song at Saturday night’s performance at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.
A few songs earlier, Rose had dedicated a song she’d written to her father, Steve Durante, saying it was inspired by watching him give away her sister Claire on her wedding day. Little did Rose and most in the audience know, her dad was about to become a father-of-the-bride again.
There were some who did know, though—Rose’s parents, grandparents, sisters, and perhaps even the former history teacher she gave a shout out to. They were all there to capture the big moment.
Right after Rose introduced her last song, “River Road,” a duet she typically sings with her bass player, her boyfriend, Austin Marshall, walked onstage, dropped a rose at her feet and sang with her. When the song ended, he whispered something in her ear and got down on one knee.
Rose shared her reaction to the proposal on her Facebook page yesterday: “. . . to my surprise, Austin walked on stage and began singing with me…very well, I might add. After the song was over he whispered something to me and got down on bended knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course. I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful moment and sharing it with everyone was such a blessing. My whole band was in on it. They made a customized set list just for me so I wouldn't be tipped off. Austin knows I live on stage and carefully chose a time and place that we'll remember forever.”
Rose, whose given name is Margaret Rose Durante, grew up in Potomac and graduated from Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. She now lives in Nashville and is regarded as one of country music’s rising stars.
Marshall is the executive vice president of Play it Again Music Publishing, which recently signed Rose as a writer. Marshall has worked in the music industry for more than a decade.
Maggie Rose asked to marry on stage at @BethesdaBlues tonight. @IAmMaggieRose @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/OXIZ5ovhnO
— Michael Walsh (@GetMikeWalsh) March 22, 2015