Meghan Trainor hasn't always had it easy with the critics. You probably remember the 2015 explosion of "Dear Future Husband." It was everywhere. Grocery stores, car radios, your cousin’s wedding playlist.
The song is a catchy, doo-wop infused list of demands. It's essentially a pre-marriage contract set to a bass line. But man, did it stir the pot. While half the world was humming along, the other half was busy writing think pieces about whether it was setting feminism back fifty years.
The Controversy That Wouldn't Die
Looking back from 2026, the drama seems almost quaint, but at the time, people were genuinely heated. Critics like Nolan Feeney at Time famously dubbed the song’s vision a "Meghtatorship."
Why? Because the lyrics are bold. Some might say bossy.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Ice Spice Naked Pic Rumors: What's Actually Happening
Meghan sings about needing to be told she's beautiful every night. She demands apologies even when she’s wrong. She flat-out says, "You got that 9 to 5, but baby, so do I." That specific line was actually pretty progressive for a song that looks like it was filmed on the set of Pleasantville.
The video is a whole other thing. It’s got Meghan scrubbing floors and burning pies while a parade of "potential" husbands fail her tests. One guy is too weak for the carnival strength tester. Another brings the wrong flowers.
Fail. People lost their minds over the imagery of her on her knees scrubbing a floor. Was it a parody? A throwback? Or was it, as many argued, a regressive look at gender roles?
What Actually Happened With the Lyrics
The song wasn't just some random pop hit pulled out of thin air. Meghan wrote it as a reaction to her high school dating life. She'd been treated poorly. She was tired of guys who didn't text back or didn't show respect.
"Dear Future Husband" was her "corrective" to hookup culture.
Honestly, if you listen to it as a 21-year-old woman finally finding her voice and setting boundaries—however "extra" those boundaries might be—it hits differently. It’s a song about knowing your worth.
Critics complained she was "trading sex for chores." Lines like "maybe then I'll let you try and rock my body right" were cited as evidence of "internalized misogyny."
But fans saw it as a woman owning her agency. They saw someone saying, "This is what I need to feel loved."
The Evolution of a Pop Star's Reality
Fast forward a decade. How did that list of demands hold up in the real world?
Well, she actually found the guy.
In 2016, Meghan was set up on a double date by Chloë Grace Moretz. The guy was Daryl Sabara. Yes, Juni Cortez from Spy Kids.
It wasn't a slow burn. It was a wildfire.
- Day 1: Meghan told him, "You're never gonna leave me."
- Day 6: They were officially in love.
- Month 1: She wrote her wedding song, "Marry Me."
That’s some serious "Dear Future Husband" energy right there. They didn't wait around. They were, in Meghan’s own words, "Velcro" from the start.
Living the Song in 2026
By January 2026, Meghan and Daryl have become one of Hollywood's most rock-solid couples. They have two sons, Riley and Barry.
The most interesting thing about their marriage is how much it actually mirrors—and subverts—the song. Daryl isn't some subservient "slave" as the early critics feared. He’s her biggest collaborator. He sings on her tracks. He’s in the videos.
🔗 Read more: Tyreek Hill Child Support: What Most People Get Wrong
Recently, Daryl had to step up and clear the air regarding some viral "toxic mom group" drama involving Ashley Tisdale. His response? "No drama over here, just trying to keep the kids happy."
That’s the "Dear Future Husband" dream in action.
The song asks for a partner who prioritizes family and handles the "acting crazy" moments with grace. In 2026, that looks like a husband who manages the PR fires while his wife continues to dominate the charts.
Why the Song Still Matters
"Dear Future Husband" is a time capsule. It captures that mid-2010s obsession with "vintage" aesthetics and the messy transition of modern feminism.
It wasn't perfect. It was loud, demanding, and a little bit contradictory.
But it started a conversation about what women are allowed to ask for. Can you be a "lady" and a boss? Can you want someone to open the door for you but also respect your 9-to-5?
Meghan’s answer was a resounding yes.
The song also paved the way for her later hits like "Mother" and "Made You Look." She’s built a career on this specific brand of "confident-bordering-on-cocky" pop.
Actionable Insights for the "Dear Future Husband" Philosophy
If you’re looking at your own relationship through the lens of this 2015 anthem, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Communicate the "Standard": Meghan wasn't afraid to say what she wanted. You shouldn't be either. Whether it’s grocery shopping or emotional support, being clear avoids resentment later.
- Adapt the Roles: The 1950s aesthetic was a choice, but the 2026 reality is a partnership. Meghan and Daryl use the "percentage check-in" method—asking each other what percentage of energy they have left for parenting that day.
- Ignore the "Perfect Wife" Myth: Even Meghan admitted she can't cook. The song acknowledges that. Focus on the "9 to 5" and the mutual respect rather than the burned apple pies.
- Keep the Romance Intentional: The song asks for flowers and dates. In long-term marriages, those small gestures are the "special lovin'" that keeps things from going stale.
Meghan Trainor might have been labeled a "female supremacist" by some angry bloggers in 2015, but by 2026, she’s mostly just seen as a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and actually went out and got it.