Hanson dreams of working with Haim for brother-sister band collab: ‘Haim-son!’

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Hanson Talk ‘Underneath,’ Hair Tips and Dreams of Collabing With Haim

Back in 1997, the trio of brothers known as Hanson made their TODAY debut and have been dropping by Studio 1A ever since. Their latest visit, however, celebrated a bigger occasion — the release of “Underneath: Complete,” a reissue of the band’s 2004 album.

During their September visit, the group took up their instruments to perform new versions of their nostalgic hits and talk about their journey since boy band superstardom. Former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Kate McKinnon even joined to share the impact they had on her life … and her hairstyle.

Kate McKinnon and Hanson in 2024Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac started the band Hanson as young children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and rose to fame in the late 1990s.

They are best known for their chart-topping 1997 single “MMMBop,” from their album “Middle of Nowhere,” which earned them three Grammy nominations.

The teenage trio, and their signature long blond hair, quickly grew a massive fan base around the world.

Hanson on TODAY in 1997.
Hanson on TODAY in 1997.TODAY

In 2003, Hanson formed their own label, 3CG Records, and released their first independent studio album, “Underneath,” in 2004. The brothers have been making music since, releasing a total of 12 studio albums.

Today, the Hanson brothers are all grown up and have 15 children between the three of them. They are still collaborating on new projects and even started a craft beer business, Hanson Brothers Beer, which features a pale ale aptly named “Mmmhops.”

In October 2024, to celebrate 20 years of 3CG, Hanson released the deluxe edition of “Underneath,” which features new versions of hits like “Penny & Me” and bonus tracks.

Ahead of their appearance on TODAY, the Hanson brothers sat down for “8 Before 8,” our original video series in which we ask artists eight questions before 8 a.m. Isaac, Taylor and Zac reflected on the last 20 years, discussed what the future holds and revealed the meaning behind “MMMBop.” (Plus, they even shared the secrets behind their iconic hair.)

What made you decide to revisit an album from 20 years ago?

Taylor Hanson: This album is special for a bunch of reasons. One, it launched us into an independent period. We launched a label, (so) it was a time where it was about taking chances and investing in our fans. … It’s really (a) “thank you” to a lot of fans that have stuck with us. Here we are, 20 years later, many albums later, many laps around the world later, and we really feel like we owe that to them, and so we wanted to do something special to celebrate.

Zac Hanson: “Underneath” was an album that had about 80 songs written for it. It seemed like a special way to remember that that record was to include some of the songs that did make it to a full recording, and include in that story the people that were involved — like Carole King, who we wrote songs with, and Bob Marlette, who produced, and Greg Wells. … So by adding more music to it and getting to revisit some of the songs, it sort of completes the story of that record and all that were involved.


Hanson 2024
(Left to right) Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Zac Hanson performing on TODAY Show in 2024.Nathan Congleton / TODAY

What does “Penny & Me” mean to you now?

Isaac Hanson: “Penny & Me” was a really important part of the story of “Underneath.” It’s the very first single that we released from that record, but it was one of the very last songs that we recorded for the record. … We knew this song would find a special place, and it certainly has found a special place — not only for us personally, but with the fan base.

Zac: “Penny & Me” is also a song that really has a lot of references to other people’s music that inspired us, (it’s) sort of a love letter to that. … The new version of “Penny & Me” — we call it the “Moonlight” version — takes that another step further, in not just referencing songs like “Feelin’ Alright?” or “Pink Moon” by Nick Drake, but actually saying, what if we leaned into that style and did it in a different way?

Taylor: “Penny & Me” has brought people together in many ways. … We said let’s do a new music video that brings things back. We had Samaire Armstrong reprise her role as Penny in the video. I have a daughter named Penny, who played the 20-years-later Penny. Then Natalie Morales, who was a Hanson fan who became a successful director and writer — (she) became the director this. So you have all these things converging.

What is the meaning of “MMMBop”?

Zac: “MMMBop” is a song really about (how) we all have to make choices in life — some relationships will last and some will be short-lived. Even as a young person, we saw that you had to choose the path you wanted to be on and fight for the relationships and people you want to be in your life. … The chorus is really about the passage of time (and) how things will come and go, and the verses talk about how you’re going to have to grab and reach for the stuff that you want to be a part of your life.

Taylor: We’ve always loved the idea of putting a little bit of optimism into, well, there’s a problem, a challenge, but this is where we’re trying to go — and really, that’s what “MMMBop” is. It’s saying all these things are challenging, but you can’t change it. You have to embrace the moment. You have to be here right now.

What advice would you give to young new artists?

Zac: The first thing that we did was listen to other artists we loved and learn to sing their songs. That’s important. In a way, the apprenticeship of every musician is to first mimic. But the most important thing will be what you do that no one else does. The way you present your personality and your story and put your own words into your songs and your ideas. It’s your voice that’s going to be the thing that lasts generations if you have that moment to connect with people.

Isaac: Writing songs is a really, really important element of your creativity, because at the end of the day, you’re the one standing out there singing them. So you better have your signature on it in some way, shape or form. And the best way is to learn to be a good writer.

What is your kids’ relationship to music like?

Zac: Taylor’s seven kids, my five, Isaac’s three — it’s a brood.

Taylor: There’s absolutely a few musicians. I don’t know if they’ll be a cousin band … but I think there’s natural collaboration. There is some music being made between the cousins, because they’re around each other and around music. … It’ll be something that we can’t predict — who decides to embrace it and make this their life — but I would guess we’ll have a few. Between the 15, the odds are with us.

Hanson 2024
(Left to right) Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Zac Hanson performing on TODAY Show in 2024.Nathan Congleton / TODAY

What are some of your next goals as a band?

Taylor: We’ve gotten to do some really amazing musical things. A couple years ago, we worked with symphonies all over the world. … Honestly, (it’s) writing, producing and taking your passion and getting behind other creators too — being that person to do what others did for us when we started. … So I think you’ll see us champion other artists, supporting and helping make those things happen.

Dream band collaboration?

Isaac: We are always into the idea of collaboration. … We’ve kind of joked about back and forth with the girls in Haim. Haim-son!

Zac: Brothers and sisters together.

Isaac: The cool thing is, you (Zac) are a drummer — they don’t have a drummer in their band.

Zac: We don’t have a bass player.

Isaac: Este’s a bass player, so, you know, we finally have a complete band.

What was your hair-care routine for your iconic looks?

Isaac: I wish that we had an ability to say something to people about (our) hair anything other than I use random shampoos.

Zac: I only wash my hair about once every six weeks. … The answer is that, I think, just stop putting chemicals in and let your body just do the work.

Isaac: You only wash your hair every six weeks? I wash my hair like the every three days.

Zac: Every six weeks, probably, I put shampoo in my hair. Just putting it out there: Rinse it all the time, but don’t put soap in it.

Taylor: The Hanson hair-care line is really a long time coming, we should just go ahead with that and it’s going to basically involve not doing much.

Zac: The hair care line would be like an empty bottle.


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