More than 1,200 people lined up outside a Massachusetts grocery store on October 16 hoping to meet Ann Michael Maye, according to event organizers. Only a few hundred made it to the front of the line, WHDH 7News reported.
The 23-year-old wife of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, 24, has built a following through baking videos, crafting projects and game-day outfits.
She initially had a much smaller audience in mind. Ann Michael told Country Living that she began posting TikToks after moving to New England because her mother liked seeing what she was doing during the day.
Baking had been part of her life long before the videos. Growing up in North Carolina, she spent time in the kitchen with her mother, grandmother and sister. After college, she finally had a kitchen of her own.
Ann Michael and Drake Began Dating in Middle School
Ann Michael, whose maiden name is Hudson, and Drake started dating in 2015. Their parents drove them to each other’s houses before either could get behind the wheel.
They attended William A. Hough High School together before Drake transferred to Myers Park. Both later enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played quarterback and she studied business administration.
Football already ran in her family. Her father played at Wofford College, and her younger brother, Tad Hudson, was Drake’s UNC teammate during the 2023 season. Tad subsequently played at Coastal Carolina and is now on NC State’s roster.
When the Patriots selected Drake third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Ann Michael celebrated with him. She remained in college while he began his professional career, graduating in May 2025 before joining him in New England.
They Married in North Carolina in June 2025
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Drake proposed during a sunset beach outing in January 2025, sharing photographs of himself on one knee. Five months later, the couple married at Grandfather Golf and Country Club in Linville, North Carolina, on June 21.
“Getting married is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” he told reporters in February 2026, according to PEOPLE.
Drake has credited married life with improving his routines. In a September interview with Men’s Health, he explained that Ann Michael had helped him establish earlier bedtimes. He now usually gets to bed by 10, having regularly stayed up past midnight in college.
Her Baking Videos Led to ‘Beyond Bakemas’
@annmichaelmaye The best fall dessert!!! Eat warm with ice cream🤭🤭 ♬ original sound – Ann Michael Maye
Ann Michael’s holiday series, Bakemas, became a hit as she shared recipes and prepared seasonal treats. Patriots players were already familiar with what came out of her oven.
The team’s offensive linemen are among the main recipients of her baked goods. Some have sent thank-you notes encouraging her to keep feeding the players responsible for protecting her husband.
The videos led to an NBC Sports Boston series, Beyond Bakemas. In the January 11 debut, Ann Michael guided Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy through making her Gameday M&M Cookies.
Former Patriots center David Andrews joined her for the second episode a week later, preparing Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars. The format gave guests something to do while discussing football and her growing fame.
Fans Brought Their Baking Enthusiasm to Market Basket
The recent meet-and-greet took place at Market Basket in North Andover through Ann Michael’s partnership with Olivia’s Organics. One fan told WHDH she had sorted red and blue M&Ms to recreate Ann Michael’s cookies for the Super Bowl.
Another brought a spatula as a gift, explaining that it suited someone known for baking. Ann Michael stayed an extra half-hour to greet fans, according to the Boston Globe.
Her Community Work Includes a Food Pantry Donation
Ann Michael and Drake also launched the MayeDay Family Foundation this year to support children and families facing hardship in New England and North Carolina.
In an October 1 report, the Patriots documented her visit to Family Food Connections in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, where she helped distribute groceries.
The visit coincided with a $100,000 donation from their foundation, supported by the Shaw’s and Star Market Foundation. The pantry, operated through Boston Children’s Hospital and the Boston Housing Authority, provides free produce, pantry staples and foods suited to families’ dietary needs.