Florida Georgia Line is an American country duo consisting of lead vocalist, Tyler Hubbard and backing vocalist, Brian Kelley. They have achieved major success since their inception and are one of the most successful country music acts. Their 2012 debut single "Cruise", which remains their most popular song, broke two major sales records: it was downloaded over seven million times, making it the first country song ever to receive the Diamond certification, and it became the best-selling digital country song of all time, with 24 weeks at number one, until it was surpassed in July 2017 by Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road". "Cruise" helped to pioneer a style of country music known as "bro-country", which incorporates production elements from rock and hip-hop music, and tends to cover subject matter such as partying, drinking, driving trucks and romantic attraction. Much of their subsequent music has been tagged with the "bro-country" label as well.
Florida Georgia Line was formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee and began as a covers band. In December 2011, they signed to the Big Loud Mountain label. Their second EP, It'z Just What We Do, was released in 2012 and charted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Several months later they signed with Republic Nashville, part of the Big Machine Label Group. They released their second album, Anything Goes on October 14, 2014. Their third album, Dig Your Roots, was released on August 26, 2016.
History
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Both members of Florida Georgia Line grew up and first gained interest in music through church worship services. Brian Kelley, from Ormond Beach, Florida, was a star pitcher on his high school baseball team, leading to a scholarship at Florida State University; he later transferred to Belmont University after it became clear to him he would not succeed in the sport. He began learning to play guitar then began writing music inspired by Christian rock group Casting Crowns. Tyler Hubbard, a native of Monroe, Georgia, was a church worship leader who formed a hip hop group, Ingenious Circuit, in his teens. The two had a myriad of musical interests growing up: "Me and my friends drove trucks, listened to Garth Brooks, Alabama, Lil Wayne and Eminem," said Kelley.
The duo met at Belmont University in 2008 through a campus worship group, and following graduation, decided to give themselves two years to succeed as a country duo. They moved in with one another and began several odd jobs to pay bills, while playing clubs on the weekends. While independent, they recorded and digitally distributed their first EP, Anything Like Me (2010). They were discovered by Nickelback producer Joey Moi at a county fair, and the three began entering the studio together. Unlike typical country music sessions, the group spent days polishing songs, which were collected on the duo's second EP, It'z Just What We Do (2012). In terms of production, the band modeled their sound on bands such as Nickelback, Shinedown, and Three Days Grace, while Moi aimed for each song to resemble hair metal group Def Leppard in structure. Major labels became interested when the song "Cruise" first aired on satellite radio on "The Highway" channel and began selling well on iTunes, leading to a deal with Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group.
Kelley likes to think of his career not as a career, but as a lifestyle. "Country music is always evolving and will continue to evolve," he told Forbes magazine. In 2017, they featured in the song "Last Day Alive" by The Chainsmokers. They have also collaborated with Bebe Rexha on her song "Meant to Be".
Musical career
2010: Anything Like Me
Florida Georgia Line's first EP, released on December 14, 2010, is a six-song EP produced with Wesley Walker. All of the songs were written by either Hubbard or Hubbard and Kelley. The EP consists of the songs "You're Country", "Now That She's Gone", "Man I Am Today", "Never Let Her Go" (co-written with "Cruise" co-writer Chase Rice), "Black Tears", and "Backwoods Beauty Queen". The song "Black Tears" was also on Jason Aldean's 2012 album Night Train.
2012â€"2013: It'z Just What We Do and Here's to the Good Times
The duo's second EP is a five-song EP produced by Joey Moi on Big Loud Mountain Records and released on May 15, 2012. It starts off with "Cruise" and also includes "Get Your Shine On", "Tip It Back", "Tell Me How You Like It", and the title track "It'z Just What We Do".
The duo's first studio album, Here's to the Good Times, was an 11-song album produced by Joey Moi on Republic Nashville and released on December 4, 2012. The pair's first full-length, Here's to the Good Times, was the sixth-best-selling album of 2013 (topping Drake and Katy Perry, among others). "Cruise", the first single, reached number one on the Country Airplay chart dated December 15, 2012. A remix of "Cruise" featuring Nelly later hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. Florida Georgia Line's signature hit, "Cruise", holds one major record to date: the best-selling country digital song of all time, with sales surpassing 10 million. The song spent a record 24 weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, which was the longest reign in the history of the chart until July 2017 when it was surpassed by Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road".
The album's second single, "Get Your Shine On", was released to country radio on January 21, 2013 and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in May 2013. It was co-written by the duo along with Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins. "Round Here" was released as the album's third single on June 3, 2013 and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in September 2013. The album's fourth single, "Stay", was released to country radio on October 7, 2013. It was co-written and originally recorded by Black Stone Cherry. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and the Country Airplay chart in December 2013.
A deluxe edition of Here's to the Good Times titled Here's to the Good Times... This Is How We Roll was released on November 25, 2013. "This Is How We Roll", a collaboration with Luke Bryan, was released from the deluxe edition as the album's fifth single on February 10, 2014 and reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in March 2014.
Florida Georgia Line toured the United States as part of the Dirt Road Diaries Tour with Thompson Square and headlining act Luke Bryan.
In June 2013, the album reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It stayed at the top spot for ten weeks.
2014â€"2015: Anything Goes
The duo revealed on August 15, 2014, that their second studio album would be titled Anything Goes with a release date of October 14, 2014. The album's first single, "Dirt", was released to country radio and digital sales outlets on July 8, 2014 and became the sixth consecutive single by Florida Georgia Line to make the top five on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Sun Daze" was released to digital sales outlets on September 16, 2014. A week later, the album's title track, "Anything Goes", was released on September 22, 2014. Florida Georgia Line also appeared on the Hot Tours recap. "Confession" released to country radio on November 3, 2015 and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in April 2016.
In 2016, Florida Georgia Line became the first and only country artist to receive the Digital Diamond Award, for their single "Cruise" crossing the 10× Platinum threshold.
2016â€"present: Dig Your Roots
The duo released their third studio album Dig Your Roots on August 29, 2016, featuring Tim McGraw, Ziggy Marley, and the Backstreet Boys. They are currently on their Dig Your Roots tour, with Ryan Follesé, Chris Lane, and Dustin Lynch.
They collaborated with Bebe Rexha on a song called Meant to Be for her EP, All Your Fault: Pt. 2
Along with Hank Williams Jr. and Jason Derulo, Florida Georgia Line sang "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night" for ESPN's Monday Night Football NFL broadcasts in 2017.
Controversy
In July 2016, Florida Georgia Line came under fire when they banned law enforcement from being backstage before, during and after their concerts in Wisconsin and Iowa. Due to the recent police shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Falcon Heights; many outraged fans claimed the band was anti-police after their treatment towards law enforcement. The band later asked for a police escort leaving their concert, but had their request denied by various agencies due to their comments. It was later reported that prior to the concert, the band requested not to have law enforcement personnel backstage. Their request was denied by the music festival management team because of security concerns. In the aftermath of the incident, Brian Kelley called Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth and apologized, calling it a misunderstanding. The duo issued a statement on Twitter that said, "we want you to know that we have nothing but love and respect for the police. We are bummed anyone ever got a different impression."
In December 2015, during their concert at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in New York City, some fans criticized the duo for lip-syncing. Many music industry executives have defended the group, saying when a show is scheduled and there’s technical difficulties or illness, it is usually the only alternative.
Personal lives
On December 16, 2013, Kelley married his girlfriend of seven months, Brittney Marie Cole. In February 2014, Hubbard sustained a back injury in a dirt bike accident. On July 1, 2015, Tyler Hubbard married his longtime girlfriend Hayley Stommel. In 2014, Kelley appeared on Animal Planet's Treehouse Masters.
In 2015, Forbes estimated that Florida Georgia Line's annual income was $36.5 million, split evenly between both men.
Band members
- Tom Beaupre â€" Bass, backing vocals
- Dan Weller â€" Keyboards, banjo, guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
- Sean Fuller â€" Drums, percussion
- Aaron Farmer â€" Keyboards
- Tyler Hubbard â€" Lead vocals, guitar, piano
- Brian Kelley â€" Lead vocals, guitar
- Tyler Chiarelli - Lead Guitar, dobro, backing vocals
- Owen Farrington - Capo on 1st fret, backing vocals
Discography
- Here's to the Good Times (2012)
- Anything Goes (2014)
- Dig Your Roots (2016)
Tours
- Headlining
- Here's to the Good Times Tour (2013â€"14)
- Anything Goes Tour (2015)
- Dig Your Roots Tour (2016)
- Smooth Tour (2017)
- Supporting
- The Summer Never Ends Tour with Jake Owen (2012)
- Dirt Road Diaries Tour (2013) with Luke Bryan
- The Red Tour (2013) with Taylor Swift (12 shows)
- Burn It Down Tour (2014) with Jason Aldean
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Official website