Florida Georgia Line

Formation and early years

Tyler Hubbard, from Monroe, Georgia, and Brian Kelley, from Ormond Beach, Florida, met in 2008 through a campus worship group at Belmont University in Nashville. They quickly discovered a shared love of contemporary country and began writing songs between classes and playing local clubs. After graduation, the friends moved in together, worked odd jobs, and continued to develop a sound that blended country storytelling with rock riffs and hip hop rhythms.

Their independent debut EP, Anything Like Me, appeared in 2010. Producer Joey Moi, known for his work with Nickelback, heard the duo at a county fair and offered to produce their next EP. The resulting six-song EP, It’z Just What We Do, was released in 2012 and contained the song “Cruise.” When the track began to receive airplay on satellite radio and sell briskly on iTunes, record labels took notice, and in July 2012 Hubbard and Kelley signed with Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group.

Breakthrough with “Cruise” and the rise of bro-country

“Cruise” became a phenomenon. Released as their debut single in August 2012, it fused banjo riffs with a hip hop inspired beat and easygoing lyrics about summer romance. The song sold millions of downloads and held the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 24 weeks. A remix featuring rapper Nelly introduced the duo to pop audiences and pushed the track into the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. The Recording Industry Association of America eventually certified “Cruise” Diamond, making Florida Georgia Line the first country act to achieve that milestone.

Critics began to describe the pair’s music as bro-country, a term coined by journalist Jody Rosen in 2013 to describe songs made by “tatted, gym toned, party hearty young American white dudes.” While the label was sometimes used pejoratively, Hubbard and Kelley embraced their role as genre benders. They told Dan Rather they did not worry about the term and focused instead on the experiences their music created. Their blend of rock guitars, hip hop cadences, and sing along choruses helped shape a new wave of country performers.

Early albums and chart dominance

Florida Georgia Line’s major-label debut album, Here’s to the Good Times, was released in December 2012. Produced by Joey Moi, the record included “Cruise,” “Get Your Shine On,” “Round Here,” and “Stay,” all of which topped country radio charts. The album sold more than two million copies and made the duo headliners.

Their second record, Anything Goes (2014), broadened their lyrical palette with the reflective single “Dirt,” the playful “Sun Daze,” and the anthems “Sippin’ on Fire” and “Confession.” “Cruise” surpassed ten million sales, earning the group the RIAA’s Digital Diamond Award.

Their third album, Dig Your Roots (2016), explored themes of family and faith. The ballad “H.O.L.Y.” spent 18 weeks at number one, while collaborations with Tim McGraw (“May We All”) and Backstreet Boys (“God, Your Mama, and Me”) expanded their crossover reach. The Smooth Tour in 2017 included stadium dates and solidified the duo’s reputation as major live draws.

Later releases and entrepreneurial ventures

Florida Georgia Line released Can’t Say I Ain’t Country in 2019, a record that celebrated rural identity while experimenting with modern production. Singles like “Simple,” “Talk You Out of It,” and “Blessings” extended their run of radio success. During the pandemic, they recorded Life Rolls On (2021), a set of upbeat songs such as “I Love My Country” and “Long Live.”

Alongside their recording career, Hubbard and Kelley built a small business empire. The duo amassed billions of streams, tens of millions of downloads, and more than a dozen number one singles. They launched Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey, opened the FGL House bar and restaurant in Nashville, created the Tribe Kelley clothing line, founded the Tree Vibez Music publishing company, and launched the independent label Round Here Records. The label’s first signing was Canaan Smith.

Hiatus and solo pursuits

By the early 2020s, Hubbard and Kelley began to focus more on individual creative goals. In February 2022, during the opening of their Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit, they announced they were taking a break to pursue solo projects. Their final performance as Florida Georgia Line took place at the Minnesota State Fair in September 2022.

In interviews recorded in 2024, Hubbard said Kelley wanted to pursue a solo career and that he did not have the emotional capacity to manage both the duo and his own artistic identity. Kelley said he initially wanted to keep the duo active while also making solo music but eventually agreed that stepping away was the right decision. Both denied politics played a role in the split.

The closure of FGL House in May 2024, later replaced by Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up, was widely viewed as a symbolic end to the duo’s era.

Tyler Hubbard’s solo career

Tyler Hubbard released his debut solo single “5 Foot 9” in 2022, followed by the EP Dancin’ in the Country. His self-titled debut album arrived in January 2023 and included both hits. Hubbard followed it with Strong in April 2024, expanding his writing into themes of family, faith, and personal growth. By 2025 he had earned four consecutive solo number ones and was touring widely.

Brian Kelley’s solo career

Brian Kelley began releasing solo music in 2021 with the EP BK’s Wave Pack, a project he described as “beach cowboy.” His debut album, Sunshine State of Mind, arrived that summer. He later released Tennessee Truth in 2024, a more traditional country project produced by Dann Huff.
Kelley followed it with the self-written album Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son in late 2024 and a live album, Surf Post Sessions Live, in early 2025. A new chapter of his Sunshine State series was announced for mid-2025.

Legacy and recent developments

Over twelve years, Florida Georgia Line became one of the most commercially successful duos in country music. They sold tens of millions of singles, held record-breaking chart runs, and helped reshape the genre’s sound. Their collaboration with Bebe Rexha on “Meant to Be” dominated the charts throughout 2018 and achieved multi-Platinum status.
Although both artists are now focused on their solo careers, they have not ruled out working together again. Fans were encouraged when Hubbard and Kelley appeared together at the CMA Awards in November 2025. That same year, Big Machine released Deep Cuts & Lost Tracks, Vol. 1, a compilation of unreleased Florida Georgia Line songs that reignited reunion speculation.

Florida Georgia Line’s blend of production, songwriting, and cultural reach made them one of the defining country acts of the 2010s and early 2020s.