Brian Kelley | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Brian Edward Kelley |
Born | August 26, 1985 |
Origin | Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Genres | Country |
Instruments |
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Labels |
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Member of | Florida Georgia Line |
Spouse | Brittney Cole (m. 2013) |
Website | officialbriankelley |
Brian Edward Kelley (born August 26, 1985) is an American musician, best known as a member of the Nashville-based duo Florida Georgia Line. [1] Kelley is from Ormond Beach, Florida, and enjoyed playing sports and music growing up. He moved to Nashville to go to school and play baseball at Belmont University, [2] where he met Tyler Hubbard, the other member of Florida Georgia Line.
Kelley was born on August 26, 1985, in Ormond Beach, Florida, and is the son of Ed and Mary Margaret Kelley. [3] Growing up, Kelley enjoyed sports and writing and spent most of his time playing baseball or at the beach. As he got older he started to spend more time writing music and leading worship at his church. [4] He also developed a strong love for playing guitar. When he was in his teens, his sister began to introduce him to country artists by playing him tapes on the way to the beach in exchange for Kelley washing her car. By the time Kelley was ready to graduate from Seabreeze High School in 2004 and Daytona State College in 2007, he was splitting his time between baseball (playing college baseball at Daytona State College and Florida State University and being scouted by the pros) and writing music. However, when he was doing more bench sitting than playing, he filled the void with writing. He later decided to move to Belmont University. [5]
Kelley was introduced to Tyler Hubbard at Belmont University in 2007 while they were in a campus worship group together. The two became great friends, and began playing guitar and writing songs together. [2] The two friends began playing writers rounds throughout Nashville. In 2009, the duo decided they wanted to pursue music as a career so they started playing shows throughout the American South. In 2010, they independently recorded and digitally distributed their first EP, Anything Like Me. After releasing that EP, they were discovered at a county fair by Nickelback's producer, Joey Moi. After writing and polishing songs for two years, the duo released their second EP It'z Just What We Do in 2012. Major labels became interested in the duo when their debut single, "Cruise", first hit satellite radio on " The Highway " channel and began selling well on iTunes, leading to a record deal with Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group. [6]
In the fall of 2011, Kelley signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Shirt. [5]
The duo released their first studio album, Here's to the Good Times , on December 4, 2012, with Republic Nashville. This album was the sixth best selling album of 2013. [7] "Cruise", the first single on the album, reached number 1 on the Country Airplay chart dated December 15, 2012. [8] A remix of "Cruise" featuring Nelly later hit number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is also the best selling country digital song of all time, with sales of over 7 million, and it spent 24 weeks at number 1 on Hot Country songs. [7] The other singles from this album include "Get Your Shine On", "Round Here", "Stay", and "This Is How We Roll". [9]
Florida Georgia Line announced on August 15, 2014, that their second album would be titled Anything Goes , and would be released on October 14, 2014. [10] They released the album's first single, "Dirt", on July 8, 2014. Other singles from this album include "Sun Daze", "Sippin' On Fire", "Anything Goes" and "Confession".
The duo's third album, Dig Your Roots was released on August 26, 2016. Singles include "H.O.L.Y.", "May We All", "God, Your Mama, and Me" and "Smooth".
They released their fourth studio album, Can't Say I Ain't Country , on February 15, 2019. Singles include "Simple", "Talk You Out of It" and "Blessings".
Their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On , was released on February 12, 2021. It was co-produced by the duo and Corey Crowder, [11] and includes the singles "I Love My Country" and "Long Live". [12]
In 2022, Florida Georgia Line decided to take an indefinite hiatus from touring as well as “taking a break” from making music together as both of the musicians went on to currently focus on their solo careers.
In 2015, Hubbard and Kelley started their own artist development and music publishing company called Tree Vibez Music. [13] Since the company began, they have signed writer Jordan Schmidt, writer Jimmie Deeghan, writer/artist Drew Castle as well as singer-songwriters Canaan Smith and RaeLynn. [14] In 2019, Hubbard and Kelley launched Round Here Records; an independent label with Smith signed as the flagship artist. [15]
In January 2021, Kelley indicated his intentions to have a solo music career while remaining part of Florida Georgia Line, with the support of fellow duo-member Tyler Hubbard. [16] In April 2021, he announced that he had launched his own label, Nashville South Records, to release his new music in partnership with Warner Music Nashville. [17] Kelley referred to himself as a "Beach Cowboy", announcing that new music would be coming with a full album slated for release in late 2021. [18] On April 13, 2021, he released the extended play BK's Wave Pack. [19] The songs from the EP were included on his debut studio album Sunshine State of Mind, which was released on June 25, 2021. [20] Kelly has also launched a stage musical, entitled "May We All", inspired by the Florida Georgia Line song of the same name. [21]
In June 2022, Kelley moved to Big Machine Records, and released the song "American Spirit" the next month. [22]
In January 2024, Kelley released the single, “Trucks, Ducks, Bucks & Beer.” [23]
In December 2013, he married his wife, Brittney Marie (née Cole) Kelley. [24] [25]
Title | Details |
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Sunshine State of Mind |
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Tennessee Truth |
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Ed & Mary Margaret's Son |
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Title | Details |
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BK's Wave Pack [19] |
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Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
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US Country Airplay [28] | |||
"See You Next Summer" | 2023 | 28 | Tennessee Truth |
"Acres" [29] | 2024 | — | |
"Make America Great Again" [30] | — | TBA | |
"If I Go First" [31] | — | Ed & Mary Margaret's Son |
Canaan Lee Smith is an American country music singer and songwriter signed with Round Here Records, an independent label started by Florida Georgia Line. He has released two albums, Bronco in 2015 and High Country Sound in 2021. His second single, "Love You Like That", was a Number One hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. He was also a reality television contestant on the 15th season of The Amazing Race.
"Cruise" is a song recorded by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was first released to iTunes in April 2012 and then to radio on August 6, 2012 as the first single from their extended play It'z Just What We Do. It was written by group members Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard with Joey Moi, Chase Rice, and Jesse Rice. It is included on their first album for Republic Nashville, Here's to the Good Times, released on December 4. "Cruise" is the best-selling country digital song of all time in the United States as of January 2014. The song is considered the foremost example of the genre of country music termed "bro-country".
Florida Georgia Line was an American country music duo founded in 2010 by vocalists and songwriters Tyler Hubbard of Georgia and Brian Kelley of Florida. Their 2012 debut single "Cruise" 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, with 24 weeks at number one, until it was surpassed in July 2017 by Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road". Their music style is described 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 sexual attraction.
Tyler Reed Hubbard is an American singer-songwriter, and musician, best known as a member of the Nashville-based duo Florida Georgia Line. After that duo went on hiatus in 2021, Hubbard began recording as a solo artist on EMI Nashville. His first solo chart entry was a guest vocalist on Tim McGraw's "Undivided", followed by his first solo single "5 Foot 9", which topped the Billboard Country Airplay charts in 2022. He released his self-titled debut album in 2023.
It'z Just What We Do is the second EP by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released in May 2012, by Big Loud Mountain. All five songs from the extended play later appeared on their debut studio album, Here's to the Good Times (2012).
"Tippin' Point" is a song recorded by Canadian country and rock artist Dallas Smith for his debut extended play of the same name (2014). It was released October 8, 2013, as the lead single for his then-forthcoming second studio album, as well as his first single in the American market since signing with Republic Nashville. A critical and commercial success, "Tippin' Point" peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and set a record for the fastest Canadian country single to reach Gold certification by selling over 40,000 units in 13 weeks; it has since been certified Platinum.
Anything Goes is the second studio album by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released on October 14, 2014, by Republic Nashville. The release of the album was announced August 15 from Central Park in New York City on Good Morning America. The album was produced by Joey Moi. Its first single, "Dirt", became Florida Georgia Line's sixth number one hit when it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Dig Your Roots is the third studio album by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. The album was released on August 26, 2016, by Big Machine and Big Loud Mountain. As with their first two albums, it is produced by Joey Moi. The two performers were originally known for their upbeat and cross mix of genres within their music, but they claimed this album was their "calm down" album. They claimed they are looking to do more than just entertain with this album but to get people to dig deep into what really is important in their lives.
"May We All" is a song recorded by American country music group Florida Georgia Line and country music artist Tim McGraw. It is the second single from the duo's third studio album, Dig Your Roots, which was released on August 26, 2016. The song was written by Rodney Clawson and Jamie Moore. "May We All" was first released for sale on July 16, 2016 by Republic Nashville as an album and released as a single to radio in August.
"You Make It Easy" is a song written by Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley with Morgan Wallen and Jordan Schmidt and recorded by American country music singer Jason Aldean. It was released in February 2018 as the first single from Aldean's 2018 album Rearview Town.
"Simple" is a song by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It is their fifteenth solo single release, and the first from their fourth studio album Can't Say I Ain't Country. Written by duo members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley along with Michael Hardy and Mark Holman, the song expresses romantic love as a "simple" concept. The song has been promoted through the use of black-and-white photography on the duo's Instagram account, along with a music video directed by Justin Clough.
"Talk You Out of It" is a song recorded by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It is their sixteenth solo single release, and the second from their fourth studio album Can't Say I Ain't Country. The song was written by Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers and Alysa Vanderheym.
"Blessings" is a song recorded by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was the third and final single from their fourth studio album Can't Say I Ain't Country. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, the duo's two members, co-wrote the song with Tom Douglas, Jesse Frasure, Jordan Schmidt, and Ernest Keith Smith. It is their lowest-peaking single to date, missing the top 20 of the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts.
6-Pack is an EP by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released on May 22, 2020 under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The EP includes the single "I Love My Country" as well as the track "Second Guessing" from the duo’s appearance on Songland. All six songs from the EP are included on the duo’s fifth studio album Life Rolls On.
"Long Live" is a song recorded by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released on September 10, 2020 as the second single from their fifth studio album Life Rolls On. It was written by the duo's members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, along with David Garcia, Corey Crowder and Josh Miller.
"Lil Bit" is a song recorded by American hip hop artist Nelly with country duo Florida Georgia Line. It marks the third collaboration between the artists after the remix of the duo's hit single "Cruise" in 2013, and the song "Walk Away" from Nelly's album M.O. in the same year. It is the lead single from Nelly's country-influenced eighth studio album Heartland. Florida Georgia Line released an "FGL Remix" of the track on the digital-exclusive deluxe edition of their fifth studio album Life Rolls On.
Life Rolls On is the fifth and final studio album by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released on February 12, 2021 through Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. It includes the hit singles "I Love My Country" and "Long Live", as well the material from their 6-Pack EP. The album marks their only full-length release with producer Corey Crowder, a departure from their previous work with longtime producer Joey Moi.
"Thank You Lord" is a song by American contemporary Christian musician Chris Tomlin featuring American country music singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett and country duo Florida Georgia Line. The song was released as the third single from his thirteenth studio album, Chris Tomlin & Friends (2020), to Christian radio in the United States on August 13, 2021. Tomlin co-wrote the song with Corey Crowder, David Garcia, Thomas Rhett, and Tyler Hubbard. The single was produced by Brian Kelley, Chris Tomlin, Corey Crowder, and Tyler Hubbard.
"5 Foot 9" is a song by American country music singer Tyler Hubbard, best known as one-half of the duo Florida Georgia Line. The song is Hubbard's first release as a solo artist. It was released on May 23, 2022 as the lead single from his self-titled debut solo album.
Tyler Hubbard is the debut solo studio album by American country music singer Tyler Hubbard. It was released on January 27, 2023, by EMI Nashville and Hubbard House Records.