On The Friction Inside Florida Georgia Line

Florida went for Donald Trump. Georgia went for Joe Biden. And this cross-state rift bisecting the southern United States almost resulted in one of the most preeminent and vilified acts in modern mainstream country music being torn apart too.
Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Georgia has shown a propensity to lean culturally left on things like gun control and Black Lives Matter over the last couple of years. Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida hasn’t been especially outspoken on anything politically, until the recent American Presidential election was called by most media outlets for Joe Biden, and big crowds gathered in the streets to celebrate.
“Knew we were waiting on the election since March when this shit show started,” Brian Kelley said on his Instagram story, with the picture of a massive crowd gathered celebrating the Biden victory. “Time to get back to work AMERICA.”
Not only did the Brian Kelley missive signal his apparent support for the Trump presidency, but it also floated a rather conspiratorial notion that the lockdowns were politically-movitated. That’s pretty hard to prove, since Trump signed off on and promoted lockdowns himself early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and if anything, the lockdowns have tightened since the election as cases and hospitalizations surge, not loosened. The hypocrisy of the celebrations by some was pretty obvious, and a fair accusation. But Brian Kelley’s conspiracy is quite a stretch.
Nonetheless, the Instagram post from Brian Kelley nearly resulted in the greatest fears of Florida Georgia Line fans coming to fruition, and the greatest hopes for many actual country music fans who are often furious at the musical output of the Bro-Country duo.
Though who follows who on social media is usually fodder for gossip columns, fans ferreted out that both Tyler Hubbard and his wife Hayley unfollowed Brian Kelley and his wife Brittney on Instagram after Brian Kelley’s post-election lockdown statement. Enterprising fans also noticed that Tyler Hubbard follows Joe Biden on Instagram, while Brian Kelley follows more conservative pundits such as Donald Trump Jr., and Brietbart.
Soon, rumors of the duo heading towards Splitsville were all the rage of the country music internet. This also came right at the same time Tyler Hubbard announced he had tested positive for COVID-19, and the duo would miss their performance slot at the 2020 CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 11th. Some began to wonder if the positive test was simply a cover by Hubbard to get out of the performance.
The unfollowing also occurred as country music media outlets and personalities attacked Brian Kelley and others for their election chatter on social media, publicly shaming them for their opinions. Though despite the characterization that the media loves to portray of country music being hostile towards artists sharing left-leaning opinions in the format, in truth it’s right-leaning opinions these days that will land you in much more hot water, at least with the media.
Recently The Independent released a feature on what they call new “Outlaw country.” The title of the article, the TITLE, was “No one was going to utter that they didn’t like Trump’: The return of outlaw country.” The quote is attributed to Margo Price.
But despite the media continuing to love to present country music as an ultra-conservative monoculture where artists are stifled from speaking out since it aids these outlets and journalists in their efforts to virtue signal to their constituencies, in truth the safest thing you can do in country music at the moment is show support for left-leaning causes, while the most dangerous thing you can do is say something on the right, or in some instances, not say anything at all, and end up on an “Accountability List,” or have your silence equated with violence. The backlash that ensued against Brian Kelley and others illustrates this point perfectly.
But back to the original question, how bad are things with the Florida Georgia Line duo, and are they headed to a breakup?
First, since the initial issue, Tyler Hubbard and his wife have re-followed Brian Kelley and his wife on Instagram. Also, an unnamed source has told Billboard there is “no truth” to the rumors of a split. So those hoping for or fearing for the demise of Florida Georgia Line can be either disappointed, or assured, at least for the moment.
But there was certainly friction between the two families. Likely, the reason Tyler Hubbard and his wife temporarily unfollowed Brian Kelley was to signal to the rest of the world their distance and disappointment in Brian Kelley’s opinions, which in this environment, is often necessary to maintain favorable status with the media, and social capital in many circles.
But those expecting a Florida Georgia Line split should understand the incredible financial incentives in place to make sure such as scenario doesn’t transpire. At this point, Florida Georgia Line is a massive, multi million-dollar enterprise. Brooks & Dunn, The Judds, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and other duos have gone through major upheaval, divorces, mediation sessions, and times when they didn’t even speak to each other personally, but still performed as a duo simply due to it being financially lucrative for both parties.
But if Florida Georgia Line did split, which the odds say will likely happen at some point either permanently or temporarily in the long-term, Tyler Hubbard holds all the cards, at least as a performer. From the beginning, he’s been the star. Hubbard is the guy you hear in the mix, and the reason they’re so popular. Not to knock Brian Kelley, but if the duo split, Tyler Hubbard would immediately launch a solo career, and Brian Kelley would have to move forward more as a dedicated songwriter, and selling his overpriced distressed denim in his secondary design hustle. He would be fine, but not an A-list performer.
It also wouldn’t mean the demise of the Florida Georgia Line sound, only the duo. Tyler Hubbard would continue on, and may even become more popular as a solo performer. So be careful what you wish for, real country fans.
Florida Georgia Line was a massive, flash in the pan with their breakout single “Cruise” that has somehow shown incredible staying power even as the face of everything wrong with modern country music for many, the butt of many jokes, and the leaders of Bro-Country which despite its significant losses over the last few years, has shown some surprising stubbornness at completely going away.
But the real enemy of the Florida Georgia Line legacy will not be any friction between Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, born from political differences or anything else. They’ve likely already hit their commercial peak. The biggest adversary for Florida Georgia Line will be time. Their derivative and trite style of music is destined for the laughing stock of history similar to their predecessors Nickelback who shared the same producer Joey Moi. Commercially lucrative as it was and continues to be, the Florida Georgia Line franchise has always been a ticking time bomb.
November 14, 2020 @ 12:04 pm
There’s tons of great left wing country music (I have a whole playlist of it on Spotify) so people who call it right wing monoculture definitely don’t know what they’re talking about. Everything that’s happens this year has had me returning over and over to a classic album with lyrics like:
So thank your lucky stars you got protection,
Walk the line and never mind the cost,
And don’t wonder who them lawmen was protecting,
When they nailed the Savior to the cross
November 14, 2020 @ 4:23 pm
Exactly. I paid close attention during the George Floyd protests and was pleasantly surprised by how many country stars spoke out.
As for FGL, meh. (And I like a lot of pop country, they’re just boring.)
November 15, 2020 @ 1:44 pm
True, however remember that the George Floyd protests were an outlier, and many people posting black squares and Black Lives Matter at that time were doing it (mostly) as a herd thing to earn “woke brownie points” (or just avoid media “shame lists”) without giving much thought about actual systemic racism.
Also BLM slogan was far less controversial and politicized even among conservatives atleast for a brief time after the Floyd incident. It became more so as the protests started and “All lives matter” came around. Besides fewer country artists responded compared to other genres and the statements were much weaker.
That said, I’m not saying mainstream country music is the “conservative haven” media paints it as. There are many liberal artists out there even in mainstream and most are definitely less conservative than their fanbase. What I’m saying is that country music (atleast the mainstream) as a whole is a lot more religious and right-leaning than other entertainment industries like pop, hip-hop or Hollywood. Also country artists are far more likely to steer away from politics altogether on social media, whatever they may be, thanks to Dixie Chicks.
November 16, 2020 @ 7:01 pm
The whole George Floyd thing was pretty non-partisan at first. There were some “woke” conservative friends of mine who posted the black squares on Instagram, said their part, then never talked about it again. Not saying that everybody in country is conservative, but that was such a phase for a lot of people and singers. They thought it made them look like a better person to speak out against racism on social media. That all changed after the riots and the stupid “defund the police” movement. It was super embarrassing to be from Seattle this summer with the stupid “CHOP zone.”
November 16, 2020 @ 5:49 am
I don’t think I know that song. What is it?
November 16, 2020 @ 6:45 am
The Law Is For Protection of the People on Kris Kristoffersons debut album.
November 16, 2020 @ 9:30 am
Yo everyone Florida Georgia Line music artist group are still together and they haven’t split up because they both refriend request each other and there families too
November 14, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
Regardless of political beliefs, they are both a huge pile of nothing.
I don’t think each political side wants them.
Let Commie China have them.
November 14, 2020 @ 12:45 pm
My bf broke up with me yesterday but unlike that I’d actually welcome this breakup.
November 15, 2020 @ 10:19 am
Hi, just wanted to get clarification on whether this is your handle or your ex-boyfriend’s? We always thought strait country 81 was a male commenter, but also once read a post saying it was a woman using her boyfriend’s handle.
So will you be retaining the handle after the split or will it go back to the boyfriend? Thank you.
November 15, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
It could be a male commenter with a boyfriend.
November 17, 2020 @ 5:37 pm
Not with that handle.
November 17, 2020 @ 7:09 pm
I was your strait man right there.
November 15, 2020 @ 2:59 pm
It’s his handle and yeah he’s male for sure lol.
But i rarely posted on under it except a couple times but i just commented as former FGL fan he at least introduced me to much better stuff than radio plays.
November 16, 2020 @ 5:52 am
So you are a straight single woman? What a coincidence, I’m a straight single man. You need a new boyfriend?
November 14, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
If Brooks & Dunn can allegedly never speak before or after showtime, these two can probably stay afloat until Big Machine drops them and they fade into irrelevance. They don’t have enough individual artistic direction to clash against whatever slop Scott Borchetta feeds them as a duo.
November 14, 2020 @ 5:18 pm
This is complete fiction. Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks, even after their breakup, were and are still friends. Step away from the National Enquirer.
November 14, 2020 @ 5:33 pm
I do believe Brooks & Dunn admitted they didn’t really speak to each other for the last couple of years before their split in 2009, though they did continue to share a whiskey shot before every show. Also, they split, so something happened there. They’ve been pretty hush about it over the years, but they’ve also gotten back together now, and seem to have put differences aside. Perhaps they just needed some space, but there was certainly friction there.
November 14, 2020 @ 5:39 pm
Wasn’t the rumor that they even had separate tour busses? It was definitely more business than pleasure there towards the end. Though they seemed to rekindle an actual relationship after they split.
November 14, 2020 @ 6:35 pm
I think they did have separate buses, though these days that is not as unusual as it was back in the 90’s. I can guarantee Florida Georgia Line don’t split a bus, but these days Jason Isbell tours with three full buses and a semi.
November 14, 2020 @ 1:09 pm
I’d almost call Brian Kelley the Andrew Ridgeley of the duo, except that would mean equating Tyler Hubbard with George Michael, which would be a serious insult to George Michael’s memory.
November 15, 2020 @ 9:09 am
I listened to “Faith” on the 80’s Amazon Music channel the other day and thought, “George Michael sounds more country than most “country stars” do today!”
November 14, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
Unpopular opinion, perhaps, but Nickelback is quite a bit better at rock than these two are at “country.” The former is essentially a modern AC/DC: what you see is what you get and all of their songs sound roughly the same (hell, Nickelback’s sound has actually evolved more over the years than AC/DC’s). But whereas AC/DC’s reputation has been rehabilitated as they gradually became a classic rock institution all their own, that won’t happen for Nickelback. They’re incredibly similar bands, but the latter has the misfortune of being a part of the internet age, so all of the memes and tweets that join in on the hate will exist forever, whereas all of the reviews calling AC/DC the worst band of all-time when they were first coming up have been lost to time.
Yeah, same producer or not, I’d much rather listen to Nickelback.
November 14, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
I can’t believe my eyes. You are seriously trying to make a case that Nickelback is as good or better a band than AC/DC?????!!! Uh….hmmm…you are entitled to your opinion…but DUDE…seriously??? Nickelback?? Bwahahhaa…good one. I just spilled my beer on that one….wow….
Most rock fans and musicians beg to differ. I mean, cmon..the power and sheer rocking fury of Thunderstruck….that guitar riff alone slays anything by Nickelback. Hells Bells, TNT, You Shook Me, For Those About To Rock, Dirty Deeds, Have a Drink on Me, and on and on. AC/DC is primal molten lava spewing from the middle of the earth
One power chord from Angus or Malcolm is capable of delivering large seismic shocks to the planet. There will never be another like those Young Brothers. Never!
And I haven’t even begun talking about Brian Johnson. Brian’s vocals are the perfect match to Angus’s blazing primal riffs. Johnsons vocal style is its own category entirely. Nickelback wishes they had a singer like him. There has never been a band like AC/DC and there never will be another one. Nickelback sounds like a fart next to AC/DC!!! Cheers…have a drink on me!
November 14, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
Have to second what Kevin Smith said…plus, there’s few rockers that embody actual danger in music. Bon Scott was dangerous and that’s what true rock and roll should look like and sound like. Cash, The Rolling Stones, The Stooges, the debut album from Cheap Trick, Black Flag, early G’NR, most of Mike Patton’s projects, The Dillinger Escape Plan, etc.
All having nothing in common with Nickel “what the hell is on Joey’s head” back
November 14, 2020 @ 5:20 pm
Except, you know, given that they’re a part of the same genre and all, Nickelback DOES have much in common with those artists you listed. Sure, I’ve never felt that they were “dangerous,” but then again most of the ones you listed have more moments that I’d chalk up to stupidity than anything else. But their fans certainly seem to think many of the charades of their favorite artists are “badass.” I love Bon Scott, but he drank himself to death like a frat bro. That’s less “dangerous” in my mind (at least to anyone else but himself) and more idiotic/sad. Guns N’ Roses being so volatile that they break up after less than a decade together is also idiotic and sad. And on and on.
November 17, 2020 @ 11:04 am
Mike Patton was better in Mr. Bungle than he was in Faith No More. Change my mind.
November 14, 2020 @ 5:15 pm
Note to self: starting a comment out with by acknowledging that what you’re saying is unpopular does nothing to assuage reactions.
I actually wasn’t making the case that Nickelback was a “better” band than AC/DC, but they do inhabit similar spaces in terms of style, if not repute (obviously). And clearly I’m not entitled to my opinion if your panties are still in enough of a bunch that you have to try to correct me.
“Most rock fans and musicians beg to differ.” Secondary note: most comments that begin with some version of the statement “most people…” are incredibly subjective, though the people using the statements always seem to think that they’re somehow objective in nature.
You’re fanboying pretty hard for AC/DC but didn’t even realize that my handle is the band’s damn name in Australia. I don’t need you to explain anything to me about them; I have all of their albums, including the recently-released Power Up. I also have the deluxe guitar amplifier version of Backtracks. Brian Johnson is one of my favorite vocalists of all-time. Hell, I even like the two songs that the band put out with their ORIGINAL singer Dave Evans. On top of that, I’ve collected the albums that Brian made with Geordie, the band he was in before AC/DC. Don’t try and educate me about AC/DC.
And I stand by what I said about Nickelback and AC/DC being similar bands. They both only make songs about sex and hanging out, every song is built around a crunchy guitar riff, they repurpose many of those riffs for new songs, and they’re also often incredibly simple on paper. Again, in case you read that last line and forget: AC/DC is one of my all-time favorite acts of any genre of music of all-time. And I’m also a fan of Nickelback for largely similar reasons. You hating one and orgasming about the other really doesn’t do anything to change that or how I feel about the way they relate to one another.
November 14, 2020 @ 3:39 pm
I think we’ve had this discussion before, but the point of the Nickelback reference is in how the band became a punchline later in their career, as has Florida Georgia Line. If you want to make fun of a country band, Florida Georgia Line is the go-to name.
November 14, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
Yeah, right after I posted the comment I thought “I think I’ve more or less said this on SCM before.” Not trying to be redundant, but I don’t comment as much as I used to (and I’ve also been reading for many years at this point) that it kind of just slipped my mind.
November 14, 2020 @ 5:15 pm
No worries. Was worth bringing up here.
November 14, 2020 @ 6:52 pm
I think Poison would be the best comparison.
November 15, 2020 @ 3:53 am
KISS
November 15, 2020 @ 8:56 am
Kiss were always in on the joke.
November 14, 2020 @ 1:15 pm
Ronnie Dunn should have left before he did while still popular and he maybe would have had more success like Wynnona.
November 14, 2020 @ 3:26 pm
Brooks and Dunn hit their peak by 1997.
Most all of their hits are from 1990 -1997ish.
Red Dirt Road, Only in America, Play Something Country, & Believe were the only hits from the 2000s era…
Ronnie should have left in 1998.
But i personally think they are stronger together.
I’m still hoping they release original music again
November 14, 2020 @ 3:45 pm
Forgot * Ain’t Nothing Bout You , from 2001
November 15, 2020 @ 3:44 pm
Interesting note on Brooks & Dunn is that in the last decade of their career as a duo (radio-wise), all the singles released to radio were Ronnie singing the lead, I guess likely due to the fact that the last two singles they released to radio with Kix singing the lead did not become big hits. But I like both of their voices.
November 15, 2020 @ 9:41 pm
They had big hits in the 2000s as well. Almost every single they ever released went top ten or, at the very least, top twenty.
November 14, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
I view their current single “Long Live” as a farewell of sorts – signaling “Long Live Bro-Country”
Their radio success has been hit or miss lately & they aren’t pushing any new boundaries.
The past two singles are telling that they are creatively running out of steam & creativity.
They are a novelty act at the moment… The next 2 years are crucial for them as a band. They need to evolve somehow.
November 14, 2020 @ 6:55 pm
They don’t evolve. They follow trends.
November 14, 2020 @ 11:20 pm
Maybe I listen to too much Grady Smith but they WERE the trend.
November 14, 2020 @ 4:02 pm
You bet your heart on a diamond
And I played the clubs and the spades.
We gambled and lost guess we’ve both paid the cost
Look what a mess I have made
How did we fall out of love?
November 14, 2020 @ 6:32 pm
Haha. Alright, you are possibly the ONLY AC/DC fan I’ve ever heard pontificating on the greatness of Nickelback. But hey, as Bob Ross said “its your world.”
Yeah we will never agree on Nickelbarf. Cheers
November 14, 2020 @ 7:46 pm
All the time spent digging into these turds soap opera could have been spent listening to the masterpiece that Bella White Released weeks ago????.
November 15, 2020 @ 7:44 am
People can’t have different opinions anymore? I don’t give a shit who anyone voted for, it’s not my business.
November 15, 2020 @ 7:57 am
I always figured that FGL career would end up more or less on bad terms, occacionally reuniting for financial reasons, and making their living from royalties and occacionally performing solo at NASCAR events. Time will tell.
November 15, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
For all the braying hard and breathing heavy with FGL bashing, more than a few here would eagerly nod “yes” to the first devil demanding your soul in exchange for being the next Hubbard-Kelley. Music acts come and go, finding and harvesting sweet spots between the rise and fall. FGL have held their own throughout. What peak remains permanent? The winning trick is to actually peak and hold on for more than a couple rounds. “Ticking time bomb”? Yeah right; what’s gonna trigger it?
November 15, 2020 @ 1:06 pm
I have to say, after looking at their Instagram pages, that I am impressed that Hubbard appears to be a dedicated family man. Kelly… not so impressed.
November 18, 2020 @ 12:42 pm
Same. Looking at his pictures on Instagram made me briefly forget how douchey I assumed he was because of their music. Brian Kelly on the other hand… blech.
November 15, 2020 @ 4:45 pm
The lockdowns have been motivated by politics almost since Day 1.
November 16, 2020 @ 9:53 am
Like most everyone else who frequents this site, I’m no fan of Florida Georgia Line. However, I hope they do not break up and I hope this blows over completely. They seem like nice guys, and I would hate for a friendship to be ruined out of something as trivial as politics.
November 17, 2020 @ 6:10 am
So whomever wrote the article certainly let their opinion and bias remain clearly evident! What ever happened to journalism of straight fact? Although I must admit I was probably Google—baited to the story from the headline and this saving country music is a left-winging cult-group of liberals. The FGL makes great music and whatever this ‘writers’ opinion, their lives and political views are none of his/her business. Everyone has a right to their belief and to voice their opinion, if it doesn’t fit your agenda, find what does, but can’t we all just get along and try to endure the make the best of this shit show without tearing each other down or trying to force more anger and hatred into the hell we are all living in currently?!
For shame
November 17, 2020 @ 8:08 am
“this saving country music is a left-winging cult-group of liberals.”
Interesting. Twitter seems to think its a bastion for Nazi Trump supporters.
November 17, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
Setting aside the “political” issue here….
Even if Florida-Georgia Line were to call it quits, for whatever reason, the women-objectifying Bro-Country they personified and offshoots like Metro-Bro are still going to be there, and they’re still going to gum up things in the country genre. You still have the Aldeans, Bryans, Sheltons, Rhetts, Kane Browns, and the like, and they’re going to be doing what they have been doing on and off for the last ten years. These guys are the symptoms, not the disease, to use a medical metaphor. Having Chris Stapleton. Tyler Childers, and others of that caliber is a good start, but there needs to be more, and, above all else, there needs to be Better.
The real disease is the Nashville label execs, the Scott Borchettas, who, instead of being like the gate keepers of old, just let any young “hunk” with a ball cap through the door because their only concern is with money-making “fads”. The future of country music isn’t their concern; and I seriously doubt they give a whole lot of credit to most country music listeners’ intelligence. That may be a very hard thing to swallow, but there it is (IMHO).
June 25, 2021 @ 10:33 pm
My guess is that fgl are astute enough to know that they and bro country have peaked and are going the way of hair metal. They may try to make it as songwriters on their own. Let’s hope they’re not successful.
July 12, 2021 @ 3:54 pm
Yawn… This is a pretty left leaning sympathetic article, chock full of the usual liberal fallacies. The fact is, Country has become mainstream, and in the mainstream, the left are protected far more than the right. Btw, BLM is communism and a flaming pile of garbage, plain and simple.