This Florida Georgia Line Hall of Fame Exhibit is Unfortunate

If you love country music, then you have to love the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Sure, maybe you have a high level of frustration with the CMA committee that presides over the inductions themselves for being so stingy over the last many years, only allowing three new inductees in annually, which has kept a lot of deserving legends on the outside looking into official induction.
But you won’t find a building housing more country music artifacts, nor an institution doing more to preserve country music history and making sure it remains alive in the modern consciousness than the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Over the last few years, the Country Music Hall of Fame has also made the effort to make sure it’s relevant to all country music fans by commissioning revolving displays on more contemporary artists, so as mom and dad, or grandma and grandpa oogle at all the nostalgic artifacts from the artists of yore, younger fans can perhaps find something that interests them in the here and now.
But this extensive “Mix It Up With Florida Georgia Line” exhibit that the Hall of Fame recently opened on February 6th really is an unfortunate, and frankly shortsighted move by the museum, overlooking the widely-polarizing nature of the Bro-Country duo, the continued erosion of their popularity, their pretty much universal condemnation among critics, and now, the implosion of the duo itself.
As much as it may anger the blood of actual country music fans, historians have an obligation to tell the story of country music in its complete and unabridged form. And when the history books are written about the era of country music between 2012 to about 2016—and lingering for years after all the up to the present—Bro-Country will and must be given credit for dominating the era in popular country, because it did, and thanks in large part to the popularity of Florida Georgia Line, and specifically their song “Cruise,” which was very much the catalyst for the Bro-Country era.
But when it comes to the broader reception for the duo’s music and how history judges it, that’s certainly up for more interpretation and dispute. “Dubious,” “disappointing,” and “embarrassing” are some of the adjectives that currently accompany Florida Georgia Line’s reign and influence in country music—one marked by the lyrical quality of the genre degrading, the sonic boundaries of the genre eroding, and women virtually disappearing from the charts as one Florida Georgia Line copycat after another came out of the woodwork to secure radio #1’s.
Of course, this is just some people’s opinions on the era, but not everyone’s. Florida Georgia Line does have fans. But their lack of quality and authenticity was quickly codified as they began to be shunned by award shows despite their commercial prominence, and then that commercial prominence began to quickly dry up as they fell out of favor with fickle fans. Their reign of #1’s really only lasted about five years, and by 2018, they were more of a punchline trying to hold onto relevancy than an influential country band. Florida Georgia Line’s version of Bro-Country burned bright, without question. But it also fizzled quickly.
And maybe most unfortunate about this new Country Hall of Fame exhibit is the timing. Parallel with the unveiling of the Hall of Fame display, Brian Kelley of the duo told People that he and Tyler Hubbard were “…taking a break from recording our music,” and that they will “support each other on the next chapter of our musical and creative journey, which is going to be individually for a while.”
Florida Georgia Line is committed to performing at six country music festivals this summer, but aside from that, haven’t really been an active duo for the last few years, even before the most recent “taking a break” announcement, so this news shouldn’t be a surprise to the Hall of Fame or anyone else. In November of 2020, friction between the two over the U.S. Presidential election and COVID-19 stoked breakup rumors. By January of 2021, they were searching for more freedom from each other. Brian Kelley has since released a solo album.
It’s fair to question if Florida Georgia Line is even a going concern at this point, so why put forth the effort for a Hall of Fame exhibit? The money is probably still too good for them to call it quits entirely, and it will probably will continue to be. But Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have been on the outs now for over a year. They’re just not current, which is supposed to be the whole point of exhibits like this.
And what does the Hall of Fame exhibit entail? Some designer ripped jeans, a pair of Timberlands, a baseball cap one of them wore in a music video, and a box of Wheaties with their picture on it. Not just Florida Georgia Line, but many of the exhibits for more modern artists really helps display just how generic and uninteresting many of today’s country music stars are, especially when displayed beside the rhinestone suits, the cowboy hats, the iconic instruments and garish artifacts of country music’s past greats.
Looking bigger picture, will massive commercial artists whose careers spanned across the Bro-Country era such as Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean eventually be in the Country Music Hall of Fame as permanent inductees? Even the idea might make some repulse, but they probably will be due to their protracted and undeniable commercial success, though hopefully not before many more deserving artists have had their opportunity.
But as for artist such as Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, and some others whose legacies were more flashes in the pan and tied to trends that quickly faded, it will pose a much more interesting question. Sure, they will have the sales stats and chart numbers to at least be considered. But Bro-Country may also be regarded similar to baseball’s steroid era, with asterisks and sincere questions about authenticity, and if these artist really deserve to be enshrined in country music’s most hallowed institution.
And when the complete story of Bro-Country is told, it will be one that is marked in large portions by criticism and ridicule. After all, the name is a euphemism itself. And specific to Florida Georgia Line, the story ends with an implosion, despite the inevitable Vegas residencies, and other nostalgic cash grabs that are sure to come in the future for the duo.
And also when telling the full story of Bro-Country, it will conclude with how it inspired a backlash and rebirth in country music that resulted in Chris Stapleton’s historic wins at the 2015 CMA Awards, Sturgill Simpson’s win for Best Country Album in 2017, the rise of independent artists such as Cody Jinks and Tyler Childers, and the insurrection of more authentic artists that turned the tables on the mainstream, exposing acts like Florida Georgia Line for the vapid and fleeting performers that they were that are probably not worthy of being remembered inside the Hall of Fame’s vaunted walls, not now, and not in the future, aside for historical context as a country music footnote.
February 16, 2022 @ 9:48 am
That’s like putting a go kart engine in a Lamborghini.
May 26, 2022 @ 3:16 pm
Thats like putting a ping pong player in the baseball hall of fame! You don’t do that!!! FGL are not country and they shouldn’t be allowed to be in the same building with the great country artists like Hank. Johnny, Merle, Willie, Waylon, George, Patsy, Tammy etc etc!! It’s a slap in the face to all true country artist!!! Country music made Nashville, they need to remember that, Nashville isn’t HipHop LA, California!!!!
August 5, 2023 @ 7:47 pm
FGL weren’t a good hip hop act much less country
February 16, 2022 @ 9:56 am
The people who remember Roy Acuff and Hank Williams are dead.
In not all that long, the people who remember Haggard and Jones will be dead.
Yes, if the H-o-F remains an ongoing concern, artists Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean will get in.
February 16, 2022 @ 1:22 pm
They aren’t all dead yet. My father is 96 years old and can still clearly remember the days when Roy Acuff and Hank Williams reigned supreme. And at 78, I can clearly recall the last couple years of Mr. Williams’ career, as well as the “outlaw country” and “Nashville sound” eras that would follow.
But it does seem inevitable to me that artists like Aldean and Bryan will get inducted someday, like them or not, they’ve both had dozens of hits and have massive fanbases… for better or for worse.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:00 am
Well, history museums often have displays on slavery and the Salem witch trials, so I suppose it fits along those lines.
February 16, 2022 @ 11:17 am
The historian in me respects that when the time comes, Bro-Country should be cataloged in the annals of country music, and in an accurate manner. But it’s too near in time to be doing that now, while it’s tough to sell Florida Georgia Line as “current,” since they’re on hiatus at this point, and have been deprecated at this point, even in popular country.
August 4, 2023 @ 4:17 am
Regardless of what people think of new country music, everything has to evolve. I know at least Jason Aldean is worthy as well as people like Carrie Underwood. But I do agree that Florida Georgia line does not belong in the country hall of fame next to the greats like Loretta Lynn, George strait, Willie Nelson, George Jones.
August 5, 2023 @ 7:51 pm
Women are more evolved than men because they have 3 holes instead of two. Sometimes evolved is overrated
August 18, 2023 @ 7:47 pm
Florida Georgia line and bro country didn’t last precisely because they didn’t evolve. They didn’t invent anything new the way mother maybelle did with the carter scratch. It was the same checklist over and over with ever diminishing returns. It should have been fun for a short while but it became very money driven and just run into the ground. Sad trends like disco and hair metal were fun for awhile too
February 16, 2022 @ 10:01 am
Absolutely 100% correct in what you say about this travesty. And the thought of Luke Bryan being a member someday is also dumb.
My last visit to the Hall of Fame was 2013 and was disgusted that the first thing visitors saw when entering the building was a display honouring Taylor Swift. That to an old timer like me was just ten steps too far. It just sullied the entire experience.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:12 am
Ugh.
February 16, 2022 @ 12:08 pm
I for one am thrilled that Taylor Swift donated $4,000,000 to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum for three classrooms and a children’s exhibit gallery! Thank you Taylor for funding programs that teach the youth about country music.
https://countrymusichalloffame.org/plan-your-visit/exhibits-activities/family-youth-programs/taylor-swift-education-center/
Florida Georgia Line is < Beer Pedal Taverns
February 17, 2022 @ 8:17 pm
Luke will definitely be in the hall of fame. There’s no denying it. He’s sold over 75 million records, has over a billion streams, many number one hits, etc. He’s really successful. And he actually has been getting away from bro country in recent years so that’s good. But yeah with the HOF, I was just there and was so confused why Taylor Swift was everywhere… I swear if they ever make her a member..
February 17, 2022 @ 8:35 pm
* over 13billion streams
February 16, 2022 @ 10:11 am
Artists like Florida Georgia Line are just another reason to oppose the Modern Artists induction every year. It is short-sighted. Stonewall Jackson, the longest-serving member of the Grand Ole Opry at the time of his death, died having not been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, partly because there has to be a “modern” artist inducted every year, and because there has to be a rotating background person inducted every year, and because the line of old timers is backed up (due in great part to the two prior reasons I stated). Because of FGL’s popularity for a significant chunk of time, they could certainly get in before more deserving people who may have waited longer. They’ll be eligible in 15 years. I sure hope that Stonewall Jackson, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Horton, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Eddie Rabbitt, Ricky Van Shelton, and Keith Whitley, among others will have already been inducted before those jokers get a chance.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:14 am
They’re really putting that garbage up right before we go to Nashville for the senior trip.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:15 am
Faron Young and Webb Pierce had to die 50 years after their first records in order to get into the HoF. The idea that FGL get in in my lifetime sickens me.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:46 am
Put that on a T-shirt!!!
February 16, 2022 @ 11:01 am
It’s just an exhibit, not an actual induction into the HOF.
Yet,
February 16, 2022 @ 8:13 pm
I know. As I said in an earlier response, they’ll be eligible in 15 years. I perish at that thought.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:35 am
If it is “Meant to Be” you best “Get Your Shine On” and “Cruise” to the HOF!
This is why you need gatekeepers for your genre. Otherwise you get flash in the pan acts that symbolize a musical decade. Take away their party anthems (they are decent at catchy hooks) and no one in society recalls a single FGL song. Their post Bro-Country output has been bounding from trend to trend seeking relevancy.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:37 am
Of course these guys suck…and I understand they’re waning in popularity, but the word “contemporary” can be relative – especially in the context of a MUSEUM.
And sadly they are relevant. I’ve been pretty vocal about opting out of all mainstream country things like awards shows, etc, and saying that pretending that they have much to do with country at all is part of the problem because it continually legitimizes the charade. The “country music sensation” who has been the subject of recent articles has also been in an exhibit so I’m not sure how out of place this is.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:49 am
Like a dog with a bone, Jake.
: D Impressive
February 16, 2022 @ 11:38 am
The Country Music Hall of Fame also has an annual exhibit they call “American Currents,” with smaller displays for current artists. I was going to loop in a discussion about that as well, but figure that would be better for another time.
I would definitely content that anyone who would step foot into the Country Music Hall of Fame does not consider themselves a Florida Georgia Line fan. If they were, they would be a block away at the duo’s compound on Lower Broadway vomiting their designer drugs into a toilet.
February 16, 2022 @ 10:39 am
Another bro-country artist that seems like he has faded away is Brantley Gilbert. It seemed like he used to be one of the biggest mainstream artists and i rarely hear about him anymore. Good Sign of the shift away from bro country!
February 16, 2022 @ 11:19 am
Like having a Justin Bieber exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
February 16, 2022 @ 2:50 pm
The Biebz has had a surprisingly long, stable career. He currently has two songs in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten and his first single came out 13 years ago. That type of longevity is almost unheard of for pop (or country) stars. Don’t count him out yet!
February 16, 2022 @ 11:31 am
Mainstream country was pretty unlistenable to me long before these two wet farts released a single. Maybe the museum had been working on this too long to throw the baby out with the red bull, sunk cost fallacy? Not that I will be visiting the museum anytime soon (probably go to Marty Stuarts if I make a trip to see artifacts) but since I would definitely be stoned if I did the exhibit seems like it would be funny as shit for a visitor to mock in between looking at actually cool stuff. Silver lining?
February 16, 2022 @ 12:11 pm
The CMHOF inducted the King of Rock and Roll. Nothing they do after that should surprise, disappoint, or frustrate anyone.
February 16, 2022 @ 12:46 pm
And the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Bill Monroe. What’s your point? Elvis was a country artist all his life, he found fame & money by combining country with rhythm and blues. Hence his rightful place in the CMHOF.
February 16, 2022 @ 12:54 pm
Okay.
February 16, 2022 @ 1:50 pm
The Rock & Roll HOF is about two nods away from inducting the local karaoke on $2 Bud Light Night.
February 17, 2022 @ 7:20 am
Elvis had plenty of singles on the country charts not to mention the numerous A-Team session musicians who played on said recordings. There is a case to be made for Presley’s inclusion.
February 17, 2022 @ 1:13 pm
Elvis had 11 #1 songs on the country chart, and 49 top 40 singles on the country chart.
February 16, 2022 @ 12:15 pm
Unlike liberals in the modern education and political system that want all history revised (tearing down statues anyone?), history shoud be what it IS, and not what it was HOPED to be.
I can’t stand FGL as well, but they and the bro-country are relavant as part of the genre’s history. I couln’t stand the Nashville sound, thanks Chet Adkins, but it was an extremely important part of history.
It is what it is.
February 16, 2022 @ 2:17 pm
or It is what it was 🙂
February 16, 2022 @ 3:37 pm
You just HAD to be that person to get political over a non-political topic, didn’t you?
February 16, 2022 @ 8:41 pm
Chris,
Well, in this instance yes as that is where the concept of revisionist history is most prevalent. We shouldn’t rewrite it.
Let’s just close this God-awful chapter and move onto the next one, whatever that will be. Seems kind of hard to imagine the next thing being worse than the FGL-era, but Nashcrap has a way of exceeding anticipations of disappointments.
February 17, 2022 @ 3:12 am
Tearing down statues that should never have been put up in the first place is hardly “revisionist history”. It’s called righting a wrong. But why on Earth would you even bring this stuff up when discussing Country Music? Again, some people just can’t help themselves.
February 17, 2022 @ 7:09 am
So statues of George Washington, Grant, and Thomas Jefferson should never have been put up?
Interesting take. In most countries, national heroes are honored and not torn down by cultural genocide.
February 17, 2022 @ 9:32 am
This has to stop happening. Look how one part of one comment has turned into an 8-tiered political tangent that has absolutely positively nothing to do with the topic at hand. This type of behavior very directly discourages people from not just commenting or reading the comments on Saving Country Music, but from coming to this website at all. I have made request after request of people to not engage in this behavior. It’s bad enough that so many critical topics interfacing with country music have a political element to them these days that must be broached. But we can have every single topic turn into political back and forths. I don’t want to delete comments. I want everyone to have an opportunity to comment. But this has to end, or it will be ended for you.
February 16, 2022 @ 11:04 pm
I stopped reading at “Unlike liberals”. Some people just can’t help themselves.
February 16, 2022 @ 1:26 pm
I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum last week while visiting Nashville for the first time. Those clowns FGL had a big display while Steve Earle had barely a mention. Kacey Musgraves had a huge display which seemed way over the top considering her music is barely country anymore. Overall we really enjoyed the museum, especially the room with all of the Austin, Willie and Amradillo artifacts. And just as I was telling my friend that Billy Strings will someday have his own wing lo and behold he has his own display plus a huge billboard on the side of the building.
February 16, 2022 @ 3:13 pm
With a name like Billy Strings- he’s pretty much got to be country- ;)….
I’m so glad I don’t pay any attention to to clowns in empty suits, regardless of the entity they allegedly represent…
I’d rather watch you tube videos of good country music. For instance, I spent a great deal of time last night watching Gene Watson and T Graham Brown… about to go there again… Love In The Hot Afternoon is a killer song, and Gene Watson absolutely nails it.
February 17, 2022 @ 7:25 am
They should make a Steve Earle Wedding Chapel a permanent part of the hall. Who wouldn’t want to get hitched there! They could get a Steve Earle hologram as officiant!
February 16, 2022 @ 4:55 pm
I have zero problem with Florida Georgia line having a display there. If one day they actually get in, good for them. While none of their songs are ever going to be country standards, some are rather fun to listen to. Really I don’t see the need for an article on it but that’s just me. Of course there was a line about them keeping women out of country music, really, I don’t think that’s how it works. Sorry trigger, but this article especially going by the comments just channels a lot of hate for no reason. The hall of fame will be fine, I don’t think thisos going to cause it to collapse
February 16, 2022 @ 7:58 pm
I don’t disagree BUT Brian Kelley’s album was a nice surprise.
February 16, 2022 @ 8:00 pm
The scary thing is the whole Tree Vibez group is still churning out their ‘country hits’ even if FGL has broken up. FGL is the Nickelback of country music. I’m tired of people acting like these acts/artists are notable (let alone iconic) in any way. It’s a cash-grab and completely inauthentic. It’s insulting to true country music. True country music comes from the heart and is genuine. It’s sad that mindless music like this has the following it does and that it has warped the genre completely.
This is one reason why I’m thankful for streaming – I don’t have to listen to the songs that country radio plays and can find those artists who are keeping country music alive. Just wish more older acts/artists would shine a spotlight on those newer acts/artists. Ronnie Dunn just started a publishing company and said he is doing it to bring (actual) country music back. (More of this please!! Instead of making tequila/wine/perfume invest in the future of country music!)
February 16, 2022 @ 9:42 pm
I don’t know if I’ll ever visit the country hall of fame, but if I do I’ll tip my hat and shed a tear to these boys. I’ll think back to that summer of 2012, when I first heard Cruise. And everything just felt right about life. Made me want to ride my Chevy faster and freeer than I ever did. I’ll never forget that country girl riding shotgun with me too
February 17, 2022 @ 8:05 am
From Nudie suits to jeans with holes in them says it all.
February 17, 2022 @ 10:58 am
Considering country music started from working class field labor, I’d argue country started with holes in their jeans went to nudie suits and has now come full circle.
February 17, 2022 @ 11:08 am
I haven’t commented here in a while
But it was acts like FGL that made me find SCM, i was looking for like-minded people
I found them
Acca, Dale, Lester Smooth, you guys are awesome
But if you go and look through the FGL wikipedia article edit history to about eight years ago you’ll find me trying to change them to ‘bro-country’ instead of country. I didn’t get far.
To think the day has come when they’re not relevant, why it makes twenty year old me swell up with joy
The rise of FGL and Luke Bryan was the era of SCM rants and farcethemusic twitter fails.
I’m just so happy they’re on hiatus.
To think that six years ago I’d go postal to think they had a hall of fame exhibit
February 17, 2022 @ 12:36 pm
There are worse things in CM. Not a lot of worse things. Cruise should have been a pop song for the pop charts.
February 17, 2022 @ 8:06 pm
I noticed you mentioned Luke Bryan. I have to say he has been getting away from bro-country. A lot of his recent songs like Little Less Broken, Build Me A Daddy, Born Here Live Here Die Here, Up, etc aren’t bro/pop-country. I’m happy he’s gone away from that, something FGL would never do.. So I’d say stop criticizing Luke Bryan. Focus your attention on people like Breland who literally said they want to change country music into rap…
February 17, 2022 @ 11:39 pm
Oh no! No no no no no!!!! Luke doesn’t get a free pass just cause he’s moved on to the next trend. He must pay for his transgressions against quality country music. He was on the front lines of bro-country, leading the charge. Don’t ever forget.
February 18, 2022 @ 12:04 am
All I’m saying is I think he’s realized what he recorded before wasn’t true country, so he’s changing. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s not a trend because everyone else from that era is basically still doing the same thing. Now there are new people that are doing much worse than he ever did and they really need to be put in line.
February 18, 2022 @ 2:26 pm
Cowboy Jack said it best when he said that country music is the music that people who live in the country are listening to.
People in my part of the country love them some FGL.
At least they were the first to do that brand of country. You may not like what they do, but they connected to a large demographic that handed them a lot of money for a long time. I don’t like it, but I think they deserve a display at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
February 18, 2022 @ 3:21 pm
The problem is, even those people who handed them a lot of money for a long time have moved on to Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs. Florida Georgia Line is to Facebook as Morgan Wallen is to Tik-Tok. They’re just not relevant. They definitely deserve to be the centerpiece of the Bro-Country retrospective exhibit in 25 years. But in 2022, it’s strange to feature them as a “current” artist, especially since they’re currently “on hiatus” because they hate each other, and haven’t launched a hit in three years.
February 18, 2022 @ 3:39 pm
Conrad,
Are you touring this year?
Love, “Barefoot In The Snow.” Everything about it works. Singing, instruments, production.
You are a Huge talent.
February 18, 2022 @ 6:31 pm
@Trigger. Point taken. A bright spot on the country currents display is Thomm Utz. A German immigrant who has been tearing up the bluegrass charts as a writer and artist.
@Di, I appreciate you saying that. I’m booking a handful of dates right now. It’s not really what you’d call a tour, but we’re doing a bunch of weekend warrior stuff. I know we have at least one in OH, several in PA, working on several in TN and NC. If you follow me on FB I’ll be posting about it soon, I’ve got new music coming this year too that I’m so excited about.
Barefoot in the Snow was written for a pitch to a bluegrass artist. The recording is just a demo I did at my house to pitch it. Most of my YouTube stuff is like that. Thanks for listening.
February 18, 2022 @ 10:30 pm
Ok. Thank you Conrad.
Will keep an eye on your facebook page, see where you guys are going to be.
Hopefully, try to catch you sometime this Spring/Summer.
Once again, found another awesome artist on this site.
Even though Trig and i go at it locking horns like a couple Bighorn sheep, i don’t let him get to me.
It’s all about the love : D
July 15, 2022 @ 12:52 am
Taylor Swift isn’t Country!! The only reason she donated that money to Country music hall of fame was to teach children everything but what Country Music really is and to try and sway them to get away from real Country music and turn to people like her that thinks that the more skin you show at concerts makes you a better singer and true Country is corny!! All for brainwashing kids to think that Liberal BS , Bro Country, Pop country or rap country is the new Genre that Country should turn to!! All a part of left wing radical liberals to turn our children away from anything conservative and the family and Godly values that real Country originated from!! In other words Taylor Swift is using her big donation as a leftist Political tool to educate and sway our children to go against everything that America stands for!!!!
August 14, 2022 @ 9:07 pm
Bro country was supposed to be fun but it became very money driven and dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. As soon as the fat old white guys in suits found out there was that much money to be made with that kind of act, they just ran it into the ground. Sad trends like disco and hair metal were fun for awhile too