Florida Georgia Line, the country duo comprised of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, has become the country chart's darling since the single "Cruise" debuted in 2012. The members have become the poster boys of "bro-country," a country subgenre in which songs typically include references to attractive women, pickup trucks and cheap beer. The beverages probably won't be as inexpensive at the inaugural Windy City LakeShake at Northerly Island, but that won't stop thousands of fans from showing up for the group's headlining set on June 21. We spoke with Brian Kelley—the "Florida" in Florida Georgia Line—about the band's tour, his iPhone collection and, of course, Chicago-style hot dogs.
In just a few short years Florida Georgia Line has gone from touring with Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift to headlining a national tour. What's different about going out on your own?
It’s all different. Everything comes down to you, everybody’s looking to you, all the time. It’s a big responsibility but it’s a dream come true for us to be headlining and taking the tour all around [the country]. [All the fans] seem to be showing up partying. We had more than 18,000 down in Florida the other night—it was crazy. It looks like it’s going to be a hell of a summer, and we are very, very, very thankful for the fans.
In 2012, a remix of your single "Cruise" featuring Nelly climbed the charts and became a pop radio staple. What inspired you to collaborate with a rapper?
How are you going to say no to Nelly?! One of our [label] guys in New York played “Cruise” for Nelly and he loved it. We had been talking about doing a different version, and we wanted it to be a remix with a hip-hop guy—someone that we're a fan of. We had no expectations. We thought it was cool and special, but we didn’t realize the magnitude of the song. Nelly just took it to another level.
What's the songwriting process like for you and Tyler?
Our songs have come from all over. To be honest with you, we wrote “This Is How We Roll” in Illinois in the back of a bus. We wrote “Cruise” in two different places—in an apartment in Nashville and a studio in Nashville. We’ve been writing a lot in my treehouse, but there isn’t a specific formula. Sometimes it starts with a title, sometimes a hook, a track or a guitar line. We’re creative types so we just keep our phones around and try to get it out and get it down.
What did songwriters do before iPhones?
It’s so easy! I’ve got two iPhones. One that I’ll type on and then I’ve got my other big phone with the voice memos. You don’t want to miss anything.
Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley and the two of you attended Belmont University in Nashville. Is it the place to go if you want to be a country musician?
There’s something in the water! Belmont hooked us up with a [network] of connections and we learned a lot. Some of the most valuable advice I ever received was in my songwriting class: “There’s a song in every conversation, all you have to do is listen.” That really changed my view of songwriting.
After the Anything Goes Tour, what's next for Florida Georgia Line? Vacation? Or back to the studio?
We are going to be hanging out in the treehouse recording, writing and releasing some new music. Probably a little vacation but not much. Too many days in one place and we get a little weird. We like to be on the move and doing our thing—we thrive that way.
Speaking of not being in one place for too long, I know you have toured through Chicago before. Do you have any favorite spots in the city?
I like the the Foundation Room at the House of Blues—it’s super cool.
More importantly, were you able to try a Chicago-style hot dog?
I don’t know if I have—I’m still waiting for someone to bring me one!
Florida Georgia Line headline the Windy City LakeShake at Northerly Island on Sunday, June 21.