WASHINGTON — One of country music’s most influential duos is back together.
Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley reunited Thursday during the opening day of CMA Fest, joining together for two surprise songs that marked their first time performing as a group since the pair split in 2022.
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CMA Fest, put on by the Country Music Association, is one of the largest country music festivals in the world, with the four-day event regularly drawing some of the top artists from across the genre’s history.
The duo took the stage for emotional renditions of their hits, including their breakout smash “Cruise.” The reunion came after weeks of speculation from fans, fueled by cryptic updates from the group’s social media accounts and a billboard in downtown Nashville featuring a mysterious phone number.
When fans texted the number, they received a message hinting at the reunion: “Turns out, some things are just better together. Much more to come. FGL LFG.”
The CMA Fest appearance began with an introduction from legendary boxing announcer Michael Buffer, known for his trademark “Let’s get ready to rumble!” catchphrase.
Hubbard and Kelley walked through the crowd separately while performing “Round Here,” their 2013 hit, making their way through the audience and high-fiving fans before reuniting onstage to a roaring ovation.
The pair then launched into “Cruise,” the song that helped transform both their careers and the sound of modern country music.
Florida Georgia Line announced an “indefinite hiatus” in 2022 after years of record-setting success, with both Hubbard and Kelley pursuing solo careers. Their reunion performance marked the first time the duo had shared a stage since their final show together.
During their peak, Florida Georgia Line played a major role in reshaping the country music landscape. “Cruise” became a crossover phenomenon for the state border-crossing group, spending nearly 30 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and helping introduce a broader audience to a blend of country, pop and hip-hop influences.
The duo’s 2017 collaboration with Bebe Rexha, “Meant to Be,” became an even larger success, spending 50 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and setting a record as the longest-running No. 1 song on the Hot Country chart.
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The group has not yet announced plans beyond the one-time reunion.