Are Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line Calling It Quits? A Look at Their Journey

Florida Georgia Line bandmates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have found great success in country music. However, their relationship hasn't always been smooth sailing behind the scenes.

Hubbard and Kelley formed their duo in 2010 and gained widespread acclaim with their hit single "Cruise" in 2012. Over the years, they released four studio albums. In 2020, tensions arose when Tyler and his wife, Hayley Hubbard, unfollowed Brian on social media. Many fans speculated that their differing political views may have caused a rift, as Tyler and Hayley openly supported Kamala Harris while Brian, who is married to Brittney Kelley, criticized Joe Biden supporters.

During a joint interview on SiriusXM’s Exit 209, the two men discussed the social media drama.

Tyler shared that he unfollowed BK for a few days during the midst of the election and other events. He explained that he called BK to express his love and support, but needed to take a break from seeing certain content on social media. Tyler emphasized that the decision to unfollow was not personal and that BK was still his brother. He simply wanted to avoid seeing certain posts every time he opened Instagram.

In 2021, the band released their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On. They hinted at taking a break in 2022 to focus on solo careers. Brian emphasized that they were not splitting up but just taking a hiatus. However, he later suggested that they might not collaborate again after their summer 2022 tour.

Check out the timeline of their journey:

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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Are Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley from Florida Georgia Line Breaking Up?

Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, bandmates of Florida Georgia Line, have seen great success in the country music scene. However, their relationship behind the scenes has not always been smooth sailing.

Hubbard and Kelley started their duo in 2010 and gained fame with their first hit song, “Cruise,” in 2012. Over the years, they released four studio albums from 2012 to 2019. However, in 2020, Tyler and his wife, Hayley Hubbard, caused a stir when they unfollowed his bandmate. Many fans speculated that their differing political views, with Tyler and Hayley supporting Kamala Harris and Brittney Kelley's husband being critical of Joe Biden supporters, led to the rift.

The duo later addressed the social media controversy in a joint interview on SiriusXM's Exit 209.

Tyler shared with Storme Warren that he temporarily unfollowed BK during the intense political climate surrounding the election. He explained that he called BK to express his love and support, but needed a break from his social media posts. Tyler emphasized that the decision was not personal and that BK remained a dear friend and brother to him.

In 2021, the duo released their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On, but also hinted at taking a break in 2022 to focus on solo projects. Brian clarified that they were not splitting up but simply taking time apart. However, he later hinted that there were no immediate plans for a collaborative project after their summer 2022 tour.

Scroll through for a timeline of their ups and downs:

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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2020

When Tyler unfollowed Brian in November 2020, their spouses got involved as well. Hayley also unfollowed her husband’s bandmate during this time. Brittney added fuel to the fire by sharing a series of cryptic quotes on her Instagram Stories. One of the quotes she shared read: “Real friends don’t always agree with [you] but they do respect your right to have an opinion.”

Later that same day, Brittney posted an Instagram video addressing the situation. In the video, she mentioned that many people need to understand the definition of democracy and bipartisanship.

Tyler later re-followed Brian amid fan attention.

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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2020

After the unfollowing incident gained attention, Tyler and BK talked about the issue in a joint interview. Tyler acknowledged that they have faced challenges in their relationship in the past. He mentioned that their relationship is not perfect and they have had difficult times. Tyler emphasized the importance of addressing the truth and mentioned that both of them have put in effort to work through their issues.

Later that same day, Brittney took to Instagram to share a message: "A lot of people should take the time to understand what democracy and bipartisanship truly mean."

Amid fan attention, Tyler decided to re-follow Brian on social media.

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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2021

Brian released a solo album titled Sunshine State Of Mind in June.

He expressed his gratitude for the support, saying, "Tyler and I both truly appreciate all the support we've received. This collaboration feels like the natural next step for us. It came as a pleasant surprise, and we are genuinely excited about it. Tyler is excelling in his songwriting, and I've heard he's also working on an album. I'm eagerly looking forward to its release and seeing how it resonates with the audience. We both have our unique styles and talents that I admire individually. When we come together, it creates something special for our fans and music lovers alike. This project is another example of us offering something fresh and different."

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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2022

“I think ‘taking a break’ is the proper term, as opposed to breaking up,” Tyler told People in February 2022.

Months later, he released his first solo song, “5 Foot 9,” in May 2022.

Did Florida Georgia Line Split? Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelly’s Rift Timeline

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2022

In May 2022, Brian confessed that he was unsure about the band's plan after the summer tour. "I don't know what the plan is after that," he said. "It's not clear to me. At the end of the day, we're brothers, so we'll always have each other's back and support, and that's what it should be."

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard Wanted to Go Solo Because Bandmates Aren’t Always on the ‘Same Season of Life’

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2022

Amid band breakup speculation, Tyler went on the The Storme Warren Show that June, where he opened up about why he wanted to pursue a solo music career.

"I believe personal expression plays a significant role in this. When you are part of a band or a brand, it can sometimes limit how deep you can go on a personal level," he shared. "You can connect with fans, but there are boundaries to how much you can reveal. You have to respect that not everyone in the band is in the same place in life. This new direction allows us to delve deeper, which I find incredibly refreshing and beneficial after a decade of only scratching the surface."

Florida Georgia Line Performs Together for the Last Time

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2022

The duo performed their final Florida Georgia Line show together at the Minnesota State Fair on August 31. Tyler expressed gratitude to the crowd for supporting their dream of writing songs and performing. He described the moment as the end of a remarkable chapter for both himself and Brian. Looking ahead, they are excited for the next chapter and wanted to celebrate this special moment with their fans.

Brian Kelley Seemingly Calls Out Former Florida Georgia Line Bandmate Tyler Hubbard in New Song

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2024

Kelley released a single titled “Kiss My Boots" in March 2024 with lyrics that hinted at him being wronged by someone and “throwin’ dirt'' on his name.

“Want the world to know that you did me wrong / I don’t know how you act sweet, after how you did me / Here’s a middle finger to you through a song,” he sang on the track. 

In the music video, Kelley hunted a snake before showing a close-up of his belt, which read “Florida." Fans were quick to question whether Kelley was throwing shade at Hubbard.

Editor's P/S:

The relationship between Florida Georgia Line bandmates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley has faced several challenges over the years. In 2020, tensions arose due to differing political views, leading to Tyler and his wife unfollowing Brian on social media. While they later addressed the issue and reconnected, the incident highlighted the strain that external factors can have on even the closest relationships.

In 2022, the band announced a hiatus to pursue solo careers, leaving fans speculating about the future of Florida Georgia Line. While Hubbard emphasized the importance of personal expression and connecting with fans on a deeper level, Kelley expressed uncertainty about the band's long-term plans. The recent release of Kelley's solo single with lyrics hinting at being wronged has further fueled speculation about a rift between the two bandmates. The dynamics of their relationship and the future of Florida Georgia Line remain uncertain, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further developments.