Florida Georgia Line was one of the biggest country music duos in the early 2010’s. They went viral after their 2012 debut, Cruise, and had several amazing releases, including Simple, Sun Daze, Up Down, and Dirt.
Unfortunately, the duo soon went their separate ways in 2022. And for those who still miss the rock-country band, Tyler Hubbard has revealed why Florida Georgia Line split after 12 years together.
The band consisted of Hubbard of Georgia and Brian Kelleyof Florida, creating the iconic name. And shockingly, the split was a lot less contentious than rumors made it out to be.
“This only became big and dramatic on the internet,” Hubbard, 38, said on Wednesday’s episode of the Human School podcast. “There’s not a good guy, bad guy in this equation. There’s not a right or a wrong. Everyone wants to do that on the internet.”
On the podcast, the singer finally revealed why he and Kelley, 40, went their separate ways in August 2022, after 12 years of producing music together.
Hubbard explained that the band’s other half wanted to pursue a solo career while still performing in Florida Georgia Line. But Hubbard didn’t think Kelley could balance both gigs.
“BK stuck to his convictions and led with his gut and decided to make a decision based on his passions,” the country singer explained. “I set a boundary that I wasn’t willing to cross, and it is what it is. We both accepted it way before the internet accepted it.”
“We had a really good conversation for, like, an hour. I was able to be really honest. He was able to be really honest,” Hubbard recollected. “He just basically said, ‘Man, I’m really feeling called, like, this is the time for me to do this and I really need your support and want your support.'”
Hubbard gave that support. “‘Whatever you ultimately want to do, I want you to be happy, and I want you to follow your gut and your heart, and if that means not doing this, so be it. But I beg you to reconsider.’ That was not the path I wanted.”
Hubbard unfollowed Kelley in 2020, which sparked concern among fans, causing rapid rumors about tension between the band members. While Hubbard has admitted that he regrets unfollowing Kelley, because it added to the rumor of their tension, the fanbase believed the two went their separate ways due to political beliefs. However, Hubbard has claimed that it wasn’t the case.
“Me and BK and FGL dynamic had not one thing to do with politics,” clarified Hubbard. “But during the political tension — it was around the election — and BK had become very vocal with his political views, even though we had decided way early on in our career that we’re not a political band.”
Kelley is still continuing his music career and released a single in 2025 called Bought a Boat. He also competed in season thirteen of The Masked Singer as the “Mad Scientist Monster”. He finished in fourth place.
Tyler Hubbard, on the other hand, seems to be pushing out a bit more music, especially with collaborative pieces like After Midnight with Nate Smith and Whiskey Rain with Graham Barham.