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Florida Georgia Line<\/a> ruled country radio for nearly a decade, becoming one of the genre\u2019s biggest crossover acts with hits like \u201cCruise\u201d and \u201cThis Is How We Roll.\u201d<\/p>\n But in 2022, the duo \u2014 made up of Tyler Hubbard<\/a> and Brian Kelley<\/a> \u2014 shocked fans and the music industry by announcing an \u201cindefinite hiatus.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, after years of rumors, Hubbard is revealing what really led to the end of Florida Georgia Line \u2014 and why it wasn\u2019t the dramatic falling-out many assumed.<\/p>\n In a recent episode of the\u00a0Human School\u00a0Podcast<\/a><\/em><\/span>, Hubbard opened up about the turning point in his professional relationship with Kelley.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>25 Moments That Rocked Country Music in the Past 25 Years<\/a><\/p>\n During the pandemic, Hubbard said his personal life was under major strain. His wife had just given birth to their third child, he was recovering from an ankle injury, and the emotional weight of the world shutting down was heavy.<\/p>\n That\u2019s when he got a surprising text from Kelley \u2014 a new song he\u2019d written. Hubbard thought it sounded like something Kenny Chesney<\/a> might cut and encouraged him to pitch it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Well, I did actually send it to Chesney. And he passed on it, which I\u2019m taking as a sign.\u2019 I said, \u2018A sign for what?\u2019 And he said, \u2018That I should do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Though solo careers had been mentioned before<\/a>, Hubbard says he didn\u2019t expect Kelley to be serious about it. Still, he says he supported the idea \u2014 up to a point.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not willing to do Florida Georgia Line and then have a direct competitor that\u2019s my partner doing the same exact thing,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>12 Unbreakable Country Music Records: Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, George Strait + More<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI also told him, \u2018I don\u2019t think I deserve 50% of you if I\u2019m willing to give a hundred.\u2019\u201d Ultimately, Kelley decided to pursue a solo career \u2014 and Florida Georgia Line quietly came to an end.<\/p>\n While fans speculated about drama behind the scenes, Hubbard says it was never about that.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not a good guy, bad guy<\/a> \u2014 which everyone wants to do on the internet,\u201d he said. \u201cHe stuck to his convictions\u2026 I set a boundary.\u201d<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>22 Redneck Lyrics You Won\u2019t Understand If You\u2019re Not Country [Photos]<\/a><\/p>\n He does admit he made some missteps \u2014 including unfollowing Kelley on Instagram \u2014 and says the public pressure only made an already delicate situation more complicated.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it happens publicly, and you get millions of people weighing in<\/a>, it compounds the stress,\u201d Hubbard said.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, fans got a surprise when Deep Cuts & Lost Tracks, Vol. 1<\/em>, an EP<\/a> of previously released Florida Georgia Line songs, quietly dropped on streaming services \u2014 sparking reunion rumors.<\/p>\n Hubbard hasn\u2019t commented on whether there are any new music plans for the duo, and the EP did not include any re-recordings.<\/p>\n For now, both Hubbard and Kelley are focused on solo careers<\/a> \u2014 but it\u2019s clear their legacy, and mutual respect, still runs deep.<\/p>\n Country music is a little more polite in public than some genres, but that doesn’t mean the gloves don’t come off in private. We tend to assume all of our favorite country artists are good friends with their bandmates, but when they go their separate ways, sometimes the truth turns out to be very different. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA Shift During the Pandemic<\/h3>\n
No Bad Blood<\/h3>\n
A Reunion on the Horizon?<\/h3>\n
PICTURES: See the Nastiest Band Breakups in Country Music History<\/h2>\n