With their #1 “Meant to Be” reigning the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the 28th consecutive week and surpassing 1 billion global streams, plus brand new single “Simple” already surging into Top 25 at Country radio, global entertainers Florida Georgia Line wrapped CMA Fest on top.
Beginning at Billboard’s annual Country Power Players event in Music City last Tuesday (6/5), they were honored with the inaugural Trailblazer Award for their ever-expanding empire of innovative artistry and entrepreneurial endeavors. “Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard have built a legacy that extends far beyond country radio, and broken records in the process,” details the Billboard feature. Exceeding 31 million tracks and more than 4.3 million albums sold worldwide, FGL remains the first and only Country act to achieve RIAA’s Diamond certification for their breakout “Cruise,” while they continue their forward-thinking approach as successful businessmen with four establishments in Nashville, including FGL House and their multifaceted compound which hosts meet + greet, Tree Vibez Music, and Tribe Kelley Trading Post.
Ever evolving and redefining what’s possible, the CMT Performance of the Year (“Everybody” fromCMT Crossroads with Backstreet Boys) winners made their TV world premiere of “Simple” – lead single off their forthcoming fourth studio album – during the 2018 CMT Music Awards (Wednesday, 6/6). Festivities continued Saturday (6/9) with an industry brunch at FGL HOUSE surrounded by family and friends toasting FGL’s colossal feat of four #1 smashes: 4X PLATINUM-certified “H.O.L.Y.,” and PLATINUM-certified hits “May We All” (feat. Tim McGraw), and “God, Your Mama, And Me” (feat. Backstreet Boys), from PLATINUM-certified DIG YOUR ROOTS (BMLG Records 2016), plus their 3X PLATINUM-certified red-hot collaboration with Bebe Rexha, “Meant to Be.” All songwriters – busbee, Nate Cyphert, William Wiik Larsen (“H.O.L.Y.”); Rodney Clawson, Jamie Moore (“May We All”); Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson (“God, Your Mama, And Me”); and David Garcia, Josh Miller, Rexha (“Meant to Be”) – were also in attendance to be celebrated alongside featured artists Backstreet Boys.
The following morning (6/10), Hubbard and his wife Hayley returned to FGL HOUSE to flow with fellow yogis during their inaugural SIP & SWEAT session to benefit the CMA Foundation, under the empowering direction of instructor Danielle Whitener of FreeBird on the vibey Cruise Rooftop. Hosted by Music City MC Donald Jenkins and sponsored by Dulce Vida Spirits, Snap Fitness, and Topo Chico, each guest was gifted a yoga mat and water bottle plus treated to after-workout cocktails like the “Perfect Paloma” and “Skinny Margarita.”
Closing out their jam-packed week at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, FGL took the stage with a monster performance of their hits spotlighting a “star-studded guest list” (Billboard). They kicked off their electric set with career-defining “Cruise,” before sliding into their romantic roots-infused “Simple” (penned by Hubbard and Kelley along with Michael Hardy and Mark Holman). Turning the party up to an explosive finale, they also invited their slew of friends to join in on the fun as Backstreet Boys accompanied them for “God, Your Mama, And Me,” Morgan Wallen jumped in on his Top 5 “Up Down,” and Rexha capped the appearance with “Meant to Be.”
Bringing Music City to Sin City for five-nights-only (December 1, 5, 7, 8, and 11), tickets for the world-class entertainers’ limited residency, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, are on sale now. With major festival dates continuing to stack up this summer, fans can find additional touring details on floridageorgialine.com/tour-dates/.
