Walking The Line Between Country And Pop

FOR A LARGE CHUNK OF THE 2010S, country music was defined by the bro. The stadium-rocking, beer-chugging subgenre dominated radio and arenas, thanks to the popularity of artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.

- Maura Johnston

Characterized by copious “Southern” signifiers (trucks, girls, nights out with the guys) and elements of modern day hip-hop (drum machines, gruffly pattered vocals), these bro-country songs have the type of sonic power you might expect from a Def Leppard album.

Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard were at the forefront of the movement. As Florida Georgia Line, the duo—who met while studying at the Nashville-star factory Belmont University—struck platinum right away with their debut single “Cruise.” A summery showcase for their classic-country harmonies and blunt-force hooks, it was a country-radio hit that mushroomed into a crossover smash after the St. Louis rapper Nelly was added to the mix, eventually peaking at No. 4 on the Hot 100.