Florida Georgia Line is Excited For the American Music Awards
To say 2013 has been a good year for new country duo Florida Georgia Line is kind of like saying Christmas is a busy holiday for Santa Claus. Just a little over a year since Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard’s breakout hit “Cruise” was released, the pair have found themselves breaking musical records (the single is the best-selling song by a country duo in digital history), crossing over into multi-genre audiences…and, most recently, scooping up a remarkable four nominations at the upcoming 2013 American Music Awards.
FLAGA woke up to the great news Thursday that they were not only nominated in the Country Group/Duo and Country Album categories at the prestigious ceremony, they also are up for the all-genre key awards of New Artist and Single of the Year (for “Cruise”). It’s rare for a new country act to scoop up so many nominations at this particular awards show; let alone an even split between country and all-genre categories.
“Being nominated for the AMAs is a huge honor for us, especially that it’s all-genre. We are blown away,” an excited Brian Kelley told Yahoo Music. “We can’t wait to celebrate — win or lose — with our team and other artist friends that night. The best email and texts to wake up to this morning!”
Tyler Hubbard summed things up with a simple “Wow.” He added: “Last year we had the chance to attend the AMAs and be a part of the show. Now, to be nominated for four awards, is unreal.”
If the guys win New Artist, they’ll have beaten out a formidable list: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande, and “American Idol” Phillip Phillips are all in the running as well. And “Cruise” will be going head-to-head with two of the most infectious summer anthems: Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s “Thrift Shop.”
It’ll be a tight race, but the duo knows what really counts — no matter what happens. “We truly have the best fans in the world,” affirmed Hubbard.
The nominees for this year’s AMAs were revealed live Thursday by pop superstars Kelly Clarkson and will.i.am. The AMAs ceremony will be broadcast live from L.A. Live’s Nokia Theater Sunday, November 24 on ABC. A complete list of nominees can be found here.