Tyler Hubbard loves everything about celebrating July 4th. The Georgia native typically spends the holiday with his wife, Hayley, and their three children, far away from their Nashville home.
“I love the Fourth of July,” Hubbard tells his record label. “A lot of great memories growing up, watching fireworks, being with family, hanging out. And even to this day we have a tradition where we try to go to Sun Valley where my wife is from, and hang out in the mountains. Take the kids, and just spend a week out there just enjoying life and taking it all in. And obviously, we still love to do the fireworks and hang out, but also just kind of reflect and be thankful for the country we live in, the sacrifices made so that we can live here and be free.
“It’s just a special, special holiday. We’re always so grateful and thankful for the people who served this country and the sacrifice that’s made with their families and everything else, and pay honor and tribute to those who fight so hard for that freedom,” he adds.
Hubbard just celebrated his second No. 1 single as a solo artist, with “Dancin’ In The Country,” a song he wrote with Keith Urban, Ross Copperman and Jon Nite.
“Having a second No. 1, one year to the day after my debut solo single was released, is really incredible,” Hubbard said when the song landed at the top of the charts. “It’s been an amazing year, and I’m thankful to country radio and the fans for embracing my music, and to Keith, Ross and Jon for sharing their creative genius with me.”
“Dancin’ in the Country” is the title track of Hubbard’s recent EP, released last year ahead of his eponymous debut album. The song, not surprisingly, was inspired by his life at home with his family.
“Me and the three kids and my wife, we go in the playroom, turn the party lights on just about every night and have a dance party,” Hubbard explained. “So, this is one of those songs that always worked in the dance parties and feels like something that’ll be really fun to take on tour and play live and hopefully get the crowd moving the way the kids do during the dance parties.”
Hubbard had a decade of success as one-half of the award-winning Florida Georgia Line duo with his partner, Brian Kelley. It was where he thought he would always stay. but when Kelley decided he wanted to release music on his own, Hubbard found himself with the chance to also make music on his own, an opportunity he never had before.
“This was sort of a surprise. This was a career shift, and a big transition for me — going from being in a duo, Florida Georgia Line, to now stepping into this new season of being a solo artist,” Hubbard told Entertainment Tonight. “And what that looks like and feels like, it’s been really exciting. But it was definitely unexpected and something that BK came to me and wanted to do. And it took me a minute to kind of process that. And I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just be a songwriter, and I won’t do the artist thing.’”
Of course, Hubbard soon realized that his aspirations were bigger than just writing songs, and he began working on his debut solo project.
“Then, shortly thereafter, I was like, ‘Yeah, I really miss making records and touring and all that,’” he said. “It’s been really fun to kind of step into this new season and connect with the fans.”
Find all of Hubbard’s music and tour dates at TylerHubbardOfficial.com.
