Tyler Hubbard will join Kane Brown on Brown’s massive In The Air Tour, kicking off on March 28, performing in arenas all over the country. It’s a full-circle moment for both Hubbard and Brown, since it was Brown who opened for Florida Georgia Line, the duo made up of Hubbard and Brian Kelley, at the very, very beginning of Brown’s career.
“I’ve known Kane for a while,” Hubbard shared during a recent virtual media event. “He actually opened up for us … we were one of his first tours, and I remember a fun story: one of our first shows together, I was out shooting basketball with him, just hanging out and kind of getting to know him. I was asking him, ‘How long you been doing this? How long have you been playing shows and stuff?’”
Hubbard was blown away when Brown told him that show was only his sixth time he had ever performed in front of a large crowd.
“I’m like, ‘Okay buddy, well, good luck!'” Hubbard remembers with a laugh, “There’s only 30,000 people out there, good luck.”
It didn’t take long for Hubbard to realize the innate talent that Brown possessed, watching how the then-rising star improved and evolved, night after night.
“It was incredible to watch him take on the challenge and grow a ton on that tour, and now it’s full circle,” Hubbard says. “Now I’m getting to open up for him. I’ve watched him play and I’m just like, ‘Wow.’ He’s really grown into something special and he’s just an awesome dude. He’s a great artist. I think he has really found himself and knows who he is and what he wants to be.
“It’s just cool to see, because it’s not every day that you have that story, and not every day that you get to see artists keep it together and be consistent, and put out great music and maintain a family, and do what he’s doing,” he continues. “So, a lot of love for Kane. I’m excited to be back out with him, and I know we’re going to have a good time.”
Hubbard will be on the In The Air Tour when his sophomore Strong album comes out on April 12. The record includes his current Top 10 single, “Back Then Right Now,” plus “Wish You Would,” the title track, the just-released “Vegas” track, and more.
“I love that song,” Hubbard said, speaking of “Vegas.” “It’s kind of got a rock thing to it, but again, it’s also that sort of love at first sight, which we’ve all experienced in some form or fashion. So, I think it’s fun, and even if you’re not there at the current moment, it’s sort of fun to relive those years and those memories. Vegas leaves an impact on everybody at some point, so everybody’s got a memory attached to this song, for sure.”
Pre-order Strong, and find all of Hubbard’s music and tour dates at TylerHubbardOfficial.com.