Country singer Brian Kelley is “so grateful” to the American heroes who fought to “protect our freedoms”

Country singer Brian Kelley reflected on what it means to him to be an American after the country recently celebrated its 248th Independence Day.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, the 38-year-old former Florida George Lineman, who recently released his new solo album, Tennessee Truth, talked about how proud he is to be a U.S. citizen and expressed his gratitude for the sacrifices military personnel have made to protect American civil rights.

“At the end of the day, freedom to speak, think and live is one of the greatest things about being an American, isn’t it?” he said.

Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly of Florida Georgia Line play their last show as a duo

Kelley continued, “And you have your own opinion and the right to vote and have a say in how things are done here – locally and nationally.”

“And I’m very grateful to live in a place where thousands of our heroes have died protecting our freedoms and fighting for our freedoms,” he added. “I love our military. I love our soldiers – I would do anything for them.”

The “Beach Cowboy” singer told Fox News Digital that both his uncle Mike Kelley and his grandfather John Edward Kelley, whom he calls “Poppy,” served in the military.

WATCH: AMERICAN STARS CELEBRATE THEIR LOVE FOR THE USA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

“My Poppy was awarded two Purple Hearts,” Kelley said. “He was a prisoner of war in Mossberg, Germany. And his story inspires me to this day and still inspires songs. And my Uncle Mike was an Airborne Ranger for a long time when he first started. Then he was in the Air National Guard just outside of Nashville. He even went to Iraq in 2003, 2004. And I remember it like it was yesterday. I was like, ‘Uncle Mike is going to the damn war. Are you kidding me?'”

“And that was the culmination of everything at that time. I love this country and being an American and being free to live, think, breathe and live as you want. And I think that’s what I love about it.”

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Kelley told Fox News Digital that he is staying true to his roots with his new album, “Tennessee Truth,” which was released in May.

The country star explained that one of his truths about Tennessee is that his father, Ed Kelley, was born in Palmersville, Tennessee and moved to Nashville when he was about 2 years old.

“And I have tons of aunts, uncles, cousins ​​and family in the Gallatin and Hendersonville area. And so No. 1, kind of the first Tennessee truth, is that this record is a tribute to my deep Tennessee roots in my family.”

Kelley also said he believes “Tennessee Truths” will resonate with his fans because it reflects the values ​​he shares with them.

“At the end of the day, my Tennessee truth is that I’m no different than anyone who’s going to record this record,” Kelley said. “We have the same mindset as far as our values ​​and how we live our lives, through fishing, hunting, the love of our lives, spending time with family, you know, God. We love this country. And we’re hard workers.”

WATCH: COUNTRY SINGER BRIAN KELLEY SAYS HE IS ‘SO GRATEFUL’ FOR THE AMERICAN HEROES WHO FOUGHT TO ‘PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS’

Before his solo career, Kelley was one half of Florida Georgia Line, the Nashville-based country music duo he formed with Tyler Hubbard in 2010. In 2022, Florida Georgia Line went on an indefinite hiatus, but Kelley said he never wanted to end The duo.

He told Fox News Digital that he believes he and Tyler Hubbard could mix their music with solo projects.

“For me, it was really, you know, I was really trying to hold it all together, and at the same time, you know, it’s just life,” he explained of his and Hubbard’s separation.

He said he would have preferred Florida Georgia Line to stay together, but “at the end of the day, life can throw a wrench in your works sometimes. And so, man, I really took that surprise and put it into work, you know? I really refocused my whole mindset, you know, of how I want to make this album.”

Looking back on his time with Florida Georgia Line, Kelley attributed the success to the duo’s tireless dedication and effort. Florida Georgia Line won seven Academy of Country Music Awards, six CMT Music Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Country Duo/Group.

Three of Florida Georgia Line’s three albums have been certified platinum. Their debut album, Here’s to the Good Times, was certified double platinum in 2012. Here’s to the Good Times featured the megahit single “Cruise,” which was the first country song to be certified diamond.

“Every bit of success we had motivated us to work even harder and know that this moment was very special,” Kelley said. “And that motivated us. We definitely had a good time. But we worked really hard along the way.”

He continued, “We wrote songs almost every show day, hung out before the show, at meet-and-greets with the press, with the radio, and really created a great environment for the concert part and the vibe, but also invited our publishers, bus and drivers… and also created a creative environment.”

“Work hard, obviously, and party hard,” he added. “But we really put in the effort and really put in the effort. I mean, we wrote a lot of songs, a lot of hits, right on the road, right on the bus, right outside the venue. And that’s something that stuck with me, just the work ethic and the hustle.”

He said he wouldn’t have done anything differently during his time at Florida Georgia Line.

““I’m really proud of the effort I put into keeping this whole thing together,” he said. “It didn’t necessarily go the way I thought it could go and turn out, but that’s OK, you know? People are allowed to have different opinions, and when that happens, things can always come back. So, you know, I’m a little bit excited about it. But no, I wouldn’t do anything differently.”

Kelley added that he “did his best to keep going, and that’s all you can do, you know? And then, like I said, I double down on what I can control. And that’s what my record sounds like. That’s how I sing, that’s how I sound and what these songs are about. So, you know, I just put all of that into my work.”

The musician said he was also “more than grateful” for the He spent “amazing” years with Florida Georgia Line.

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““Without his experience in the duo, I wouldn’t be the singer I am today,” said Kelley.

“I know he’s as grateful as I am,” Kelley added of Hubbard. “And, you know, you never know what can happen – maybe he’ll come back at some point. We’ll see what happens.”

Currently focused on his solo career, Kelley is proud of “Tennessee Truth,” which he says is about “living it and being it” and spending time with family.

WATCH: BRIAN KELLEY’S NEW ALBUM ‘TENNESSEE TRUTH’ IS ABOUT LOVING AND ENJOYING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

The 12-track album, featuring songs such as “Trucks, Ducks, Bucks & Beer,” “King Ranch,” “Dirt Cheap,” “10 O’Clock on the Dock,” and “Dirt Road Date Night,” celebrates country life, the joys of the outdoors, hard work, and true love.

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The Floridian native told Fox News Digital that his wife Brittney, whom he married in 2013, was a source of inspiration for some of the songs on his debut album.

“What makes our world tick? It’s the people we love,” he said. “My wife Brittney and spending time with our extended family mean everything to me.”

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Kelley said he also draws his lyrics “from my lifestyle in the woods or in the water. That’s usually where you’ll find me unless we’re out on the road somewhere.”

However, Kelley said his music is always about “just loving and living life to the fullest, you know what I mean? And working hard and having something to look forward to.”

Kelley said he and Brittney work hard to find time for each other, whether it’s a “day at the lake” or “just being home and doing nothing, literally watching the grass grow, you know what I mean? But just taking time to enjoy life. But I hope people can really understand from this record that it’s just authentic to me, and I hope it’s really authentic to them.”

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“I think it’s a good listen from start to finish,” he added. “It’s an easy-to-digest 12-song record, really coherent. And yeah, I don’t think there are any misfires on this record. I love this record. I love every song, and that’s why I recorded it. They all mean something to me.”

Brie Stimston of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.