Brian Kelley honors soldiers: “Love our military”

July 9, 2024

Published: July 9, 2024

Photo from Brian Kelley’s Instagram

Country star Brian Kelley honors soldiers: “I love our army”

By Movieguide® Contributor

Country star Brian Kelley is grateful for American freedom.

The former Florida-Georgia Line member shared his gratitude with Fox News Digital in light of Independence Day.

“At the end of the day, one of the greatest things about being an American is the freedom to speak, to think and to live, right?” Kelley said. “And you have your own opinions and the right to vote, to have a say in how things are done here – locally and nationally.”

Kelley also pays tribute to those who deserve it: the many brave soldiers and servicewomen who defend our country.

“And (I’m) very grateful to live in a place where thousands of our heroes died to protect our freedoms, to fight for our freedoms. I love our military. I love our soldiers – I would do anything for them,” he said.

Kelley also told Fox News Digital about his grandfather, John Edward Kelley, and his uncle, Mike Kelley, who both served in the U.S. military.

“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 right outside Nashville. He even went to Iraq in 2003, 2004. And I remember it like it was yesterday.”

This July 4th, the singer posted a patriotic tribute to the late Toby Keith on his Instagram page.

The post shows a video of Kelley singing Toby Keith’s hit “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.”

“🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 God bless America. God bless our troops. #wemissyou Toby,” he wrote in the caption.

The singer recently released his album Tennessee Truth. His website lists some of the many awards he has received throughout his country music career.

First known as one half of the GRAMMY-nominated Florida Georgia Line, the ACM Breakout Artist of the Decade Award winners achieved 19 No. 1 hits in their career and were the first and only act in country music history to achieve two RIAA DIAMOND singles (14x PLATINUM No. 1 hits: “Cruise” and “Meant to Be” featuring Bebe Rexha). FGL has been streamed over 17 billion times worldwide, sold more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide, and played for over 4 million fans. The band has won AMA, Billboard, CMA and CMT Music Awards and has an exhibit titled “Florida Georgia Line: Mix It Up Strong” at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Movieguide® previously reported on Kelley:

Brian Kelley talked about what life has been like since the duo Florida Georgia Line took an indefinite hiatus in 2022. For him, it’s all about family.

“My wife Brittney and spending time with our extended family mean everything to me,” he said, adding that he draws inspiration for his lyrics “from my lifestyle in the woods or by the water. That’s usually where you’ll find me, unless we’re out and about.”

The country singer 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.”

His latest album, “Tennessee Truth,” is a tribute to his childhood with a close family in Tennessee.

“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.”