While cultural impact and chart success aren’t synonymous with nominations or critical acclaim, “Meant to Be” certainly deserves to be recognized as one of the year’s top Records — and, I would argue, one of the year’s top Songs, too.
Brian Kelley (L) and Tyler Hubbard (R) of Florida Georgia Line. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage) Getty
It’s no secret that award shows don’t always mirror pop culture, but the biggest discrepancy between public opinion and critical acclaim over the past decade in country music has been Florida Georgia Line. That disconnect continued with today’s Grammy nominee announcement. Although the duo picked up their first-ever Grammy nod (for Best Country Duo / Group Performance with Bebe Rexha for “Meant to Be”), the duo and their record-breaking song were shut out from major categories.
Florida Georgia Line is the only country act ever to score an RIAA Diamond-certified song and has broken countless records since storming onto the scene in 2012. In addition to the best-selling country song of all time (“Cruise”), their 2018 crossover smash “Meant to Be,” with Bebe Rexha, spent 50 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, demolishing every record from the chart’s 60-year history.
