Brian Kelley’s New Album: Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son

Artists often talk about pursuing “the most authentic work of their career,” but for Brian Kelley and his sophomore album for Big Machine Records, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son, it’s not just a talking point. In fact, two key elements make this project one of the most literally authentic Country LPs ever conceived.

Both a deep dive into Kelley’s identity at a single point in his life and career, and perhaps the fastest full set of recordings to ever go from conception to release, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son is a bold collection of solo-written songs and Kelley’s second full-length project in under six months. It finds a creative trailblazer willfully ignoring conventional wisdom, feeling too inspired to hold back.

“I’m probably more excited than ever to be making music and writing songs,” Kelley explains. “I’m in a place in my life where I’m going to record and write whatever I want and put it out whenever I want, and that energizes me. I just have so much freedom to go wherever my creativity and my authenticity takes me. So that just fires me up.”

The fire is actually nothing new. A DIAMOND-selling superstar formerly known as the Florida half of Country’s game-changing duo, Florida Georgia Line, Kelley’s early career was defined by 19 #1s – many of them co-written, including the record-breaking “Cruise” – while a stadium-filling stage presence showed Kelley shared the pulse of the modern Country fan. As a solo artist, the singer/songwriter/entrepreneur has only grown his uncompromising rep as a creative realist, putting honesty before all else on the May 2024 release of his aptly titled debut, Tennessee Truth – 12 tracks fusing traditional Country style with new-school lyricism and heartland values, plus Kelley’s open- minded penchant for the mysterious connections between al things.

Now more than 10 years into his Country career, “prolific” never quite covered the scope of Kelley’s output – but still, he had no intention of following Tennessee Truth so soon. To him, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son brought itself to life, born from newfound freedom and what felt like a calling.

“To be honest with you, this record caught me off guard,” he admits. “But once I had an inkling of what it could be, and what was happening, it was a moment I didn’t want to pass up.”

Written 100 percent solo by Kelley himself, that moment was a burst of creativity that pulled him deeper into his craft than ever. In the past, he would start songs himself and outline their important elements – but then “save his bullets,” waiting for a time when the right group of his chart-topping collaborators could hook up to finish the track off. But starting in June – just one month after Tennessee Truth’s release – Kelley challenged himself to cut out those extra steps.

“I got a song about halfway done and it felt pretty tight to me. And I go, ‘Well, I could just finish it,’” he explains. “I got real curious with my craft. And man, I just finished it and went, ‘That feels amazing.’ And so, I did that a couple more times.”

The next few months were a flurry of songwriting inspiration, with Kelley finishing song after song in quick succession – but also working on his own schedule under zero pressure. Twelve diverse tracks with no outside influence made the album’s final cut, offering a true, unvarnished look at Kelley’s world – not just as a Country talent, but as a person.

Covering deeply personal themes with a unique clarity of voice – from heart-on-his-sleeve pride to his keenness for a party rocker, plus a little waterfront wisdom, self-manifestation and more – some tracks were written at home in Florida, some in Nashville, and others on the road. The tracks were then recorded at drummer Caleb Gilbreath’s home studio (with guitarist Katlin Owen at the helm as executive producer plus co-production by Gilbreath and featuring much of Kelley’s touring band), shortening the distance between a song’s creation and release by years, and removing all filters between Kelley and his fans.

“What I want fans to know and feel is that these are all brand-new songs,” he says. “These aren’t songs that were written two or three years ago, this is a chapter in time. It’s a season, and the way this record sounds, it’s the soundtrack to my life these past couple months. So, I just went for it.”

The personal, momentary nature is highlighted by the title track, “Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son” – the project’s central point in both figurative and literal terms. A revelatory tribute to his parents who just celebrated their 51st anniversary and remain Kelley’s inspiration, the star sees it as a tender declaration of “what I believe in, what I stand on, and what I’m proud of.”

“All I ever wanted to do was make my mom and dad proud, and I’m so glad I’m their son,” he says. “At the end of the day, the thing I’m most proud of and grateful for is that I’m Ed & Mary Margaret’s son – a hard worker, a patriotic person, a do-gooder, a helper, a giver, and just a normal guy. That’s what these songs are. They reflect who I am 100 percent.”

Fans got an early taste with the unapologetically outspoken track “Put Myself On” – a declaration of his own refusal to play by the rules fueled by equal parts passion, power, and razor-sharp wit.

Others like the floorboard stomping “Shit Kickers” are sure to fire up any Friday night crowd – a rowdy blue-collar anthem tracing Kelley’s rougher edges – while the barreling beat beneath “Cowboy Gold” should make it a Country-dancehall favorite.

Some, like the hard-hitting “Rockin’ Randall,” are a what-you-see-is-what-you-get tribute to those who walk the walk in whatever they do. And elsewhere, Kelley opens his heart, delivering a misty-eyed promise of eternal love for wife Brittney in the soft-spoken “If I Go First.” Likewise, “Hold On, Cowboy” serves as a genuine, inspired-by-true-events attempt to reach those suffering from a mental health challenge before it’s too late. And with “The Board,” Kelley puts an encouraging surf-bum spin on riding the swells of life.

Looking back on the surprising genesis of his second album, Kelley says now that writing these songs changed his life. He’ll always be a collaborator, but pouring himself into this work unlocked a deeper appreciation for his purpose, while also strengthening the connection to his fans. Just knowing he’s earned the freedom to chase something like that, makes his whole journey worth it.

“I wouldn’t change one thing about getting here,” Kelley says. “There’s been a lot of blessings and a lot of lessons, and I wake up every morning getting creative, knowing there’s really no fences around what I’m trying to do. That’s the fire that’s burning inside me, and it’s a dream come true to be in the place that I am right now.”

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Listen to Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son now at officialbriankelley.com and follow @briankelley on Instagram.