Timing is perfect for Florida Georgia Line's 1st Grammy nom

Country powerhouse duo Florida Georgia Line has been dominating the sound of the genre for eight years and setting historical records in sales, airplay and streaming, and they've finally landed a coveted acknowledgement from the Recording Academy with their first-ever Grammy nomination.

The two are nominated with pop singer Bebe Rexha for best country duo/group performance for their chart-busting hit of the year, "Meant to Be." It's been a long road since their debut in 2012, mostly paved with a string of multi-platinum radio hits like "Cruise," ''H.O.L.Y." and "This Is How We Roll," but they say the timing is just right.

"We have so much respect for the Grammys and, you know what, I wouldn't say it's overdue," Brian Kelley, 33, said in a phone interview from Las Vegas, where they just wrapped a residency. "I think timing is everything and this timing is perfect. We're super thankful and humble to be nominated. 'Meant to Be' has taken us on a crazy, crazy, crazy ride."

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2018 file photo, Brian Kelley, left, and Tyler Hubbard, right, of Florida Georgia Line perform "Meant to Be" with Bebe Rexha at the 52nd annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. The two are nominated for a Grammy Award with pop singer Bebe Rexha for best country duogroup performance for their chart busting hit of the year. (Photo by Charles SykesInvisionAP, File)

"It kind of feels like we're the new kids on the block again," said Tyler Hubbard, 31.

Their competition at the Grammys include Dan + Shay's mega-hit "Tequila"; Little Big Town's "When Someone Stops Loving You"; Brothers Osborne's "Shoot Me Straight"; and Maren Morris and Vince Gill's "Dear Hate."

Some were surprised that the ubiquitous "Meant to Be" only garnered one nomination, and was shut out of categories like record of the year, song of the year and best country song. But the duo isn't focused on that.

"Regardless of what happens, we know it's going to be a great night. We've already kind of won in our books," Hubbard said.

While they've spent most of the past year relishing in the success of "Meant to Be," which spent a historic 50 consecutive weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot country songs chart, they are eager to start 2019 with new music. Their fourth album, "Can't Say I Ain't Country," will drop on Feb. 15, just days after they attend their first Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.

The album title seems to solidify their position as firmly entrenched in the genre, even as they collaborate often with pop artists and incorporate those sounds into their records. The new album will include songs with their old friends and past tour mates Jason Aldean and Jason Derulo.

"It's a lot of good country songs and a lot of good songs similar to the ones we grew up on," Hubbard said. "Kinda more of a '90s traditional country feel on quite a few of the songs."

Hubbard also addressed both the criticism and support he's received since posting Instagram videos earlier this month announcing his support for a campaign to call on Congress to enact universal background checks on firearm sales. Hubbard tagged other country musicians in his post asking them to also support the campaign organized by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoe company. Country stars like Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum and Karen Fairchild have shared their support for the campaign as well.

"I'd like to see more support to be honest," Hubbard said. "I would like to see more of my friends speaking up about it."

Hubbard said that he understands there's no simple solution to curbing gun violence, but this campaign felt like a good way to start. However, since his videos were posted, Florida Georgia Line's social media accounts have been inundated by pro-gun supporters criticizing him.

"A lot of people misinterpreted my videos, which is to be expected," said Hubbard, who says he is a proud gun owner and loves to shoot. "I am not totally surprised by that, but at the same time, I wish people could hear my heart and I wish that they could hear what we're really trying to do here."

Hubbard said that he understands the reluctance of artists to talk about a politically charged topic like gun control.

"I know people specifically in our genre are scared of that," Hubbard said. "I don't think there's anything to be scared of. I think if we keep trying to play it safe, we're going to live in a world that is unsafe. So I'd rather be risky, take chances and talk about the uncomfortable conversations and let's make some change."

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia has circulated a U.N. resolution calling on all countries to take urgent action to prevent putting weapons in outer space “for all time” a week after it vetoed a U.S.-Japan resolution to stop an arms race in space.

The Russian draft resolution, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, goes further than the U.S.-Japan proposal, not only calling for efforts to stop weapons from being deployed in outer space but for preventing “the threat or use of force in outer space,” also “for all time.”

It says this should include deploying weapons “from space against Earth, and from Earth against objects in outer space.”

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council when he vetoed the U,S.-Japan draft that it didn’t go far enough in banning all types of weapons in space.

The vetoed resolution focused solely on weapons of mass destruction including nuclear arms, and made no mention of other weapons in space.

It would have called on all countries not to develop or deploy nuclear arms or other weapons of mass destruction in space, as banned under a 1967 international treaty that the U.S. and Russia ratified, and to agree to the need to verify compliance.

Before the U.S.-Japan resolution was put to a vote on April 24, Russia and China proposed an amendment that would call on all countries, especially those with space capabilities, “to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.”

The vote was 7 countries in favor, 7 against, and one abstention and the amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum 9 “yes” votes in the 15-member Security Council required for adoption.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after the vote that Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.

“Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding,” she asked. “It’s baffling. And it’s a shame.”

Putin was responding to White House confirmation in February that Russia has obtained a “troubling” anti-satellite weapon capability, although such a weapon is not operational yet.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after casting the veto that the U.S.-Japan resolution cherry picked weapons of mass destruction.

He said much of the U.S. and Japan’s actions become clear “if we recall that the U.S. and their allies announced some time ago plans to place weapons … in outer space.”

Nebenzia also accused the U.S. of blocking a Russian-Chinese proposal since 2008 for a treaty against putting weapons in outer space.

Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of undermining global treaties to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, irresponsibly invoking “dangerous nuclear rhetoric,” walking away from several of its arms control obligations, and refusing to engage “in substantive discussions around arms control or risk reduction.”

Much of the Russian draft resolution is exactly the same as the U.S.-Japan draft, including the language on preventing an arms race in space.

It calls on all countries, especially those with major space capabilities, “to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.”

Thomas-Greenfield said the world is just beginning to understand “the catastrophic ramifications of a nuclear explosion in space.”

FILE - U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Tokyo. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Wednesday, April 24, 2024, on a resolution announced by Thomas-Greenfield, calling on all nations to prevent a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space. It is likely to be vetoed by Russia. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)