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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 27 January 2018
The pressure is on for country upstarts Brothers Osborne

By KRISTIN M. HALL thing that is more pop or
Associated Press more mainstream. We’re
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — just adhering to what we
Country music upstarts do naturally and what we
Brothers Osborne may think is authentic.”
have started their career as That authenticity extends
underdogs, but now that not only to their music, but
they’ve been crowned the also to their own person-
genre’s biggest duo, the al and political opinions,
pressure is on. which they often share
In a few short years, Broth- freely on social media and
ers TJ and John Osborne interviews. They have been
have been embraced by outspoken about President
the Nashville industry, earn- Donald Trump, marijuana,
ing a Grammy nomination net neutrality and Con-
before their debut album, gress, topics that many
“Pawn Shop,” came out in mainstream country artists
2016 and racking up mul- avoid publicly.
tiple country music awards. Mabe said she doesn’t
Their second album, “Port caution them about ex-
Saint Joe,” will be com- pressing their opinions, but
ing out April 20, and they’ll she has sometimes asked
make their biggest tele- them to refrain from cursing
vised appearance on so often in interviews.
the 60th annual Grammy In this Jan. 9, 2018, photo, John, left, and T. J. Osborne, of the group Brothers Osborne, pose in “They know the risks and the
Awards this Sunday. They Nashville, Tenn. rewards of what they have
are also nominated for best Associated Press to say,” Mabe said. “I feel
country group/duo perfor- Music Group Nashville, said waltz on “Tequila Again” to ‘Freebird’ or ‘Hotel Califor- like they have a platform
mance. “The success that she wasn’t too surprised by the Muscle Shoals inspired nia,’ the solo is as much of and if they have some-
we have had and those the wins. soul groove “A Little Bit the song as the actual song thing to say that needs to
awards were really people, “Whether or not you put Trouble.” is.” be said, they are going to
our peers, handing us the Florida Georgia Line in that “A lot of the takes you hear Much like Chris Stapleton say it. They also know that
torch, saying, ‘You’re do- bro country movement, were live takes,” said John has moved the genre back could offend people.”
ing something different. from a creative standpoint Osborne, 35. “We’re not to more soulful country mu- Maren Morris, who will
We respect that,’” said TJ and a creative nurturing going in and overdubbing sic, Brothers Osborne feel a be performing with the
Osborne, whose baritone of this town, people really anything.” connection to the genre’s Brothers Osborne and Eric
voice complements broth- wanted to distance them- “Shoot Me Straight,” their roots. In a nod to coun- Church on the Grammys in
er John’s superb guitar skills. selves from that,” Mabe first single from the new al- try music’s origins, the duo a tribute to music fans killed
“We have this obligation in said. “And then you have bum, is an Allman Brothers- sometimes throws into their or injured at the Route 91
a great way to stay true to this band that has this really inspired country rock song live set a cover of “Rocky Harvest Festival, said their
that and make this genre fresh unique perspective with a three-minute-long Top,” the foot-stomping sincerity as individuals and
proud and make everyone who are clearly beating to blistering guitar solo. standard made popular artists is what has created
feel that they made the their own drum.” “I had three minutes to sing, by bluegrass icons the Os- their loyal fan base.
right decision in voting us They applied a live album so why not give him three borne Brothers. “They are truly themselves
duo of the year.” mentality to “Port Saint minutes to play the guitar?” “I am not saying we’re a and not worried about
In 2016 and 2017, these Joe,” which they cut in two TJ Osborne, 33, said. throwback country band (what) radio or Music Row is
brothers from rural Mary- weeks in their producer Jay “There used to be a time by any stretch, but we are going to think about them,”
land upset the three-time Joyce’s beach house on when a song that was 6 or still keeping in tradition,” Morris said.
vocal duo of the year Florida’s Emerald Coast, 7 or 8 minutes long with a said John Osborne. “It’s And the duo is thriving un-
Florida Georgia Line at the complete with little imper- long guitar solo, that wasn’t easy to let yourself veer der the pressure.
Country Music Association fections and candid mo- a weird concept,” John away from that because “We’re trying to challenge
Awards. Cindy Mabe, presi- ments. The songs range Osborne said. “It wasn’t monetarily it might make everyone including our-
dent of their label, Universal from a traditional country taboo. If you look back at more sense to try do some- selves,” said TJ Osborne.q

Alicia Keys kicks off Grammy week with a birthday party

By JOHN CARUCCI welcomed her on the red honored simultaneously in
Associated Press carpet with the traditional this most prestigious mo-
NEW YORK (AP) — Alicia song. ment, and then we’re go-
Keys kicked off Grammy Keys felt the moment was ing to just keep going from
Award week with an award surreal since she was be- there and it’s going to be a
— and was serenaded with ing honored on her birth- magnificent week. I do feel
“Happy Birthday” day at the Grammys and like this was made for me,”
The 15-time Grammy win- in her hometown, walking Keys said.
ner and her husband, Swizz distance from where she Beatz said it doesn’t get
Beatz, were both honored grew up in the Hell’s Kitch- much better than being
Thursday with an honor en neighborhood. honored with your wife. He
from the Recording Acade- “I’m like, OK, they’re going called the dual awards “a
my’s Producers & Engineers to set up the Grammys, kick celebration of her life but
Wing. It was also Keys’ 37th it off with my birthday. My also a celebration of our In this Feb. 11, 2012 file photo, Alicia Keys performs at the Clive
Davis pre-Grammy gala in Beverly Hills, Calif.
birthday and media crews husband and I (are being) life as creatives.”q Associated Press