Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley performs new songs at Daytona Chamber's annual meeting

Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Updated ·4 min read
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DAYTONA BEACH ― Country music superstar Brian Kelley returned to his hometown to perform new songs and talk about growing up in Ormond Beach at the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce's 104th annual meeting Friday evening.

The event at Daytona International Speedway drew more than 600 people, including the former Florida Georgia Line member's proud parents, Ed and Mary Margaret Kelley.

"Having seen Brian perform at Fenway Park before thousands, this ranked right up there," said Ed Kelley, the former Volusia County Chair and Ormond Beach mayor. "It was really electric to see the real connection with the audience, with his hometown people."

Country music superstar and Ormond Beach native Brian Kelley addresses the crowd at the 104th annual meeting of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The event inside the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway drew more than 600 people.
Country music superstar and Ormond Beach native Brian Kelley addresses the crowd at the 104th annual meeting of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The event inside the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway drew more than 600 people.

What songs did he perform?

Brian Kelley and his band from Nashville performed an acoustic set of eight songs including some from his upcoming solo album set to be released in May.

The set kicked off with "Florida Boy Forever," a song celebrating Kelley's Ormond Beach roots from his 2021 debut solo album "Sunshine State of Mind."

Next up was a rousing rendition of "Beach Cowboy" from the same album during which he interacted with audience members including having his dad join him in singing the chorus. He also sang an extra verse not included in the recorded version.

He then performed "See You Next Summer" and "Boat Names" before launching into three new tunes: "Dirt Cheap," "King Ranch," and "How We're Livin'." He ended the set with a cover of Jason Aldean's "Burnin' It Down."

Country music superstar Brian Kelley performs at the 104th annual meeting of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Kelley, formerly of the hit duo Florida Georgia Line, performed some of the songs from his upcoming solo album and spoke about growing up in Ormond Beach as well as his business ventures.

What did Kelley talk about?

Prior to performing with his band, Kelley engaged in a 10-minute fireside-style chat with Mike Sibley, the chamber's 2024 board chair.

Kelley spoke about how his career in music began with a "Christian rock concert" he performed at "Daytona Baptist" (First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach) in either 2006 or 2007 and how Volusia County continues to influence both his music and other aspects of his life.

"If you're inspired by something that's real, it's going to come out in your work. It's easy to think about home, to think about mom and dad, to think about driving by some of my favorite old haunts or going to visit Houligan's (Sports Grille restaurant), going to Larry's Giant Subs. Hitting my certain spots every time I come back," he said.

Kelley added that he and his wife Brittney try to come back to visit his parents and the area at least once or twice a year. "I have to get home. It's one of those things. It's important, man. You never forget where you came from."

What about his business ventures?

Kelley and his wife own several businesses including a sports apparel shop and a burger restaurant in the Florida Panhandle where they have a second home in addition to their primary residence in Nashville.

He hinted that he could eventually add one here.

"I'm always looking at real estate here every damn day," he said. "Ormond Beach is one of my first searches."

"We've been really picky about what we get into," Kelley said. "Maybe it's a burger restaurant or a surf shop or a cool new restaurant in Daytona, something like that in the future. We just want to love what we're doing and work with great people to create something that's going to be great for the community."

What else happened Friday night?

Ken Phelps, vice president of resource development for the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, directs members as they gather for a group photo on the steps of Daytona International Speedway prior to the start of the chamber's 104th annual meeting on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The event, which drew more than 600 people, featured a talk and performance by country music superstar Brian Kelley who grew up in Ormond Beach.

The annual meeting began with a group photo of the chamber's members on the entrance steps to the Speedway's Axalta fan injector. After a performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" by Kelly Parsons Kwiatek, who served as board chair in 2022, the chamber presented the J. Hyatt Brown Enterprise Award to Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young and the Glenn Ritchey Leadership Award to Dr. Steven Miles, a longtime radiologist at Halifax Health.

The chamber's 2023 board chair Nellie Lupoli of ICI Homes then presented Sibley of James Moore & Co. CPAs & Consultants with the ceremonial chairman's gavel.

Sibley gave a brief speech on the chamber's goals for 2024 which included stepping up efforts "to getting businesses more involved in member-to-member engagement. We want to help businesses thrive."

Founded in 1919, the Daytona Regional Chamber is the largest chamber of commerce in Volusia County with more than 900 members.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley performs at Daytona Chamber event