About Brothers Osborne
Brothers Osborne is an American country music duo consisting of brothers TJ Osborne and John Osborne . Born in Deale, Maryland, the duo signed a recording contract with EMI Records Nashville in 2012 and began releasing music the following year. Their 2015 song "Stay a Little Longer" became a top five hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, and their success led to the release of their debut studio album titled Pawn Shop the same year. Since then, Brothers Osborne have released the albums Port Saint Joe , Skeletons , and Brothers Osborne .
The duo have since had further hits with "It Ain't My Fault" , "Shoot Me Straight" , and "All Night" , and as featured artists on Dierks Bentley's "Burning Man" . Along with their own songwriting, their musical success is credited to producer Jay Joyce. Artists with whom they have worked include David Nail, Lee Ann Womack, and Lucie Silvas . Their musical style takes influence from Southern rock and outlaw country, with particular emphasis on the styles of TJ's lead vocals and John's guitar playing. The duo attracted further media attention in February 2021 when TJ came out as gay, making him the first openly gay artist on a major country music label.
Brothers John Osborne and TJ Osborne were two of five children raised in Deale, Maryland, a rural fishing community located along the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to their parents, who both wrote and played music regularly, their uncles and cousins also pursued musical hobbies. The family often gathered to perform music, inspiring the brothers' earliest musical aspirations. "Naturally, John and I wanted to participate and play with the family because it was fun. And that was where we cut our teeth," said TJ Osborne in 2014. The brothers then started performing regularly with their father, John Osborne Sr. Together, they played in a band called Deuces and a Quarter, while also helping their father with his day job as a plumber. When not performing, the brothers practiced music in their family's backyard shed.
The duo continued performing more consistently through high school. They later represented their high school in the Anne Arundel County "Battle of the Bands" in 2000. Upon graduation, John attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. TJ soon followed his brother to the city after finishing high school. They first attempted to have separate careers. John began playing gigs as a sideman, while TJ played upright bass and composed material for other artists. TJ also made several demonstration records. Yet his own voice was considered "not generic enough" for many industry professionals. It was after this that the brothers started working together. For several years, the duo performed in clubs, bars, and other small music venues. In 2011, they signed a publishing contract with Warner-Chappell. In 2012, the siblings secured a recording contract with EMI Nashville, a subdivision of Capitol Records and Nashville's Universal Music Group.
In 2013, Brothers Osborne released their debut single titled "Let's Go There." The uptempo song became a minor hit, reaching the top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Its limited radio success enforced their record label's decision to not release an album. The song was followed in 2014 by the single "Rum." It reached a similar Billboard chart position, which continued to halt an official album release from EMI. Instead, the label released a self-titled extended play later that year. The EP reached the top 25 of the Billboard Top Country Albums list and contained five tracks . Following its release, several music journalists named the pair on new artists lists, such as "Best of What's Next" or "Ones to Watch." Hannah Smith of Vinyl magazine praised the project and anticipated future success for the pair: "Brothers Osborne is a duo who are redefining the lines and following in the footsteps of trailblazers who have launched a revolution with their distinct music."
Their third single "Stay a Little Longer" was issued in 2015. The song was originally included on their 2014 EP, but was re-recorded for the single release. "Stay a Little Longer" became the duo's first major hit, reaching the top five of the Billboard country chart. Its success led to the release of their first full-length album titled Pawn Shop . The album contained material mostly penned by John and TJ Osborne. It also featured vocal collaborations with Lee Ann Womack. Pawn Shop peaked at number three on the Billboard country albums chart and number 17 on the Billboard 200. Pawn Shop received four stars from Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine who called it "busy, but never overstuffed." Andrew Unterberger of Spin commented that the album was "setting the bar for the genre in 2016." Two additional singles were spawned following the record's release that later became hits: "21 Summer" and "It Ain't My Fault." The commercial success led the brothers to win five industry awards. Both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association named them as Vocal Duo of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, with the latter association also awarding New Vocal Duo in 2016. Also in 2016, the brothers co-wrote and sang on the track "Good at Tonight" on David Nail's album Fighter. This song was also released as a single, charting at number 52 on Country Airplay late in the year.
Map & Directions To Venue