The Untold Truth Of Brothers Osborne
Brothers Osborne are country music stars to watch. Ever since the 2013 release of their first single "Let's Go There," T.J. and John Osborne have gained the attention of awards show voters and fans alike. The Maryland-born pair has written songs about everything from the mundane realities of lower-income rural life ("Dirt Rich") to the incomparable feeling of first love ("21 Summer").
So far, the siblings have released two studio albums, Pawn Shop and Port Saint Joe, along with an EP titled Brothers Osborne. Their upcoming studio album, Skeletons, is scheduled to be released on Oct. 9, 2020. From opening for stars like Darius Rucker and Jon Pardi to performing at the CMA Awards, Brothers Osborne are leaving their mark on the country music scene — and they're just getting started.
Here are some facts you might not know about the duo, since they should be on your radar if they aren't already.
Brothers Osborne are six-time Grammy nominees
The country duo has yet to take home a Grammy trophy, but Brothers Osborne have racked up plenty of other awards over the years. With six Grammy nominations, four CMA Awards wins, and five ACM Awards wins, the country musicians are proving themselves to be an unstoppable force. And at the upcoming 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards, Brothers Osborne are nominated for Duo of the Year, facing off against other iconic country pairs, including Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, and Maddie and Tae.
And given the praise the duo has gotten from country fans, it's possible that Brothers Osborne's upcoming third studio album, Skeletons, could lead to their first Grammy victory. Either way, Brothers Osborne have plenty of respect in the country music community. And whatever the future holds, fame won't change this sibling duo. "We know what we have," John Osborne told Rolling Stone in May 2018. "We were raised to enjoy life with or without success — and that's the most important thing."
John Osborne is married to another singer-songwriter
Back in 2015, John Osborne shared in an Instagram post that he and British singer Lucie Silvas had tied the knot. "A week and a half ago I married my best friend and greatest inspiration on Earth," John wrote in his caption. "We exchanged (and ate!) lollipop rings in our living room with a couple of friends and Barley. I'm the luckiest redneck guitar player in the world. I love you @luciesilvas." True to John's description, the black-and-white photo shows Silvas wearing a Ring Pop and holding hands with her husband.
Silvas shared the same picture on her Instagram, with a message about their "spontaneous," low-key ceremony. "So happy to tell our friends everywhere that we just got married! It was very spontaneous and all we had were lolly pop rings .... Which we ate afterwards ! Our families and friends living far and wide makes it tricky to make a big fuss, so we did this for us, and more importantly, we get to share our relationship daily with everyone in our lives," she wrote. "Thank you to everyone who always supports us both. We love you so much."
The two singers didn't need a flashy ceremony to show their devotion to each other — exchanging Ring Pops in their living room was even more intimate.
Brothers Osborne are vocal about social justice
T.J. Osborne and John Osborne aren't just sticking to music — their social media presence shows social justice is important to the country stars. In one Instagram post about mass shootings, John shared an illustration saying that the country is stuck in a cycle where things aren't resolved, in part because, according to the diagram, "Congress does nothing."
While not all of his followers agreed with John, many fans commented to thank him for addressing the issue. "Thank you for speaking out despite the risks to your career," one fan wrote. In addition to the post about mass shootings, he's shared Instagram posts about climate change, marriage equality, and the 2020 election.
And John's wife, Lucie Silvas, shared several Instagram posts about the Black Lives Matter movement during the civil unrest that came to a head in late May 2020, following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Silvas posted a video and a photo of the protests, along with an explainer about Juneteenth.
T.J.'s personal Instagram is private, but there are clues that he and his brother share similar views. The Brothers Osborne Instagram account follows former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, and the country artists shared an Instagram post from a Black fan about feeling unsafe at country music concerts, along with several other BLM posts. It's clear they want their fans to feel safe and they're using their platform to stand up for what they believe in.
John and T.J. Osborne are Dua Lipa fans
When Americans started COVID-19 quarantining in March 2020, there was one thing getting people through the uncertainty: Dua Lipa's album Future Nostalgia, released on March 27. The album — which featured instant classics like "Break My Heart" and "Physical" — gained countless fans, including two certain country stars.
"Honestly, recently the artist that I guess I have always known of but never paid that much attention to is Dua Lipa," T.J. Osborne said to Taste of Country in August 2020. "I was like, 'Man, this goes deep, song after song.' I'm like, 'Man, this is really good.' So I feel like she's going to be the next artist to blow up."
T.J. also shared in the Taste of Country interview that quarantine allowed him to listen to more music than he normally does. "I usually wouldn't have a ton of time to start diving into new stuff," the country artist said. If the pandemic allowed the Osbornes to listen to artists they wouldn't normally have, like Dua Lipa, it could be one positive of all of the uncertainty 2020 brought.