Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina’s friendship goes way back — all the way to middle school. They first met at Lakeview Middle School in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, when Kane was 13 and Lauren was 12. Back then, neither could have imagined they’d both become two of country music’s biggest stars. Their journeys took different paths — Lauren found fame through American Idol, while Kane built his career from the ground up through social media — but eventually, their stories crossed again in the best way possible.
Their duet “What Ifs” became a massive hit, topping charts and earning them nominations for Vocal Event of the Year at the 2018 ACM Awards and a CMT Music Award for Collaborative Video of the Year. The song’s chemistry wasn’t just in the studio — it came alive on stage, especially during their unforgettable live performance at the 2018 ACM Awards in Las Vegas.
As the final notes rang out, the crowd was on edge — Kane and Lauren leaned in close, their voices fading into silence. For a split second, it looked like they might kiss. The audience collectively held its breath… and then they laughed, shared a quick hug, and walked off to thunderous applause. It was playful, unexpected, and pure TV gold.
But behind the scenes, the moment wasn’t as effortless as it looked. Both later admitted that it felt a little awkward. Kane told Taste of Country that the producers had suggested the dramatic ending to “sell the song,” and he hadn’t even rewatched the clip because it made him cringe. “Lauren was like, ‘Might as well grab his butt too!’” he laughed, recalling the hilarious moment.
Since then, life has moved beautifully for both artists. Kane married Katelyn Jae in 2018, and together they’ve built a beautiful family with three children. Lauren found her happily ever after too — marrying Cam Arnold in 2024, and the couple is expecting their first child, a baby girl, in 2025.
Their friendship and shared history still shine through whenever they perform together — a reminder that some bonds, like great country duets, never fade.
