The songwriting team behind "Cruise"

"Cruise" was written by four people: Jesse Rice, Craig Wiseman, Hunter Hayes, and Keith Urban. The song became one of the biggest country hits of the 2010s, and all four writers shared credit for its creation. Florida Georgia Line recorded the version that became the massive radio hit in 2012, spending 24 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart — one of the longest-running number-one hits in country music history.

Jesse Rice and Craig Wiseman are Nashville songwriters who had worked together on other country tracks before "Cruise". Hunter Hayes, who was a rising country artist at the time, co-wrote the song and later recorded his own version that also charted. Keith Urban, known as the guitarist and co-leader of Lady Antebellum and later as a coach on The Voice, also contributed to the writing process.

The combination of established Nashville songwriters, a fresh artist voice, and a recognizable name brought different strengths to the track. That mix of experience and perspective helped create a song that worked across traditional country radio and the broader pop-country audience that was emerging in the early 2010s.

Key Takeaways

  • "Cruise" was written by Jesse Rice, Craig Wiseman, Hunter Hayes, and Keith Urban, with each receiving songwriting credit on the track.
  • The song was recorded by Florida Georgia Line and released in 2012, spending 24 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
  • Craig Wiseman and Jesse Rice are professional Nashville songwriters who have written hits for multiple country artists across different decades.
  • Hunter Hayes, one of the co-writers, also recorded his own separate version of the song that charted on country radio.
  • Keith Urban contributed to the songwriting but is primarily known for his work as a guitarist and television personality rather than as a songwriter.

Craig Wiseman's role in country songwriting

Craig Wiseman is a veteran Nashville songwriter with decades of experience writing country hits. He has written or co-written songs for artists including Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and The Chicks. His work spans multiple decades and multiple generations of country music, making him one of Nashville's most prolific and successful songwriters.

Wiseman's songwriting approach often focuses on storytelling and relatable themes that connect with country radio audiences. "Cruise" fits that pattern — it's a song about a summer night and a relationship, told in a way that resonates with the country audience. His track record of hits gave the song credibility in Nashville before it even reached radio.

Jesse Rice and the writing partnership

Jesse Rice worked alongside Craig Wiseman on "Cruise". Rice is also a Nashville-based songwriter who has contributed to other country tracks throughout his career. The partnership between Rice and Wiseman on this particular song proved successful, given the track's chart performance and longevity on country radio.

The collaboration between these two writers, combined with input from Hayes and Urban, created a song that appealed to both traditional country radio listeners and the broader audience that was increasingly interested in country-pop crossover material. Rice's contribution to the writing team brought another perspective to the storytelling and structure of the track.

Hunter Hayes' contribution as co-writer and artist

Hunter Hayes was unusual in that he both co-wrote "Cruise" and recorded his own version of the song. Hayes is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who had just begun his country music career when he worked on this track. His version of "Cruise" was released separately and also charted on country radio, though it did not reach the same level of success as the Florida Georgia Line version.

Hayes' involvement as both a writer and performer shows how country songwriting often works — artists frequently write or co-write the songs they record, and the same song can be recorded by multiple artists with different chart runs. His fresh perspective as an emerging artist likely contributed ideas to the song that helped it connect with younger listeners.

Keith Urban's involvement

Keith Urban, known primarily as a guitarist and as part of Lady Antebellum, contributed to the songwriting on "Cruise". Urban has been involved in songwriting throughout his career, though he is more widely recognized for his instrumental work and his role as a band member and television personality on The Voice.

Urban's credit on "Cruise" represents one of his songwriting contributions to the broader country music catalog. His involvement brought another established name to the writing team, which likely contributed to the song's credibility in Nashville and helped it gain traction with radio programmers who recognized his reputation in the industry.

Why the song became such a massive hit

Several factors contributed to "Cruise" becoming one of country radio's biggest songs. The song has a catchy hook, a relatable story about a summer night and romance, and production that blended country and pop elements at a time when that crossover was becoming increasingly popular in mainstream country radio. The production choices made the song accessible to listeners who might not typically listen to traditional country music.

The four-writer team brought different perspectives and experience levels to the track. Wiseman and Rice brought established songwriting credentials and a history of writing radio hits. Hayes brought a fresh artist perspective and the ability to understand what would resonate with younger listeners. Urban brought name recognition and musical credibility from his work with Lady Antebellum. That combination of experience and fresh talent created a song that worked across different segments of the country audience and helped it dominate country radio for nearly six months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Florida Georgia Line write "Cruise" themselves?

No. Florida Georgia Line recorded "Cruise", but the song was written by Jesse Rice, Craig Wiseman, Hunter Hayes, and Keith Urban. The band members did not write this particular track, though they have written other songs in their catalog.

How many versions of "Cruise" exist?

At least two major versions charted separately: the Florida Georgia Line version, which became the massive hit, and Hunter Hayes' version. Other artists have also covered the song, but these two are the primary chart versions that received significant radio play.

Did Keith Urban perform on the Florida Georgia Line recording?

Keith Urban is credited as a co-writer on "Cruise", but there is no widely documented information that he performed on the actual Florida Georgia Line recording. His contribution was to the songwriting process rather than the final recorded version.

What other songs has Craig Wiseman written?

Craig Wiseman has written or co-written numerous country hits across multiple decades, including songs for Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and The Chicks. He is one of Nashville's most prolific and successful songwriters with a track record spanning from the 1990s through the present day.