9 Years After “What Ifs,” Lauren Alaina & Kane Brown Team Up For New Duet
on Jul 17, 2026
Lauren Alaina & Kane Brown just reunited for a duet called “Never Been In Love,” which was released on Friday, July 17.
Lauren Alaina & Kane Brown Go Way Back
The two grew up in northwest Georgia and attended Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School, where they shared choir class. Brown has often credited Alaina with helping him discover his confidence as a singer, recalling that she encouraged him to stop humming under his breath and sing out loud in class.
That push from his outgoing classmate became a pivotal moment in Brown’s journey toward pursuing music professionally.
While their careers took different paths, Alaina finishing as the runner-up on American Idol in 2011 and Brown building a massive following through social media a few years later, their friendship remained intact.
They Have A Diamond Certified Song
When Brown began working on his self-titled debut album, he immediately knew he wanted Alaina to join him on a duet. Having shared so much history together, she was the natural choice to bring “What Ifs” to life, making the collaboration feel authentic both on and off the stage.
Released in 2017, “What Ifs” quickly became a career-defining hit for both artists. The heartfelt duet topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, Country Airplay chart, and Country Streaming Songs chart, giving Brown his first No. 1 hit and Alaina another major chart-topper.
The song also helped Brown make Billboard history by becoming the first artist to simultaneously hold No. 1 positions across all five of the publication’s major country charts. Over the years, “What Ifs” has continued to resonate with fans, earning Diamond certification and becoming one of the biggest country duets of the modern era.
Note: There are only 13 country songs that have been certified Diamond by the RIAA, earning over 10 million units moved.
More than just a chart-topping collaboration, “What Ifs” serves as a full-circle moment for two classmates whose shared love of music began in a Georgia choir room and eventually led them to one of country music’s most memorable duets.
The duo also took home the CMT Music Award for Collaborative Video Of The Year in 2018 for the hit song.
Kane and Lauren Are Teaming Up Once Again
Lauren Alaina is giving fans exactly what they’ve been hoping for: another collaboration with Kane Brown.
The country star recently teased that she’s reuniting with her longtime friend and former classmate on a brand-new duet titled “Never Been In Love,” sharing a playful social media teaser that hinted at the pair’s long-awaited musical reunion.
The song is set to arrive on July 17 and will appear on Alaina’s upcoming album, Stages.
The announcement marks the first time Brown and Alaina have recorded together since their blockbuster 2017 hit, “What Ifs.”
Fans are eager to hear how Brown and Alaina’s chemistry has evolved nearly a decade later. If the early teaser is any indication, “Never Been In Love” could be another standout moment for the longtime friends and collaborators.
To celebrate the song’s release, Alaina shared a video of her rehearsing the introdcution of the song, saying, “I’m so thankful for this song. It really represents this stage of life that I’m in and that when you fall in love for real, you realize you never really loved [bleeped out name] and you know, so..that’s so mean but I didn’t love him, did I?”
The song is a true testament to the love she shares with her husband, Cam Arnold.
Listen to Lauren and Kane’s new duet below!
Listen to “Never Been In Love” below, and let us know your thoughts!
