Release Date and Artist Details for the Song Cruise
The song Cruise was officially released on August 6, 2012, by the country duo Florida Georgia Line, with a feature from Nelly. The track was issued as a single from the album Here's to the Good Times via Republic Nashville and Big Loud Mountain Records. The release date is confirmed by the official digital distribution metadata and label announcements reported by industry sources such as Forbes.
Cruise was written by Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, and Joey Moi, with production handled by Joey Moi and Florida Georgia Line. The song was recorded in Nashville and mixed at Blackbird Studios. The initial release was a promotional single before it was sent to country radio in late 2012, setting the stage for its long run on the charts.
Chart Performance and Commercial Success
Cruise debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 2012 and reached number one on the chart dated December 15, 2013. It spent a total of 24 weeks at the top, making it one of the longest-running number-one singles in Billboard Hot 100 history. The song also topped the Hot Country Songs chart and crossed over to pop, adult contemporary, and rhythmic formats.
By early 2014, Cruise had become the best-selling digital country song of all time, with over seven million copies sold in the United States. Streaming data from platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music pushed the song into the multi-platinum and diamond certification tiers. The RIAA and Billboard reported the milestone figures, as noted in coverage by Billboard.
Legacy, Remixes, and Streaming Data
The official remix of Cruise featuring Nelly was released in November 2012 and helped expand the song's audience beyond country radio. The remix received airplay on pop and rhythmic formats, contributing to the song's crossover success. Music video views and audio streams on YouTube and major platforms have continued to grow, with the original and remix versions accumulating billions of combined views.
As of the latest public data, Cruise remains one of the most-streamed country songs globally, with hundreds of millions of on-demand audio and video streams. The song's enduring popularity is reflected in ongoing radio spins, sync licensing, and inclusion in best-of lists by outlets such as Rolling Stone. The performance data is tracked by Luminate, formerly Nielsen Music, and reported in industry summaries.