You probably remember the first time you saw it. Maybe you were scrolling through Facebook in 2015 or caught a random clip on YouTube. There was Luke Bryan, the king of "bro-country," and Jason Derulo, the king of high-energy pop falsetto, singing into their phones. It looked like a total fever dream. They were doing a virtual duet of "Want to Want Me" on the Smule Sing! app, and honestly, it should have been a disaster.
But it wasn't. It was weirdly perfect.
That one viral moment kicked off a years-long "bromance" between Luke Bryan and Jason Derulo that actually changed how a lot of people think about genre-bending. It wasn’t just a one-off PR stunt; it was a legitimate musical collision that ended with them winning a CMT Award.
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How a Karaoke App Started the Chaos
Most celebrity collaborations start with high-powered agents and legal contracts in a boardroom. This one started with a smartphone. Luke Bryan decided to jump on the Smule app to promote his Kill the Lights album, and he chose to tackle Derulo’s massive pop hit "Want to Want Me."
If you watch the original clip, the contrast is hilarious. Jason is doing his polished, smooth R&B thing, and Luke is there in a baseball cap, grinning like a kid, trying to hit notes that shouldn't exist in a country singer's range. At one point, Luke literally stops and laughs, saying, "That's filthy, I can't do that!" after Jason hits a signature run.
But here is the thing: the fans lost their minds. That video racked up millions of views because it felt human. It didn't feel like a "corporate synergy" project. It felt like two guys who genuinely liked each other’s music having a blast.
The CMT Crossroads Magic
Because the internet wouldn't let it go, CMT did the smart thing and booked them for an episode of CMT Crossroads in 2016. This is usually where the "real" music happens. They didn't just play one song; they spent days in Nashville rehearsing and blending their styles.
The setlist was wild. You had Jason Derulo trying to find his footing on "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" and "That’s My Kind of Night." Then you had Luke Bryan attempting to stay cool while singing "Trumpets" and "Talk Dirty."
During the rehearsals, Luke famously joked about trying to keep up with Jason’s dance moves. "He’s got a dance move that I attempted and I tweaked a knee," Bryan told reporters.
- Key Performance: Their live version of "Want to Want Me" from that show was so good it actually got released as a single.
- The Surprise: Derulo admitted he actually wrote his hit "Ridin' Solo" as a country song initially, before the hip-hop beat was added.
- The Lingo: Luke had to explain the formal definition of a "honky-tonk" to Jason (apparently, neon lights are a non-negotiable requirement).
Why the Industry Was Shocked
People love to put music in boxes. Country stays in the barn; pop stays in the club. But Luke Bryan and Jason Derulo proved that the Venn diagram of their audiences is basically a circle. Both artists make "feel-good" music. Whether you're at a tailgate or a dance floor, the goal is the same: forget your problems and move.
They eventually took their act to the 2017 CMT Music Awards. This wasn't just a "fun segment" anymore. They were nominated for—and won—CMT Performance of the Year.
Think about that for a second. Jason Derulo, a guy who built his career on R&B and global pop, has a CMT Award on his shelf. He beat out pairings like Alicia Keys and Maren Morris, and Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett. It was a massive validation of the "unlikely" duo.
The Lessons for Modern Music
What can we actually learn from this? Mostly that "authenticity" is a buzzword that actually matters. If Luke had tried to act like a pop star, it would have been cringe. If Jason had tried to put on a fake Southern accent, we would have turned it off.
Instead, they leaned into the awkwardness. They let the seams show. Luke openly admitted he couldn't sing as high as Jason, and Jason openly admitted he didn't know anything about country culture. That honesty is why it worked.
If you want to dive back into this rabbit hole, do this:
- Watch the 2015 Smule Video: It’s the rawest version of their chemistry. Look for the moment Luke realizes he’s out of his depth and just starts cheering Jason on.
- Listen to the "Want to Want Me" Remix: The studio-quality version shows how well their voices actually harmonize. Luke’s gritty baritone provides a great floor for Jason’s falsetto.
- Check the 2017 CMT Awards Performance: This is the peak. They performed a mashup of "Strip It Down" and "Want to Want Me." It’s high energy, slightly chaotic, and a perfect example of why these two remain friends to this day.
The crossover didn't just help their brands; it opened the door for more adventurous pairings in Nashville. We don't get the current era of genre-fluid charts without the guys who were willing to look a little silly on a karaoke app first.