Introduction:
Lauren Alaina Reveals the Real Story Behind Her Hit Duet With Kane Brown — and Why Skipping One Workout Changed Everything
Country music has produced plenty of unforgettable duets, but few have the staying power of “What Ifs,” the chart-topping collaboration between Lauren Alaina and Kane Brown. As Alaina takes over hosting duties on Backstage Country with Elaina Smith from September 22–26, she’s pulling back the curtain on how the now-iconic song came together — and why it almost didn’t happen at all.
A Collaboration Years in the Making
Alaina and Brown’s musical chemistry didn’t start in a studio — it started in a middle school cafeteria. The two grew up together, even singing in the same choir long before either imagined country stardom. So when Brown was looking for the perfect female voice for a new song he’d written, he turned to the friend who had harmonized beside him since childhood.
“He called me one day and asked me to be a part of that song,” Alaina shared. “I sang on the demo as a favor. The label liked my voice on it, so they kept me on it. The whole thing was really random and very organic. I’ll never forget it.”
What started as a simple gesture between old friends quickly transformed into a career-defining moment. “What Ifs” became a breakout hit for Brown, helped propel him into mainstream stardom, and marked a major milestone in Alaina’s career as well.
The Best Workout She Never Took
The story gets even better — and more unexpected.
Alaina says Brown reached out at the perfect (or perfectly chaotic) moment. “I was on my way to a boxing class when he called,” she explained. Brown told her he needed a female vocal immediately for the demo. Without hesitation, Alaina pivoted her day on the spot.
“I canceled my workout and went and did the song on a random request,” she said with a laugh. “Best workout I’ve ever skipped. You never regret a workout you did — only the one you skipped. But I do not regret skipping that one. We made a lot of money from that skipped workout.”
A Friendship That Never Faded
As Alaina continues her guest-hosting duties this week, she’s sharing even more stories about her lifelong friendship with Brown — how they stayed connected after fame, how their early bond shaped their careers, and how one spontaneous studio visit led to one of country music’s biggest modern duets.
Before you go texting your old middle-school friends asking if they want to start a band, tune into Backstage Country. Lauren Alaina’s stories just might convince you that sometimes, the best collaborations — and the biggest hits — happen when you least expect them.