Colbie Caillat is officially leaving her band Gone West only after two years.
The country-pop singer announced the news on Instagram Wednesday (Aug. 12), which comes just four months after she and ex-fiancé/Gone West bandmate Justin Young ended their 10-year relationship. Married couple Jason Reeves and Nelly Joy make up the remaining two members of the country quartet.
“After a lot of thought during this time, Justin and I have decided to leave Gone West. Creative partnerships, especially with friends, are both rewarding and challenging at times, and though this was not an easy decision, we know ending the band was the right one,” Caillat began writing in the posted note. “Justin and I are best friends, and will continue to make music together forever.”
Gone West released the group’s debut album Canyon on June 12, which the “Bubbly” singer expressed gratitude for in her exit announcement. “Canyons is an album we truly love and cherish, every song holds so much truth in the experiences we all go through in life,” she penned.
Caillat and Young performed a few Canyon tracks during their Billboard Live At-Home charity concert together on April 16 while quarantined in their Nashville home. But Gone West couldn’t perform the new album on their scheduled summer and fall tour dates, which were canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
It remains unclear whether the 35-year-old artist will pivot back to a solo career, considering the last line of her letter reads, “Here’s to whatever adventure comes next….” On her own, Caillat has won two Grammy awards for album of the year with Fearless and best pop collaboration with vocals with the Jason Mraz-assisted hit single “Lucky.” Additionally, she’s achieved four million cumulative album sales and eight multi-platinum records to date.
Read Caillat’s entire exit note below.
After a lot of thought during this time, Justin and I have decided to leave Gone West. Creative partnerships, especially with friends, are both rewarding and challenging at times, and though this was not an easy decision, we know ending the band was the right one. Justin and I are best friends and will continue to make music together forever.
We’re so proud of the music the four of us created together over the past three years. Canyons is an album we truly love and cherish, every song holds so much truth in the experiences we all go through in life.
I want to thank all of my fans and all of Gone Wests fans for supporting our music, coming to our shows, and everything in-between. I also want to thank Country radio, JR & SiriusXM, Triple Tigers and our entire teams hard work and creativity, and for believing in us and helping our music get out into the world. Thank you all.
Here’s to whatever adventure comes next…
