No one fights like family. Right now, the members of former country group The Band Perry are proving that.
After lead singer Kimberly Perry announced the relaunch of the Grammy-winning family band in early 2026, one part of the announcement stood out. The hit-making sibling trio was now a husband-and-wife duo, comprised of Kimberly and her spouse Johnny Costello. Brothers Neil and Reid Perry would no longer be a part of the group who took "If I Die Young" to No. 1 in 2010, with Kimberly characterizing the family's dynamic as supportive of the shift.
Now, Neil Perry has disputed that claim in a series of sharp-tongued social media posts.
Neil opened up about the change from family trio to duo in a pair of detailed Instagram posts, saying he was
never on board with the idea. The Band Perry went on hiatus in 2023 after more than a decade of work and multiple No. 1 country radio hits. After exploring solo opportunities, they began thinking about a reunion. One brother, Reid, was less enthusiastic than the other members.
"My sister wanted her husband to become a member of the band, taking my brother’s place," Neil wrote. "I made it equally clear that I was not okay with that."
Neil went on to say issues developed which went beyond the band's lineup, and that he was ultimately fired from the band a day after his birthday. He said he has subsequently lost financial interest in the band he helped create. "I explicitly asked my sister not to misrepresent my support for the current version of the band," Neil posted on Instagram.
Neil's recounting of the timeline and story give the impression of a turbulent negotiation which eventually went sour, leaving the once-close family completely out of contact. Yet he also took the opportunity to promote his new music, a project he's calling Wolves of June.
Neither Kimberly nor Reid have responded to the posts so far. The Band Perry's current single "PSYCHOLOGICAL" is out now. The duo has tour dates listed across the U.S. and Canada through 2026 and into 2027.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The Band Perry is a now a duo. Neil Perry spells out all the family drama
