Russell Dickerson On Going Bigger, Bolder & Famous Back Home

It was the eve of the 19th annual ACM Honors event, Countrytown sat down with Russell Dickerson, where he hosted for the first time (alongside five-time host Carly Pearce). Cool and calm as can be, it’s not the only milestone for Dickerson this week, with his fourth studio album, Famous Back Home, released today.

Dickerson is visibly energised when he talks about the forthcoming album and the many influences and directions that he’s taken the record. It’s clear from talking to Dickerson why he and his work resonate so broadly, with the rock and R&B-tinged tracks turning the ears of country fans and those who might not label themselves as such… yet.

He’s quick to say that for him, his style is a natural progression rather than any ‘era’, as if this simple approach to music and going with the flow has accidentally seen him rise to the position he’s in now. 

“I’ve always just kind of written my life, my story, what I’m influenced by, what I’m listening to now - whatever. It’s always a natural progression. It’s a continuation of my life and I write songs from the heart, and those are just the best ones that make it onto the album.”

The first time we heard Worth Your Wild we saw all the signals of an instant anthem. The sweet lyrics and a delivery that feels so nostalgic for those moments in music where genres blended to create groups like Blink-182 and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. 

It’s a track you could have on repeat and enjoy it each time, only noticing it’s on repeat some time after. It feels like music like this is made in a lab, with all the right ingredients - but its creation was far more organic. 

“We had already written a song that day, and we said we need a guitar, we need some riffs, we need something big and boisterous. Me and Casey Brown started messing around with some lics on guitar, and Worth Your Wild was kind of what we ended up with.”

With Dickerson currently touring the states during his single releases and now album release, Worth Your Wild was immediately added to the set list. Predictably, it was well received. 

“Hearing people sing that already has been so cool. We played it before it was even out, and people take videos and people post them and learn the words. It’s cool to see.”

Those hoping the Famous Back Home record is of a similar rock influence to Worth Your Wild, there is certainly more to enjoy but we wager that the R&B inspired tracks are going to land just as well with the masses. Heard It In A Country Song, another instant hit, draws from the R&B genre that is also familiar to the Tennessee-born star, with his undeniable swagger and vocal range leaning into the low tones and smooth delivery.

“Heard It In A Country Song was kind of a surprise for me, it’s got that R&B feel and it’s acoustic and country. I wasn’t expecting that low vibe to turn into a song - that track has been doing great. That’s been added to the set list too.” 

Country pursuits expecting that classic sound and subject matter - don’t worry, Dickerson has you well looked after. 

“I think Love That I Love You is one that is going to catch on, and For A Truck is more of a heartfelt, mid-tempo song. I just love the message of that one. [It’s about] how I was saving up for a mandolin… but a truck sounded way cooler!”

“Sound wise for sure - and even conceptually. I think country is wide open to a lot more than people give it credit for than the truck bed and beer and whatever. Country is so much wider than that. The songwriting really just is what you tell the story with - and so much more fun to write with that country perspective.”

Dickerson sounds genuinely excited to have the album be released into the world and have his collection of music grow in a time where country is going from strength to strength collectively. He has always experimented with blending sound and genre and testing the elasticity of country, and this is so evident with the album imagery and short promotional video clips we have seen so far with their vintage look and feel - a far cry from the masses scrambling to look hard, brooding or the poster person for country. 

“That’s always been my case. From album one with Yours, my singles had a sound and then on the first record I had Billions and Float - those left of centre songs. Songs that are swaggy and those R&B influences. its always been the case for me. Having the singles and stuff but then also letting loose on songs that I want to let loose on.”

Russell Dickerson has become one of country music’s most reliable hitmakers, pairing radio-friendly hooks with an unmistakably earnest delivery. Since his breakout, the Tennessee native has enjoyed five chart-topping singles, including the 3xPlatinum “Yours,” the road-trip anthem “Blue Tacoma,” and more recent successes like “God Gave Me a Girl.” His willingness to blur genre lines was evident in “She Likes It,” a silky collaboration with Jake Scott that leaned into pop and soul influences and went on to earn 2 x Platinum status.

Famous Back Home is released today, available wherever you stream.