Sometimes it’s best to start with the last question first.
“Something exciting, like ‘holy cow!’” Russell Dickerson said. “Or, I know, ‘Today’s The Best Day.’” Dickerson is wrapping up the phone interview with answers to the last question posed – what the title of his autobiography would be? In doing so, he’s capturing the positivity and infectious charm that many in the country music word have become increasingly fond –after all he is one of music’s rising stars. Dickerson’s “Every Little Thing” notched the top spot on Billboard Country Airplay chart, as well as the Mediabase chart. In the order of things, this is Dickerson’s third consecutive No. 1 single – “Every Little Thing” follows “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma”. All three are from the 2017 debut album, Yours, via Thirty Tigers. Dickerson is also credited as co-writer.
Dickerson is calling from Nashville. He’s on a break while recording in the studio. He’s telling me how exciting it was to watch the charts, and go neck-in-neck with Luke Bryan, and how his team kept him abreast of the chart position. While he’s not able to give any sneak peaks or divulge much on his next album. All he will tell me is that he’s in the “middle stages” and comes in for a few hours at a time and “falls down the rabbit-hole.”
He is able to paint a clearer picture of the man behind three No. 1s. It’s evident as the conversation continues that his infectious smile is not just for the cameras. On the other line is a humble man, a 32-year-old from Union City, Tenn., and in this time of thanksgiving and gratitude, a man that shares his success with his team and his wife.
“The first thing I thought of this morning was how far we’ve come,” Dickerson said. “Being in the music industry was always the plan. Nine years later, it’s crazy. I just woke up proud.”
His EP Yours follows his Die To Live Again EP (2011). “Yours”, the single, though released in 2017, continues to gain momentum on streaming services and YouTube views. “Blue Tacoma” hit No. 1 in 2018 and is a lush, gorgeous love song. Dickerson co-wrote every song on the album. His writing process varies – sometimes he and his team start from nothing.
“Every Little Thing” (the third single) is inspired by his wife, Kailey. The two met while studying at Belmont University in Nashville where they had the same voice teacher. The couple has been married for nearly seven years.
“She would describe my music as full of life,” Dickerson said.
The song is a punchy, get-up and go song. It’s a wave of summer love and a year-round devotion to dance to. Dickerson’s vocals are deep and he has a natural twang in his vulnerability. As he sings “‘Cause I love every little, every little, every little thing about her love/ Just a little, just a little, just a little ain’t enough / Gotta get a, gotta get a, get a little more of all she does I’m all hung up, ’cause I love/Every little, every little, every little thing about her love” a vibrant, inescapable whistle follows the listener.
“I had a light whistle going and my producer (and co-writer ) Casey (Brown) said to use it in the track,” Dickerson said, taking the time to actually whistle on the other end and giving me a personal concert with the lyrics “My baby, she’s Alabama, my Dixieland delight.”
Fans have come to love Dickerson’s jump-in attitude. They witnessed it firsthand in the title track video. Shot on a shoe-string budget in black-and-white, Dickerson is singing passionately on a highway road. Wide open skies, ominous clouds emerge and a thunderstorm nearly interrupts the filming. They didn’t stop and captured an electric performance from both Mother Nature and Dickerson. The poignant video captures an artist with vulnerability and courage. If the video were done in any other way – it wouldn’t have had the same impact. Covered in rain, Dickerson belts out “But I came to life when I first kissed you / The best me has his arms around you”.
It’s worth noting that it took almost three years for “Yours” to reach the top of the charts. Further proof that determination, faith and talent are etched in Dickerson’s psyche.
Dickerson really is living his best life, and his reach seems to be growing with each endeavor. He and his wife recently purchased a house they plan to renovate. Yes, of course, they are watching HGTV for inspirations. One of their favorite things to do is have guests over for dinner.
“We love having guests over and my wife is so good at conversation,” he said. “What I like most about it is just hearing people’s stories and talking about the real stuff in your life. And we eat delicious food!”
Dickerson’s favorite menu items include a good steak, pork chops and he’s even made spaghetti pasta from scratch. When he’s not in the studio or on the road – he will perform with Jimmie Allen (“Best Shot”) and Jordan Davis “Singles You Up” and “Take It From Me”) on select dates – he’s ready for some downtime during the holidays.
“I’m looking forward to being bored,” he said, laughing a little. “For just a day. But we like to do antiquing, thrifting on our down time. I’m a wannabe reader, I’ll go a few chapters in on a book, and then fall off. The priority is really to be with family. Life is so chaotic right now.”
Something tells me he will take the chaos with stride and spin it in a positive way to make it work for him – Dickerson is scheduled to perform select 2020 dates with Chris Lane (“Fix”) and later Kane Brown (“Lose It”, “Good As You”). Dickerson might be a “wannabe reader” but the chapters in his book are already being written – one song at a time and one day at a time. Nine years in, sure, but things are just getting started.