Charlie Worsham and Chase Rice have been slowly getting to know each other better for over a decade now, but it wasn’t until this past summer that they finally got to work together on a larger scale. This experience allowed them to truly build on their friendship and get to know each other on an even deeper level.
While talking to Country Now, Worsham shared his gratitude, expressing how thankful he is that “the stars aligned” for them to join Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour together. Playing in Bentley’s band while Rice performed as an opener gave Worsham the chance to see Rice in a whole new light.
Seeing Rice Evolve As An Aritst
He specifically makes note of the shift the “Way Down Yonder” singer made in his career recently. In his early days, Chase Rice was known for being a part of the “bro country” era and writing mainstream songs that were designed more to be catchy earworms rather than provide something of substance. However, with Rice’s 2023 record, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, he takes a much more mature approach to songwriting and for the first time, presents listeners with his most authentic self.
“Where he has steered his ship in the last couple of years, it’s really hard to reinvent yourself and to humble yourself enough to do something like that, especially when you’ve already had success and you could just go on. Being that person and having that success, it takes a lot of courage to do what he’s doing,” Worsham pointed out.
There are several fan-favorites in Rice’s catalog that he will never be able to outrun, regardless of if they fit his new image or not, one being the mega hit he co-wrote for Florida Georgia Line in 2012 – “Cruise.” Since this song is still such a big part of the North Carolina native’s story, he’s found a way to incorporate it into his live sets. According to Worsham, his current rendition of the song is done in a way that better reflects who he is as an artist now.
“I’m also such a music nerd that it was fun for me to get to work with him and his band and just look at what he’s doing now,” Worsham continued. “And the moment that kills me every night in the set is when he goes into ‘Cruise’ and it’s just him on his acoustic and a steel guitar because it’s a way of hearing that song that you never would expect. And it’s super duper country, but it’s always been super duper country. It’s just the way the record was produced at the time and all. And I think it’s a great way for people who don’t know to understand better who Chase is and where he is coming from.”
Worsham Makes An Impact On Rice
In a recent interview with Country Now and other outlets, Rice returned the kind words, praising Worsham’s talent and his genuine commitment to supporting his success.
“Charlie Worsham is in Dierks’ band, which is crazy that he’s in somebody else’s band because he’s incredible. But our first parts of the Dierks tour weren’t actually going really well. I felt like they were fine, but nothing special…Oscar [Charles] told me, he’s like, ‘Charlie’s out there, why don’t you ask him if he’ll help you out?’ And Charlie did. He watched three or four shows, took notes, called me. We went over a bunch of stuff…and Charlie is incredible and he helped us really dial in that set,” Rice shared.
A 10-Year Journey
Both Worsham and Rice moved to Nashville with the goal of finding their place in the “lonesome cliff that is the music industry” and becoming great songwriters. Regardless of finding themselves working down the same path, the Mississippi native says that he never would have imagined that they would have both ended up where they did.
“I mean, he and I, both who we were 10 years ago, it’s evolved so much. But all my favorite people evolve in life, but especially in art, like in music, Eric Church has never made the same record twice. I love that. That’s what I aspire to. And so I love that about Chase.”
He added, “I’m proud to know him and I’m really, really hopeful. I am optimistic it’s going to work out, but I do, I hope we get to tour together next year.”
Returning To The Road Together In 2025
Per Chase Rice’s recent announcement, it turns out that Worsham will be achieving that goal. Beginning March 8, Rice will launch the international leg of his headlining Go Down Singin’ Tour and Worsham was named one of the special guests who will join on select dates along with Pony Bradshaw, Lori McKenna and Bella Mackenzie.
The idea to hit the road together came about during their run with Bentley when Worsham offered to fill an opening slot with an acoustic set. Rice explained that he didn’t need much convincing at all to make this happen.
“I’m just like, you can do whatever you want, Charlie. You’re better than all of us. And then I was like, ‘why don’t you just ride the bus and we can write? You can open use my guys. As soon as you’re done with your set, don’t even finish it. I’ll come out with you for one and then we’ll just go right into my set. No break at all.”
Fans can still expect to hear snippets of some of the early songs like “Cruise” and “Ready Set Roll” on the upcoming trek and Rice expressed his hope that Worsham will join him in telling the stories behind these tunes.
“I think that’s something Charlie’s going to be able to help us out, come in and help us really dive into the emotions of all these songs. Then still give a tip of that to where I was 10 years ago. Those are still relevant songs and it helps tell the story of why I’m here now because I did this. And it allows people to have fun. People still want to have fun at concerts, so I want to be able to give ’em that too.”
For a full list of Chase Rice’s upcoming dates, click HERE.
The post Chase Rice And Charlie Worsham Reflect On How Touring With Dierks Bentley Strengthened Their Unexpected Friendship appeared first on Country Now.
