Chase Rice Says He Won’t Go Back to Bro-Country No Matter How Successful It Was: “This Is Who I Am”

Chase Rice introduced a new side of himself with his 2023 album I Hate Cowboys and All Dogs Go to Hell. Then, he left his longtime label and released Go Down Singin’ in 2024 as an independent artist. The two albums represent a major change in Rice’s sound, leaning hard into traditional country music instrumentation and songwriting. Rice and critics agree that the albums contain the best music of his career. However, it isn’t as popular as the material he released in the past.

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Recently, Rice spoke to People about his plans for the future and his latest albums. During the conversation, he shared his frustration that more people haven’t heard what he believes is his best work.

[RELATED: Chase Rice Showcases His Artistic Evolution on New Surprise EP ‘Live from Chief’s’]

Chase Rice on Getting His Music to the Masses

Chase Rice surprised listeners with the music on I Hate Cowboys and All Dogs Go to Hell. He left the bro-country sound that brought him hits songs and acclaim and stepped into a more traditional country sound. Then, Go Down Singin’ saw him double down on that change. His most recent EP, Live from Chief’s continued the trend. While he’s happier with the music he’s making now, fewer people are tuning in to hear it.

“That has been the frustrating part of the last two years because it’s the best music I’ve ever made,” Rice said. “But the masses haven’t heard it. They don’t know it exists,” he added. However, that won’t stop him from continuing down this musical path.

“So how do we get people to really believe what I’m doing? The short answer for me is just keep doing it,” Rice said.

“You look at ‘Ready, Set, Roll’ and ‘Drinkin’ Beer, Talkin’ God, Amen,’ and all those songs that were hits for me back in the day and it keeps me wondering why that is what people want to hear as opposed to the more quality, better music I’m making now,” Rice shared. “I don’t have an answer for that, but I’m not going to go back to what I was doing. This is who I am.”

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