With a wink to pop culture and a nod to small-town roots, Russell Dickerson delivers in ‘Famous Back Home’ a 12-track mix of fun, nostalgia, and heart that proves being “famous” means a whole lot more than just the spotlight.
Stream: ‘Famous Back Home’ – Russell Dickerson
Being famous back home to me is making the people closest to me proud – my wife and kids, my family, the friends who’ve been with me since childhood. That’s the truest kind of ‘famous.’
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Laundry drying on the line, a couple of 10-speeds tipped over on a freshly mowed lawn, watermelon slices stacked on a cooler.
And standing right in the middle of it all is Russell Dickerson, soaking it in on the cover of his latest album, Famous Back Home. It’s a scene that feels like the album itself: Sun-soaked, familiar, and full of memories in the making.
Released August 22 via Triple Tigers, the 12-track collection is intentionally crafted to tell a story that closely mirrors Dickerson’s own. Famous Back Home blends upbeat nostalgia with heartfelt moments, seamlessly shifting between party anthems and reflections on gratitude. It’s just as at home blasting from the speakers at a backyard barbecue as it is echoing through a stadium.
Dickerson isn’t shy about honoring the music that shaped him. There’s a playful nod to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in the high-energy “Happen to Me,” and a clever flip of David Lee Murphy’s ‘90s country classic “Dust on the Bottle” in Dickerson’s own track, “Dust.”
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
at the top of her lungs
Don’t even know she’s
’bout to wreck someone
And boys, I’m in trouble now
Ain’t even tryna get out
So come on baby, take me
Down, down, down, yeah
Don’t know what happened tonight
Don’t know what happened last week
Don’t know what happened to her
But she ’bout to happen to me, mm
She ’bout to happen to me
– “Happen to Me,” Russell Dickerson
“I grew up on ’90s country, and ‘Dust on the Bottle’ holds so many special memories for me,” he says. “Using it as a lyrical centerpiece felt like a fun nod to the music that shaped me. It’s a heartfelt homage to that era, but it also feels completely fresh.”
That balance of nostalgia and reinvention runs throughout the album. Songs like “Worth Your Wild” bring in pop-punk energy inspired by Blink-182 and The 1975, while “Happen to Me” showcases Dickerson’s lighthearted side.
But when the record slows down, the emotional weight comes through.
The title track, “Famous Back Home,” centers on the tension between chasing big dreams and staying grounded in the things that matter most. The song was inspired by his sons, Remington and Radford, and a driveway where their tiny handprints are pressed into the concrete.
“It’s those simple, sacred moments – the bedtime stories, the laughter at home – that really matter,” he says. “Everything else feels more meaningful when that foundation is strong.”
Dickerson’s warm, soaring vocals deliver one of the album’s most powerful moments when he sings: “Yeah, I had a big dream of bein’ somebody / Somebody someone back home can look up to… I look around and I guess I went out and did it… Hey baby, can’t wait to kiss you / Look, daddy, I lost my first tooth… I’m livin’ the dream, yeah, I’m a household name / Yeah, I’m famous back home.”
It’s not just another radio-ready hit – it’s a love letter to the people and places that shaped him.
“As I got further down this road, I realized winning the world wasn’t the goal,” Dickerson reflects.
“It’s being famous in the four walls of my house. Being famous back home to me is making the people closest to me proud – my wife and kids, my family, the friends who’ve been with me since childhood. That’s the truest kind of ‘famous.’”
Though now based in Nashville, Dickerson still proudly reps Union City, Tennessee – a hometown rooted in connection. The city’s name, born from the joining of two railroads, feels symbolic of Dickerson’s music: a blend of country tradition and modern pop.
That crossover appeal recently led to an unexpected – and undeniably catchy – collaboration with the Jonas Brothers. It might sound like an odd pairing on paper, but in reality, it highlights Dickerson’s ability to move between genres without losing his identity. His country roots run deep, but there’s a pop polish and energy that keeps things current.
“Working with Josh Kerr, Casey Brown, and Chris LaCorte really brought this record to life,” Dickerson says of his longtime creative team. “They pushed me to explore new ideas while keeping it true to who I am. That’s what made this album so exciting – and so authentic.”
Despite his platinum singles and headline tours, Dickerson approaches every success with genuine humility.
“Honestly, every No. 1 still blows my mind,” he admits. “One moment that really stuck with me was hearing the crowd sing ‘Happen To Me’ back to me for the first time in Nashville. That’s the kind of thing you never get used to.”
That sense of connection extends to his live shows. Whether he’s onstage for thousands during the Russellmania Tour 2025 or strumming a guitar at a backyard gathering, Dickerson brings the same energy every time.
“Fans can expect a full-on celebration of music, energy, and a little bit of chaos – in the best way,” he says. “It’s gonna be an RD PARTY from start to finish.”
Dickerson keeps his focus on the bigger picture. He approaches Famous Back Home with that same mindset, using the album as a personal reflection and a way to connect with fans on a deeper level.
“This album feels like a new chapter for me, but it’s also a reminder of where it all began,” Dickerson reflects. “I want every record, every tour, every song to feel like an invitation – to celebrate the big wins, to laugh through the chaos, to hold on tight to the people who matter most. If I can keep making music that does that, then I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
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© Bree Marie Fish
© Bree Marie FishFamous Back Home
an album by Russell Dickerson
