Chase Rice Used His College Football Mindset to Help Conquer Country Music

Chase Rice Used His College Football Mindset to Help Conquer Country Music

Chase Rice has lived a full and well-rounded life before turning 40—and before establishing himself as one of country music’s hottest voices. Rice’s résumé includes elite college football athlete with NFL aspirations to a reality TV star—finishing runner-up on the hit TV series Survivor, Nicaragua. Along the way, he also earned a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup championships as a pit crew member for top driver Jimmie Johnson.

Now, the former North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker drops his seventh album, Go Down Singin’, which he calls his best work yet. This comes after his previous personal favorite, the uniquely titled 2023 album I Hate Cowboys and All Dogs Go to Hell. Over a decade after he started his pursuit of music greatness, Rice, who just turned 39, is confident in this latest release.

“This album is my favorite album I’ve ever done,” Rice says, “because it’s real, it’s personal, it’s great songwriting, it’s storytelling, and it’s country.”

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The Football Mentality

Rice’s entry into country music is anything but ordinary. As he rehabbed an ankle injury that eventually cut his football career short, Rice turned to the internet for DIY guitar lessons. After learning a few chords, Rice turned a low moment of his life (his father had also passed away at the time) into a country music opportunity.

Rice has developed into a successful singer-songwriter who continues to rely on a hard-nosed work ethic—similar to the dedication that helped him earn a starting spot at UNC. Whether it’s moving up the charts or keeping fit, Rice knows the process going forward will always be a continuous grind.

“Other people are more talented than me,” he admits. “Morgan Wallen is a way better singer than me. Zach Bryan’s a way better poetic songwriter than me… So what can I do better than [them]? That’s the competitive side of this. But I’m just trying to be the best version of me.”

Chase Rice Enjoys the Outdoor Life

Rice plans a tour in the spring of 2025, during which he’ll also be working on songs for his next album. The delay he says is to allow his fans to soak in the album. “I’m going to give people time to learn the album and really dig into it,” he says.

But while he doesn’t hit the weights as often or intense as he did during his playing days, Rice, who also owns a buffalo ranch outside of Nashville, does use his time away from the stage to enjoy the outdoors.

“I’ll be elk hunting, deer hunting, duck hunting with my dog,” he says. “When winter rolls around, I’ll snowboard, and I’ll have time to write a lot of songs.”

Forever a Football Mentality

Rice’s hard-nosed mindset was forged in part thanks to the weight room. He spent a lot of time lifting for his college coach at North Carolina, and everything had a purpose—get better to perform better.

“We did a lot of bands, a lot of squats. a lot of power cleans,” he says. “[Our coach] was big on fast-twitch muscles. Anything we were doing that was quick and fast, that was huge, which I don’t do anymore, and I need to get back on.”

Rice no longer works with that coach, but he never lost that fire for training. He started working at a CrossFit gym and met the owner, who became his trainer during the pandemic. That trainer is now on the road with Rice and his team working in a management position. The workouts involve more bodyweight and bands than plates and bars. But the work is still challenging and rewarding while he maintains a weight of around 205 pounds.

“I’m just trying to optimize my body now, as opposed to being a crazy fit dude. I just want to be in good shape,” he says.

Chase Rice is a DIY Country Music Star

Rice’s talent on the guitar actually came to him while he was recovering from an ankle injury. He started learning from watching YouTube videos, then a friend showed him some chords. Those chords eventually became a part of Florida Georgia Line’s hit song, Cruise, which became his first No. 1 song as a co-songwriter. Even though he is thriving in country music, he is still a student in his mind.

“The process is still happening, which is the crazy part, like I’m learning new s*** every day on these new records,”

Conclusion

Rice’s dedication to his craft is evident in his music, and his perseverance has led him to success. Whether it’s through his NFL aspirations, his reality TV stint, or his musical endeavors, Rice has continually pushed himself to be better. His unique blend of country music and football-inspired mentality has earned him a loyal fan base, and his latest album is testament to his hard work.

FAQs

Q: What inspires Chase Rice’s music?
A: Chase Rice’s music is inspired by his personal experiences and his passion for country music.

Q: How did Chase Rice learn to play the guitar?
A: Rice learned to play the guitar through DIY guitar lessons while rehabbing an ankle injury.

Q: What is Chase Rice’s favorite album?
A: Rice’s favorite album is his latest, Go Down Singin’, which he calls his best work yet.

Q: Is Chase Rice a free agent?
A: Yes, Rice is currently a free agent as an artist.

Q: Why did Chase Rice delay releasing his new album?
A: Rice delayed releasing his new album to allow his fans to fully absorb the music and provide them with the best listening experience.