Russell Dickerson

Russell Dickerson belongs to a class of country singers who slyly incorporate modern R&B rhythms into their bright, tuneful, mainstream country-pop -- a class that also features Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett. Dickerson first started to gain traction in late 2015 with the single "Yours." The song hit number one on the Country Airplay charts in 2017, starting a series of three Country chart-toppers for Dickerson ("Blue Tacoma" and "Every Little Thing" followed in 2018) that set up the 2020 release of his second album, Southern Symphony. Two years later, he returned with his third album, the eponymously-title Russell Dickerson, which included the hit "She Likes It." He kept things rolling in 2023 with an expanded version of his self-titled album, a deluxe version of The Afterparty, the summery Three Months Two Streets Down EP, and 2024's Bones the EP.

As a native of Nashville, Dickerson grew up in the thick of Music City and by the time he hit college, he knew he wanted to pursue music professionally. He completed a degree in music at Belmont University and in 2010 scored representation with Creative Artists Agency, who helped him land a publishing deal in addition to repping him as a performer. Dickerson's first attempt at a solo career -- 2011's "That's My Girl" -- didn't go anywhere, but in 2013, "Green Light" became a hit on satellite radio. Over the next couple of years, Dickerson's music became poppier, a makeover that paid off once "Yours" became a country radio hit in late 2015, leading to the release of the Yours EP in 2016. The EP was expanded into a full-length album of the same name the following year, which reached number five on Billboard's Country Albums Chart and landed a pair of hits with "Blue Tacoma" and the gold-selling single "Every Little Thing."

February 2020 saw the release of the single "Love You Like I Used To," which hit number five on Billboard's Country Songs chart and paved the way for Dickerson's second LP. Released in December 2020, Southern Symphony featured a guest appearance by Florida Georgia Line and spawned a second Top 30 country single with "Home Sweet." It also hit number 14 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

In early 2022, he issued the platinum-selling single "She Likes It" (featuring Jack Scott), which later appeared on his third full-length, the eponymously-titled Russell Dickerson. Released that November, the album saw Dickerson adopt a more reflective tone while still delivering chart-topping country-pop bangers like "I Wonder" and the Jake Scott-assisted "She Likes It." The following year saw the release of the breezy, coastal-themed EP Three Months Two Streets Down. He also released an expanded version of his self-titled album, The Afterparty, which featured 10 additional tracks, including the single "Red Dirt Church," featuring Needtobreathe. Bones The EP arrived in August 2024. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine