Belmont University alumni and country music superstar Russell Dickerson is gearing up for one of the biggest tour runs of his career.
Dickerson is set to embark on the third leg of his “RUSSELLMANIA” Tour, featuring a stretch of headline shows and new music that continues to define his sound.
Dickerson transferred to Belmont his junior year after two years at Middle Tennessee State University. The experience in Nashville marked a turning point in both his career and sense of community, he said.
“When I got to Belmont, people were hanging out, doing writer’s rounds, staying up late playing music. I was like, this is what I’m talking about, it felt like home,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson graduated in 2011 with a degree in vocal performance and has since amassed over four billion streams globally. Fast forward 10 years, he is now preparing for a massive stretch of performances on the upcoming leg of his “RUSSELLMANIA Tour,” which will take him to major venues across the United States and internationally.
Some of the biggest stops on the “RUSSELLMANIA” tour will take place at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and to over 69,000 people at the main stage at CMA Fest, which will be held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“The production, the lights, everything; we get to take this to Red Rocks, to the Greek, to all these bucket list venues,” Dickerson said.
Enrolling in Belmont in 2007, Dickerson says that the shift of environment helped him grow as a songwriter and an artist willing to experiment beyond traditional country boundaries.
Early in his career, he tried to model his sound after established traditional artists but quickly realized that authenticity would be key to standing out.
“Nothing happened when I tried to sound like somebody else. There’s already a Keith Urban, there’s already a Josh Turner,” Dickerson said.
“It wasn’t like, ‘we’ve got to fit into this genre.’ It was, what do we want to create? What do we think sounds dope?” he said.
This mindset led to genre-blending songs like “Every Little Thing” and “Happen to Me,” which have both landed a #1 spot on the charts. Dickerson is known for incorporating elements of pop, rock and alternative influences into the country space.
Kicking off the tour on April 23 in Raleigh, NC, Russell could not be more enthusiastic.
“We worked so hard for so long, and it’s like, holy crap, we’re finally here,” he said.
One of the most anticipated performances for Dickerson will be his hometown show at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville on May 8, which doubles as his birthday celebration.
“I want to make this just freaking ridiculous and over the top… I want to make it special, it’s my birthday bash,” he said.
The show will include performances from Tyler Hubbard, Adrien Nunez and Kevin Powers.
Dickerson also hinted that the show could include surprise appearances, though those details are still in the works.
“We’re working behind the scenes on getting some special guests… we’ve got some cool stuff planned,” he added.
As the live show element remains his favorite part of being an artist, Dickerson is equally excited about the music he is currently releasing. His latest EP, Worth Your Wild, reflects a more carefree and experimental creative process.
“There’s a different kind of freedom with the summer EPs, it’s beachy, it’s fun, it’s just creating whatever feels right,” he said.
Dickerson also shared that he will be opening for Kenny Chesney this summer and is excited to perform his new beach-inspired material for those audiences.
“We’re opening for Kenny Chesney, and I think that’s going to be the perfect little banger for that set,” he said. “I feel like there’s a different kind of freedom with the summer EPs because it’s beachy, it’s fun, it’s poppy. It’s all those different elements that you can introduce.”
The project leans into upbeat production and genre crossover elements, reinforcing Dickerson’s commitment to making music that feels authentic rather than confined to industry expectations.
“I think you just have to keep it real and be who you are. There are a million people trying to be the same thing,” he said.
That authenticity also shows up in his songwriting, where Russell often writes about nostalgic storytelling over heartbreak.
“I’m not really a heartbreak guy… I look back on relationships with that nostalgic piece instead,” Dickerson said.
As his career continues to grow, Dickerson said the combination of new music, large-scale touring, and meaningful live experiences is what drives him forward.
“The live shows are what I love the most about all of this,” he said.
From playing writer’s rounds as a Belmont student to headlining CMA Fest, Dickerson’s musical journey radiates both persistence and a commitment to staying true and authentic, a balance that continues to resonate with fans as he enters his next chapter.