Chase Rice Opens Up About Father’s Sudden Death

chase rice father

photo: Chase Rice Instagram

The highs and lows of country music artist Chase Rice's real life could be its own country song. More on Chase's father and the impact of his death, here.

Life can take some unexpected twists and turns and nobody knows that better than country music artist Chase Rice. Before he was listed as a co-writer for Florida Georgia Line’s hit song “Cruise,” Chase was just a young man chasing his dream of playing in the NFL. Life had a different plan for him though, an ankle injury during his junior year of college lead to him picking up his guitar more. This musical skill would soon help him when he received the biggest shock of his life— the phone call letting him know that his father Daniel had died.

“The way she said my name I knew something was wrong. And then she said, ‘Come home, dad died.’ And I was just like ‘Wait, what?’ He had a heart attack. Probably a month later, I wrote my first song. It was about my dad, kinda my way to get it out.” Chase opened up to CBS This Morning about the heart-wrenching phone call he received from his mother.

Following his father’s death, Chase finished college, began working on a NASCAR pit crew, and then made a decision that would ultimately lead him to becoming the person he his today— he made it on the reality television show Survivor. Coming in second place on the popular program earned him $100,000 which was just enough for him to move to Nashville and pursue a musical career. In Music City, he caught up with an old buddy, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley.

Chase’s album, Ignite the Night which was released on August 19, 2014 coincidentally was another special day- his late father’s birthday.

“It was a coincidence,” Chase begins. “There were only a few days we had off to release it, so it fell on what just so happened to be his birthday, which was cool for me.”

Updated my dad on some things. Was a good day.

A post shared by CHASE RICE (@chaserice) on

Life has thrown some curve balls his way, but Chase has persevered at every turn and is building his career. In November, the artist dropped his latest album, Lambs & Lions. 

Lambs & Lions Track Listing:

“Lions” (Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Chase Rice)
“On Tonight” (Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill, Jon Nite)
“Unforgettable” (Chase Rice, Josh Miller, Steven Lee Olson, David Garcia)
“Eyes On You” (Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Chase Rice)
“Saved Me” (MCV, Josh Hoge, Chase Rice)
“One Love, One Kiss, One Drink, One Song” (Jesse Rice, Chase Rice)
“Jack Daniel’s Showed Up” (Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Chase Rice)
“Three Chords & The Truth” (Chase Rice, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite)
“Amen” (Rodney Clawson, Jamie Moore) *
“This Cowboy’s Hat” featuring Ned LeDoux (Jake Brooks)

Watch the official “Three Chords & The Truth” music video below!

Remaining Lambs and Lions Tour Dates

Dec. 14 Rosemont, IL| Joe’s Live
Dec. 15 York, PA| Jingle Bell Jam
Dec. 18 Hartford, CT| The Cadillac Ranch Restaurant
Jan. 18 New York, N.Y. | Terminal 5
Jan. 19 Boston, Mass. | House of Blues
Jan. 20 Philadelphia, Pa. | The Filmore
Jan. 25 St. Louis, Mo. | The Pageant
Jan. 26 Milwaukee, Wis. | The Rave
Jan. 27 Detroit, Mich. | The Fillmore
Feb. 1 Norfolk, Va. | Norva Theatre
Feb. 3 Pittsburgh, Pa. | Stage AE
Feb. 8 Orlando, Fla. | House of Blues
Feb. 9 Tampa, Fla. | The Ritz Ybor
Feb. 10 Atlanta, Ga. | Buckhead Theatre

View more tour information here.

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