Ripping Up the Country Charts

Russell Dickerson Is Ripping Up the Country Charts and the Weightroom

A Rising Star in Country Music

Russell Dickerson is a country music artist whose star appears to just keep rising. With three albums making the U.S. Country charts and four No. 1 songs, including "Yours," "Blue Tacoma," "Every Little Thing," and "Love You Like I Used To," he’s already achieved significant success. Another hit, "God Gave Me a Girl," reached No. 2.

New EP and Success

Dickerson has now released a newly released EP, "Bones," and the title track has already gained over two million streams on Spotify. He’s enjoying success now, and his YouTube series, "This is Russ," which chronicled his life on the road and at home, is a must-watch. However, sometimes he wishes he documented the early days of long miles and low pay all in the pursuit of his country music dream.

The Early Days

"I definitely wish I would have started earlier," he says. "It’s just like, man, back in the day was so exhausting. We’re driving a van, we’re going here, we’re going there, we’re making 200 to 500 bucks, like, just enough to get gas to the next one."

Riding in Style

Now Russell Dickerson, along with his family and bandmates, ride in style, thanks to a custom tour bus created by a WWE Superstar. "Triple H designed it," he says. "As soon as we got on it, this bus was fire! It’s as big as my living room. And when you’re on a tour bus, that extra space is so precious. It even had a washer and dryer!"

From Stage Crew to Headliner

Before headlining shows, Dickerson got started working as a member of the stage crew for Christian artist Chris Tomlin. "I was the first up, last out," he says. "I had to help hang lighting, and then once I got the stage, I had to set up a full drum kit, an organ, three other keyboards, four guitar amps, plus change strings on eight guitars. All of this before the show started. It was grueling."

Staying Fit on the Road

With huge success comes a certain bit of sacrifice. For this fitness fanatic, it meant having to part with most of his traveling gym equipment – which included a rack, bench, bars, and plates that went with him at each stop on a separate bus – in order to store extra hoodies and hats and T-shirts that his fans now demand.

"We lost our space to more merch, which is a great problem to have," Dickerson says. "They’re like, ‘You got your workout equipment and everything, but we need it for merch.’ I was like, we got to pay the bills. We got to make that money. So I will sacrifice my beautiful workout setup for more merch. Now we just got dumbbells."

Working Out on the Bus

Now that he is on the bus and living his dream, he wants to make the most out of it. Part of that means being in shape to put on the best show possible for the fans that paid their hard-earned money to see him. There are gyms all over the country, but that may not always be an option. That is why he has fitness equipment with him on the bus.

"I got my clothes, I got my workout stuff. I got, you know, I got the dumbbells," he says. "I’m not trying to set world records. The goal is to stay in shape for the main reason I am on the road. I use MAPS Fitness Programs for my workouts, and I enjoy doing them because they serve me very well."

Staying Healthy on the Road

Dickerson doesn’t allow touring to be an excuse for not eating healthy. He may not have a perfect kitchen setup on the road, but he makes the most out of what he does have – a microwave and a Traeger grill.

"I always keep Mega Fit Meals, and it is so good I always keep it on deck," he says. "And I got cottage cheese and Celsius in there, and individual Costco chicken packs. Those are amazing."

Consistency and Structure

There is a lot of uncertainty that comes with touring and recording, but finding ways to have structure in a schedule can help make everything work so Dickerson can stay on track with everything both with his physical shape and recording. Having to balance touring, training, and business along with writing songs is not easy, but he has a team around him that makes the process less daunting.

"I have a great, a great team that schedules it very intentionally to make sure I get time off the road and time with the family," he explained. "It kind of comes and goes in seasons. This is a very heavy touring season, then starting in October, it’ll be more writing and more recording."

Conclusion

Russell Dickerson is a shining star in the country music scene, with a successful career and a passion for fitness. His dedication to his craft and his commitment to staying in shape have allowed him to achieve his goals and live his dream.

FAQs

Q: How do you stay motivated on the road?
A: I stay motivated by reminding myself why I started doing this in the first place – for the music and for the fans.

Q: What’s your favorite part about touring?
A: Seeing the fans’ faces light up when we play our songs live is the best part.

Q: How do you balance touring and recording?
A: It’s not easy, but I have a great team that helps me stay on track and make sure I get time off the road and time with my family.

Q: What’s your favorite workout routine?
A: I love using MAPS Fitness Programs because they’re easy to follow and get the job done.

Q: What’s your favorite food on the road?
A: I love Mega Fit Meals because they’re convenient and delicious.