NEED TO KNOW
Chase Rice is taking time off from touring.
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Jan. 8, the country star, 40, announced he’s stepping away from touring for some time after a handful of shows scheduled for 2026, noting that he’s “exhausted” by the grueling schedule.
“Alright everybody, I wasn’t sure whether I was gonna talk about this or not but here we are,” began Rice alongside a video montage of clips from his shows. “I’ve been touring for 13 years and I’ve lived a dream far greater than I could’ve ever expected. This isn’t a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I’m exhausted.”
He explained, “I haven’t been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place. I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music.”
“After 13 years it’s finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while,” added the “Eyes on You” singer, who rose to fame on Survivor: Nicaragua in 2010 before sharing his first widely released music the following year.
Rice co-wrote Florida Georgia Line’s 2012 hit single “Cruise” and scored his own first chart-topping album two years later with Ignite the Night. He’s earned major hit songs with “Ready Set Roll,” “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Eyes on You” and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.”
Over the past three years, Rice released three albums: I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go to Hell, Go Down Singin and ELDORA. He’s also toured consistently.
“I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down,” continued his Instagram post. “I won’t be touring this year and it wasn’t even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself. A lot of artists do this all the time, but it’s new for me so it’s kind of a big deal in my life.”
Rice then sent love to his band and crew. “You’ve seen me at my worst yet you still love me back like I’ve lived my best,” he said. “I hope we can all get together in the coming years and get back to enjoying life on the road again.”
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He also expressed admiration for “any fans that have followed me along this journey,” noting that they’ve “truly made a dream of mine come true.”
Fans do have a few chances to see him before the hiatus. “I’ve got a handful of shows this year, but it will not look like anything like what I’ve done the last 13 years of my life,” wrote Rice. “I hope this year brings new experiences for me to put into songs that will make y’all happy. Until then, thanks for the ride.”
In March, Rice told PEOPLE he was “trying to get my ducks in a row” in case romance came into his life and expressed wanting to become a father someday. “Whether it happens, or I am married or not, time will tell. But I’d obviously like to do it with the right woman,” he said at the time.
