Catching Up with Dillon Carmichael at Country Radio Seminar: Keeping Country Alive and Looking Ahead
If there’s one thing Dillon Carmichael is passionate about, it’s country music—real, unapologetic, heart-and-soul country music. And as we caught up with him at this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS), it’s clear that he’s not just singing about keeping country alive—he’s living it.
Keeping Country Alive: A New Anthem for Tradition
Carmichael’s latest single, Keeping Country Alive, set to release next Friday, is more than just a song. It’s a mission statement.
“It’s about how I grew up,” Carmichael shares. “There are some young folks out there in small towns that are probably growing up the same way I did. And so it’s about keeping that way of life and that sound alive.”
With influences deeply rooted in the traditional country storytelling of legends past, Carmichael acknowledges that there was a time when being ‘too country’ wasn’t exactly in vogue. “There was a time where it wasn’t so popular to be country,” he admits. “People would say you talk too slow. But thanks to Yellowstone and artists like Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson bringing it back, it’s cool to be country again.”
The resurgence of neotraditional country music isn’t lost on Carmichael, who sees himself as part of the movement to preserve the genre’s authenticity. “Country people are some of the best folks you’ll ever meet. They’ll give you the shirt off their back,” he says. “And I just love country music. My favorites are the classics that sing about the same things I do.”
From New Face to Recognized Staple
Carmichael’s star continues to rise, and last year’s recognition as a 2024 CRS New Faces of Country Music honoree was a career milestone.
“That’s the holy grail,” he says with a grin. “If you look at the lineup of people who have done it over the years—Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert—it’s crazy. The biggest names in the business have been New Faces, and to be a part of that tradition is humbling.”
The New Faces honor is especially meaningful because it’s voted on by industry professionals, including country radio insiders and media representatives. “It’s just the highest compliment,” Carmichael says. “These people voted for me over another artist. And I’m not competitive like that—I want everyone to win—but it was a really nice moment.”
What’s Next: An Album and a World Tour
With Keeping Country Alive leading the charge, Carmichael has a full slate ahead in 2024 and beyond.
“I’ve got new music coming in the summer—an album titled Keeping Country Alive,” he teases. “You can see the pattern here.”
And if that wasn’t enough, he’s hitting the road hard, promising fans plenty of chances to see him live. “I’ll be doing a lot of shows this year—going on tour all over the States,” he shares. “Then I’m heading over to London, maybe do a little something over there too.”
For Dillon Carmichael, 2025 is already shaping up to be a year of growth, new horizons, and of course, keeping country alive—one song, one show, and one fan at a time.
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