Chase Rice Credits Taylor Swift Support in Music Career Shift

Country music star Chase Rice shared a memorable encounter with pop superstar Taylor Swift at the Tight End University event hosted by Travis Kelce in June. Initially hesitant to stay because of a songwriting session the next day, Rice was persuaded by Swift's enthusiasm for songwriter Lori McKenna and ended up having a 45-minute conversation with her about music and their careers. Rice expressed deep gratitude for Swift's early support of his breakout hit "Cruise," which she helped popularize by tweeting about it years ago. He noted Swift's humility and how she made him feel like they were just friends talking, not two music icons. The meeting was a meaningful full-circle moment for Rice, highlighting genuine human connection beyond their celebrity statuses. This summer also marked the completion of Rice's new album, Eldora, which he wrote and recorded in a week.