Adam Rupp is the sole remaining founding member of Home Free, an all-vocal group that began in 2001 by Rupp and his brother Chris, along with three other members. As the group evolved and changed through the years, not even Rupp could have predicted how much their popularity would grow, thanks to their loyal fans, and a stint on a reality TV talent show almost ten years ago.

“I was just trying to get to the next show,” Rupp tells Everything Nash with a laugh, speaking of the group’s humble beginnings. “Literally. There were times when we had so many vehicle problems, and just so many problems and struggles, and things that a band works through when they’re trying to discover themselves. Just through persistence, and just that desire to want to be performing for people and making music and the effect that it can have, was such a driving force to continuing after all of these difficulties along the way. Eventually we got different people in the group that saw the same goals and wanted to have that same, traction. So we just kept it going, and it just kept going one thing after another, until it got to the point where I finally stopped and said, ‘Whoa.'”

Home Free was steadily growing in popularity, and maintaining a busy touring schedule, when they appeared on the NBC talent show, The Sing-Off, which they won in 2013. Suddenly, the five-man group gained fans around the world, kicking off an unprecedented new chapter for the talented singers.

“Even two or three years before that, we were gigging full-time,” Rob Lundquist shares. “We were supporting families, so we kind of felt like, ‘Hey, we’re doing it. This is the dream.’ And then, the very first episode, we performed for way more people than we ever had in the 13 years prior. So that was really kind of the launching point for us, and that got us to a new level.

“And then after The Sing-Off, it was like people were coming to see us, where usually, we had to try and win over a crowd at a festival or a corporate gig or whatever.,” he continues. “But people were coming to see us, and at that point I was just like, ‘Everything else is just icing on the cake. I’m so excited to be here and just living the dream.'”

Home Free has, in the decade since The Sing-Off, maintained a rigorous touring schedule. They are currently on their  Road Sweet Road Tour, with plans to tour around the globe in 2023.

“We’re touring all over the place,” Lundquist reveals. “We’re going international style. We’re gonna be going to Australia just in a couple of weeks. We’re gonna be hitting Europe at some point. I’m not sure when — that keeps getting moved around. And it’ll be the first time we’re going back to Europe since the whole world stopped while we were in Europe. So it’ll be exciting to get back there. We’ll probably be working on more music like we always do. And just getting those tour dates going all over the place.”

Home Free will kick off next year by appearing on the Country Music Cruise. The group will be joined by Tracy Lawrence, Clint Black, Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols, Shenandoah, Darryl Worley, Billy Dean and more for the eight-day cruise, setting sail from Ft. Lauderdale on January 20.

“We started our first cruise in 2007, and it was four months in Alaska and then we did a second one on Norwegian Cruise lines that was like two months,” Rupp tells Everything Nash. “Rob was on that one, in the Northeast. And then we went to a guest entertainer role and we just did Royal Caribbean ships, one after another, just bang, bang, bang. That’s where we met Austin. So we’re very familiar with cruising. We love the lifestyle. It’s a great time, and I’m super excited that this worked out, that we were able to go back on a cruise again.”

The Country Music Cruise will travel to Grand Turk, Key West and Half Moon Cay, before returning on January 27. Cabins are on sale now. Use the code EverythingNash for an exclusive low rate. More information can be found at CountryMusicCruise.com.

Home Free’s tour schedule includes a performance on March 5 at the Ryman Auditorium. Find all of their upcoming tour dates at HomeFreeMusic.com.

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