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Chase Rice is wrapping up his first overseas trip to Japan and Australia. Chase spent the last 17 days, playing his music all the way around the world, including four U.S. military bases in Japan performing for troops. Presented by Armed Forces Entertainment and Stars for Stripes, Chase performed with his full band at military bases in Atsugi, Yokosuka, Yokota and Okinawa. The shows had special meaning for the country singer, as both of his grandfathers served in branches of the military, so it’s something that Chase says that he takes very personal.
After his run of military bases, Chase headed to Australia for the three-day CMC Rocks music festival, where Rice performed to sold-out crowds and sold the most albums of any artist at the festival’s on-site record store. His U.S. chart-topping album, Ignite the Night, officially debuted in Australia on February 25 and peaked at No. 1 on both the ARIA Country Albums Chart and the iTunes country albums Australia chart, with the hit single “Ready Set Roll” also securing the top spot on Australia’s iTunes country singles chart.
When Chase Rice arrives back in the states, he won’t have much time to recover from his overseas adventures, as he’ll head to the ACM Awards in Las Vegas where he’s nominated for the New Male Vocalist of the Year. Also in April, he’ll launch his fourth U.S. headlining tour when Campus Events Network Presents College Days, Country Nights: The Chase Rice Back to College Tour.
Chase Rice says that he sees the military as family. (:21)
“The military for me is special because it’s family. My mom’s dad was in the Air Force, my dad’s dad was in the Navy, so I grew up hearing all these military stories, and I grew up from these two military guys half-way raising me. So I grew up with a crazy respect for anybody that’s in our military because it was family to me. So anytime I get to do something for them and give back to them, I’m going to take it in a second and I’m gonna run with it.”
Chase Rice admits that following these recent trips overseas, he’s looking to do a lot more. (:07)
“I’ve not traveled too much out of the country in my life, so yeah, the passport’s gonna definitely fill up with some stamps and I’m looking forward to that.”