Billy Dean loves everything about 90s country music, and with good reason. Dean’s debut Young Man album came out in 1990, a record that includes “Only Here for a Little While” and “Somewhere in My Broken Heart,” his first two Top 5 singles.

In the decades since then, Dean has continued to make music and perform. But now, the 63-year-old is working on new music, one that celebrates the resurgence of 90s country music, which has become popular once again.

“I wanted to get a lot of these projects done so that I could just get out on the road, and stay out there for a while,” Dean tells Everything Nash. “In some ways, I wish I never took a break in touring, kind of like Willie Nelson. All those guys — James Taylor, all those guys, they just keep going. And I toured some, took some time off, toured, took some time off.

“But I just decided that, since the 90s is making this comeback, and everybody’s working, that I better go make hay while I can make it,” he adds. “And so the goal is to have enough material and enough new things to talk about, that I don’t have to take time off from the road to do that.”

Billy Dean Talks About the Resurgence of 90s Country Artists

More than 35 years after Dean’s freshman record, 90s country music is more popular than ever, a resurgence Dean is grateful to be part of in 2026.

“These fairs and casinos are asking for 90s artists. They’re looking for good packages. I think the key is to package up with … I’ve talked to Collin Raye about doing some stuff. Shenandoah and I have done some packaging,” Dean says, adding that he teamed up with Suzy Bogguss and John Berry in the late 90s for ‘Berry, Bogguss, and Dean.’

“It was big,” he recalls. “You don’t have to sing as many songs, but you sing all your top top hits. I think it’s a better quality show, and a better value for the fans out there as well.”

Dean is also still making more music, music he is eager to share with the world

“I’m still writing songs today,” Dean says. “I think I’m writing some of the best stuff I’ve ever written. I think I really do. I think I’m sitting on some of the best work. I don’t know if anybody will care. But it’s hard to beat the old stuff.”

Billy Dean Returns to The 2027 Country Music Cruise

Dean is returning once again to perform on the 2027 Country Music Cruise. Dean is part of an all-star lineup that includes Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Joe Nichols, The Bellamy Brothers, Neal McCoy, Wade Hayes, Darryl Worley, The Malpass Brothers, The Isaacs, Jimmy Fortune, Rhonda Vincent, and more.

“I love cruises. I don’t do many of them…I’m looking forward to, first of all, seeing everybody,” Dean says. “Darryl and I are good buddies. I think it really is going to be nice to see all of the 90s fans and 90s country artists coming out, because I really have been trying to celebrate this resurgence that the 90s has had. I’m really coming in on the tail end. So it’s really nice to be able to, in 2026, get that all prepared, and all the new stuff ready to go. So when we do the cruise in 2027, we’ll have a lot of fresh merchandise, and maybe fresh music. It will be a lot of fun to get reacquainted with the fans out there again.”

Cabins for the 2027 Country Music Cruise are available now, and will sell out quickly. Reserve your cabin at CountryMusicCruise.com, and use code EVERYTHINGNASH for an exclusive discount.

Find all of Dean’s music and upcoming shows at BillyDean.com.