The 2024 Country Music Cruise lineup has been announced, and it is full of talent. Tracy Lawrence, Shenandoah, Billy Dean, Darryl Worley, Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols and more will perform on the boat next year, with more artists expected to be announced in the near future.
“I had such a great time several years ago when I got to go, and made some really amazing friends that I stayed in touch with. I ended up spending a lot of time at the blackjack table that week and just met some really interesting people,” Lawrence tells Everything Nash. “I really made it a point to work the ship, and hang out at different spots and meet a lot of the different folks. My family, we’ve enjoyed taking cruises for many years. We’ve been to a lot of different destinations. We’ve been all over the Caribbean, and we’ve been to Hawaii, on a lot of different boats.
“But this one is really special,” he continues. “I really just embrace the whole thing. And having that aspect for the fans, and being able to have a good time with all the great types of music, it’s really awesome.”
Shenandoah, who is back at radio with their new single, “Revival,” enjoys the Country Music Cruise for a lot of different reasons, but mostly for the fans.
“Every time you go out of your cabin, there’s somebody there that’s gonna want to get to know you,” lead singer Marty Raybon says. “But the great thing about it is, you’re gonna get a chance and an opportunity to get to know them too. For 36 years, that’s what our career’s been, is making people that just came to a show who was an acquaintance turn into some really good friendships. And through the years, we’ve made a bunch of them. And, it gives our band guys, our crew, and their family, it gives them a wonderful opportunity to vacation.”
Worley has fond memories of being on the Country Music Cruise in the past, and was eager to return in 2024, both as a performer and a fan.
“This is the ultimate lineup for me. We won’t sleep a wink. We’ll be at every show on the boat,” Worley tells Everything Nash with a laugh. “I love all these acts. I feel very, very honored and flattered to be a part of all this, ’cause these guys, for me, were the hitmakers. They made me go, ‘You know what? I’m not giving up on this. I’m gonna get back in the ring, and give it another whirl.’ There may be some guys out there with us this time that I wouldn’t have even done this if it hadn’t been for them.”
Dean already spends much of his time on the road, maintaining a very busy touring schedule. But for him, it was an easy answer when asked if he wanted to be part the all-star Country Music Cruise lineup.
“I made a commitment, if I ever was lucky enough to have some hits, to always play the hits,” Dean says of what fans can expect from him while on the cruise. “That’s what people expect; what made me who I am is the songs that people remember from the ’90s. But also, my creative brain won’t stop. I have to continue to make new music. And this is kind of a way to — you don’t just have one show, you have three or four days. You can satisfy those who love the ’90s music that they expect, but you can also maybe introduce some new music, some new things over the course of the cruise.”
Home Free will mark their first time on the Country Music Cruise, which they are excited to join, not only for the music, but as a chance to interact in person with their fans.
“It is going to be a very unique experience that is unlike any other thing that you would ever experience, if you came to see us at a show on land or at a concert,” Home Free founder Adam Rupp shares. “Because it’s gonna be multiple events that are going to be occurring while on the ship, where you get to experience stuff with us in different ways instead of just the show. The show’s gonna be great, of course, but there’s an intimacy that is unlike anything else that you would experience on land or at a concert venue, because obviously, we’re all together on the ship.
“Now, we still want our privacy. Don’t get me wrong on that,” he adds with a chuckle. “But you’ll see us just walking around. We’ll be passing by each other from time to time, and we’ll be out and about. So you’ll be able to interact in a different way.”
Other artists performing on the cruise include Clint Black, Wade Hayes, Linda Davis, Jimmy Fortune, Moe Bandy and more, with additional artists expected to be announced in the near future.
The Country Music Cruise sets sail on January 20 from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It 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.
