Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

How Home Free Band Made It To The Top Without Any Instruments

Home Free Guys
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

The country music fans are quite obsessed with this country-tinged acapella vocal group, Home Free band, and it’s easy to tell why. It’s pretty amazing how the group’s acapella covers, from Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” will make you fall in love with old favorites all over again.

Home Free quickly became a fixture on the country charts over the past few years. Even with the fact that there’s no lick of guitar, harmonica, or banjo, to be heard on their much-admired albums. Let’s get to know their story.

Home Free Started Out As A Hobby

Home Free is an acapella group with five founding members composed of brothers Chris and Adam Rupp, Darren Scruggs, Dan Lemke, and Matt Atwood. They are known for blending barbershop harmonies with a country twang as well as hip hop beatboxing. 

But what makes them different from other artists is that they use nothing more than the human voice in delivering a unique blend of Nashville standards, and soulful pop hits that hit all the right notes.

Their music career had actually come a long way over the past two decades when brothers Chris and Adam Rupp formed the group in 2000 in Mankato, Minnesota, during their teens. They got their name from a boat owned by Atwood’s grandfather, who supported them financially in their early years. 

What actually began as a hobby, gradually gained them experience and popularity. Later on, they cut their teeth playing over 200 shows within a year at theaters, state fairs, and college campuses all over the country. 

By 2007, Home Free already had enough of a following to pursue music full-time. However, other members of the group came and went. But what the group found to be the most challenging part in building a following was educating people about what really was happening on stage. “The most obvious common misconception that people have about a cappella is that there are instruments playing. They just don’t believe that it’s all being produced by the human voice,” Adam said. 

“It’s not ’til usually the drum solo that it actually dawns on them that hey, this is actually being made live and there are no special effects happening.”

The group self-released five albums, From the Top (2006), Kickin’ It Old School (2009), Christmas, Vol. 1 and Christmas, Vol. 2 (2010), and Live from the Road (2012) before becoming big in country music.

From Minnesota to NBC’s The Sing-Off

In 2013, Home Free only had the Rupps remaining as its only original members. The current lineup included Rob Lundquist from Brooklyn Park, Austin Brown, a native of South Georgia, and Tim Foust, originally from Nederland, Texas.

The vocal band featured two tenors, a bass, as well as a baritone and, of course, Adam Rupp’s nationally recognized beatboxing skills. Home Free also turned into a country act. “We’re embracing it,” Chris said in 2013. “We’re a country group now.”

The group had the biggest break of their lives when they won NBC’s show The Sing Off in 2013 with a stunning rendition of Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” in the finals.

The group revealed that they had auditioned for every season of the show. Luckily, the country flair helped them finally land a spot in the fourth season of the competition. They became one of 10 groups vying for the title of best a cappella group. In addition to the $100,000 prize they received, they also earned a Sony Music recording contract.

They made their major-label debut in 2014 with “Crazy Life,” a crossover triumph that peaked No. 8 on the Country Albums chart and cracked the mainstream Top 40. The success continued for the group that before 2014 ended, they released an album of songs for the holidays, Full of Cheer. In 2015, they also released Country Evolution. The album includes guest appearances by Taylor Davis, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Charlie Daniels.

Co-Founder, Chris Rupp, Left Home Free

Following the success of their three albums, founding member Chris Rupp announced his departure from the band. His brother Adam and the rest of the band broke the news on their official website. They also uploaded an emotional YouTube message to their fans that showed how strong the group’s bond remains.

Rupp’s departure was not due to any discord between the bandmates, but rather an opportunity to pursue “his solo career and passion projects, including his recent album, Shine.” 

“We would not be here without Chris. He is the founder of this group and has achieved so much — even more than thought possible — with us, but he’s ready for a new chapter in his life,” Home Free’s wrote on their official. “And this is not a goodbye to Chris. We’ll still be collaborating with him on various projects.”

The rest of the group resumed their busy touring schedule, releasing albums and hit songs, much to the excitement of fans. In 2019, they released a brand-new cover; this time, it was Restless Heart’s “Why Does It Have to Be (Wrong or Right).”

“One of our favorite parts about what we do is the fact that we get to bring the music that shaped who we are as artists to a younger generation,” added Adam Chance. “Take this tune, for example. It’s hard to believe it’s 32 years old! Some of our fan base wasn’t even born when it was released. Hopefully, they hear our version, and it gets them excited enough to dive into the world of ’80s and ’90s country music.”

Though Home Free covered songs from the last several decades of country music, they admit that they feel special emotions towards the music they grew up on. “When it comes to picking out the songs we cover, it’s definitely a process, and it’s no secret that we’re inspired by a range of genres. We’d be lying, however, if we said we didn’t have a special place in our heart for those classic country tunes,” Chance explained.

Latest Stories

Allie Colleen performs on stage with a big smile and acoustic guitar, showing confidence and independence as she builds her music career on her own terms—far from her father Garth Brooks’ shadow.

Garth Brooks’ Daughter Says She Doesn’t Represent Him and Wants No Part of His Shadow

In a world where name-dropping can open every door in Nashville, Allie Colleen is out here trying to slam it shut. The 28-year-old country artist and youngest daughter of Garth ...

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Moved On, But Did They Ever Make Amends?

Country music fans watched their fairytale unfold like a damn movie until the credits rolled too soon, and the lights came up on something way messier. Blake Shelton and Miranda ...

Gwen Stefani smiles at Blake Shelton on the red carpet of the Academy of Country Music Awards—despite new song lyrics fueling speculation about trouble in their marriage.

Gwen Stefani’s New Song Is Stirring Talk of Marriage Trouble With Blake Shelton and It’s Not Just the Lyrics

It doesn’t take much to set the rumor mill spinning, but Gwen Stefani just handed it a full tank of gas and a match. Her new single “Still Gonna Love ...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban smile on the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, showing off their unshakable bond—even if a professional collaboration isn’t on the table.

Nicole Kidman Reveals Disappointing News About Keith Urban and Why They Won’t Work Together

Hollywood’s favorite Aussie power couple just crushed a longtime fan dream with one word. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban may have the kind of private fairy tale that gives tabloid ...

Cody Johnson performs at an outdoor concert in front of an American flag, shown here during a previous show, before he paused his Tailgate N Tallboys set to address anti-Trump protests and lead the crowd in a "God Bless America" sing-along.

Cody Johnson Blasts Anti-Trump Protests and His Crowd Responds With a “God Bless America” Sing-Along

Cody Johnson doesn’t tiptoe. He stomps. During his June 14 stop at the Tailgate N Tallboys festival in Bloomington, Illinois, CoJo grabbed the mic, hit pause on the hits, and ...

HARDY performing live onstage in the U.S., shown here during a past show, ahead of canceling the European leg of his Jim Bob World Tour to prioritize family and crew.

HARDY Cancels European Leg of Jim Bob World Tour Ahead of First-Ever Headlining Dates

The long-awaited European run for HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour just hit the brakes, and fans across the pond are understandably bummed. On the morning of June 16, HARDY dropped ...

Billy Ray Cyrus stands on the red carpet in a black leather jacket and sunglasses, unintentionally becoming the center of family drama after Trace Cyrus called him out online.

Trace Cyrus Blasts Billy Ray for Skipping Grandma’s Funeral to Chase Fame and It’s About as Ugly as It Gets

When your son calls you “the l𝐚mest man to ever walk planet earth,” it’s safe to say things have gone past the point of no return. Trace Cyrus is not ...

Holly Dunn performs passionately under soft stage lights with her guitar in hand, capturing the emotion behind her heartfelt classic “Daddy’s Hands.”

Holly Dunn Wrote “Daddy’s Hands” for Her Dad and Somehow Spoke for an Entire Generation

This is the kind of song that makes grown men stare out the truck window in silence and pretend it’s just the pollen getting to them. When Holly Dunn wrote ...

Oliver Anthony belts out raw heartbreak in a dimly lit studio session, his face scrunched in pain, strumming a resonator guitar with the kind of fury only divorce can fuel.

Oliver Anthony Poured His Divorce Hell Into “Scornful Woman” and It’s Flat-Out Devastating

You can smell the smoke coming off this one before the first note even hits. Oliver Anthony isn’t one for PR gloss or neatly packaged pain. He’s raw, gravel-throated, and ...

Brad Paisley strums his guitar under a spotlight—looking like he’s about to sing the song that breaks every stepdad’s heart wide open. Not the original performance, but you can feel the same lump in your throat.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is the Ultimate Tribute to Men Who Chose to Be Dad

It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, then hits like a freight train made of soft memories and old regrets. Before Brad Paisley was co-hosting the CMAs ...