Russell Dickerson Reflects on Simple Valentine’s Day Celebrations and the True Meaning of ‘The Roses’

Russell Dickerson and his wife, Kailey, have always enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day in a simpler fashion, especially back when money was tight. Even now, they’ve discovered that flowers, fancy dinners, or big achievements aren’t what matter most at the end of the day, and that lesson lives at the heart of Dickerson’s new song, “The Roses.”

The country star recently hosted a special Galentine’s Day celebration, offering curated cocktails, bouquets and the chance to sit down with him and Kailey to learn more about their love story and the true sentiment behind his latest release.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, they were asked how they plan to celebrate the love-filled holiday this year. Kailey chimed in first, explaining that since they were “so poor” at the start of their relationship, Valentine’s Day was never about grand gestures or pricey dinners. Instead, they found meaningful, intimate ways to celebrate their love that were both special and budget-friendly. Flowers, however, are a must for the mom of two.

“It can be so expensive to go out to a restaurant. So we always did a stay-in thing. Even when we had nothing, we would be like, ‘okay, we’re at least getting steaks tonight,’” she explained. “And he always gets flowers. He is romantic, but Valentine’s is not a big to do for us.”

She added, “We’re kind of low key about it. I do expect flowers though, for sure.”

Much like their Valentine’s Day celebrations, Russell Dickerson has found that true happiness comes from the smallest things in life. That’s exactly the message he sends in “The Roses.” Written by the Tennessee native with Chase McGill, Jordan Schmidt, and Michael Hardy, the warm and romantic tune comes to life with a stunning piano arrangement.  

Dickerson explained to Country Now and other outlets that while the message behind the song certainly points to how much he loves his wife, he also tried to dig a bit deeper with “The Roses.”

“I used to think I wanted to be this whole, huge, biggest thing ever and do all this and I’ve just really felt that more and more, the farther down this road I get, I’m like, as long as we have this and we have our family and I can continue to provide this great life for us, I don’t have to be the biggest artist in the world and sell out Madison Square Garden 12 nights in a row. One will be fine. Maybe two. I’ll take two,” he joked.

The “Happen To Me” singer leans into those heartfelt emotions with vocals that simultaneously feel both tender and powerful. Instead of chasing fame or larger-than-life goals, Dickerson highlights the fulfillment he feels from simply being present with the ones he loves.  He goes on to reflect on how he once dreamed of making a name for himself and maybe even landing in a hall of fame, but he soon discovers that finding his partner shifted his perspective on life completely.

“You be the roses, I’ll be the vase/ You be the starry night in the spotlight and, girl, I’ll be the frame/ I swear if it’s the only thing in life I get to do/ I’m just fine long as I’m holding you/ I’m just fine long as I’m holding you,” Dickerson sings on the chorus.

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As “The Roses” connects with listeners, Dickerson’s latest radio single, “Worth Your Wild,” becomes his 10th career track to climb the Billboard and Mediabase Country charts. Additionally, he’s gearing up for a major hometown show at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on May 8.

The performance is fittingly called “Nash-Birthday Bash,” as it’s set to take place the day after his birthday. It will serve as a celebration that promises “cakes, candles, and carnage,” as well as a must-see performance from Russell Dickerson himself, alongside a stacked lineup featuring Tyler Hubbard, Adrien Nunez, and Kevin Powers.

After a string of festival dates, Russell Dickerson will kick off his RUSSELLMANIA TOUR 2026 on April 23 in Raleigh, NC, taking over amphitheaters and the biggest stages of his career to date.