Getting a compliment from one of your musical heroes is always pretty special. But getting one from Garth Brooks after covering the song you once named as one of the songs that changed your life? Well, it's safe to say we’d probably be “geeking” too.

Russell Dickerson shared his take on Brooks’ ‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ on Instagram on August 14th, slowing down the usually high energy country classic and making it his own. It’s a step away from the ‘RD Party’ vibe that Dickerson is known for, but we’d welcome an acoustic album from him after this stunning rendition.

Not only did fans approve, Brooks seems to approve too, generously commenting: “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have that much talent, sincerely...love you pal, g.” Dickerson has responded with the relatable: “BROOOO I’M GEEEEKINGG.”

It means even more when you know the history.

Back in 2022, Dickerson told Holler that ‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ was his favourite Garth Brooks song, and one of the songs that changed his life, calling the iconic track “positive”, praising its signature chorus and admitting “I just vibe so hard to” it.

And technically, Dickerson is covering a cover. Written by Dennis Linde, ‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ was first recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys in 1978 before New Grass Revival released their version in 1989.

Brooks loved that recording so much that he reunited members of New Grass Revival to play on his own 1993 version, which later peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s country chart.

It has since become an unofficial anthem for LSU, with Brooks’ 2022 performance at Tiger Stadium producing enough crowd movement during the song to register on a seismograph.

More than three decades after Brooks gave somebody else’s song a new life, Dickerson has done exactly the same to his. The question is, is this a sign of things to come from Dickerson? Or was he toying with us, as he so often does on social media, showcasing his fun personality and infectious energy, which is always welcomed by his fans.

Many of his tracks start this way, with ‘BOOTS’ also being a spontaneous moment captured by his wife, of Dickerson singing Fetty Wap's ‘Trap Queen’. It went viral and led to Fetty featuring on ‘BOOTS’, with the duo then performing the genre-blurring track at CMA Fest 2026. It’s a formula that’s clearly working for Dickerson, and getting Brooks’ seal of approval along the way? That’s one for the career scrapbook.