James Dupré’s singing, songwriting and recording career hit a milestone in August when Warner Music Nashville released his third and latest album, ‘It’s All Happening.’
James Dupre
Vocals James Dupré recorded last year for an unreleased song, ‘Where That Came From,’ were used as the ‘bed vocal’ for an AI-assisted new Randy Travis single.
A former Nashville resident, James Dupré won’t be far from home when he performs for this year’s “Hitmakers Home for the Holidays” concert Sunday in Baton Rouge.
A native of Bayou Chicot in Evangeline Parish, Dupré followed his country music dreams in Music City for a decade. He left Nashville in 2021, returning to Acadiana to happily settle in Broussard with his wife, Kelsie, and their daughter, Rellie.
Despite the move, Dupré didn’t give up music. His singing, songwriting and recording career hit a milestone in August when Warner Music Nashville released his third and latest album, “It’s All Happening.”
Dupré will sing songs from his first major label album at the multi-artist “Home for the Holidays” show, an acoustic songwriters night at the Manship Theatre with CJ Solar, Alex Smith, Rhett Anthony Glindmeyer, David Borné and Amanda Shaw.
“I’m excited to see everyone,” he said last week. “I know Alex, CJ and all those guys. We did a show together on Mardi Gras this year, representing Louisiana in Nashville. It was a good time.”
Dupré’s other gigs in 2025 included 70 dates on the “More Life Tour.” A celebration of Randy Travis, the tour features Dupré and Travis’ original band performing the country music star’s No. 1 hits. Travis himself tours with the tribute show, appearing on stage with Dupré and the band.
James Dupre
Vocals James Dupré recorded last year for an unreleased song, ‘Where That Came From,’ were used as the ‘bed vocal’ for an AI-assisted new Randy Travis single.
“The ‘More Life Tour’ celebrates something so much more than a musical moment in time,” Travis said in news release. “It’s a gift to me to spend time with my fans and my band, as James Dupré perfectly presents the songs that best define my career.”
Dupré and Travis met in Nashville in 2012. Little did Dupré know that his 10-minute visit with his music hero was a prelude to co-starring with Travis in the 2015 movie, “The Price.”
The “More Life Tour” began in 2019, six years after a nearly fatal stroke paralyzed Travis’ right side and impaired his ability to speak and sing.
Dupré is excited that the “More Life Tour” will finally reach Louisiana next year. The show arrives March 26 in Monroe at the Jack Howard Theatre and March 27 in Baton Rouge at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts.
James Dupré’s singing, songwriting and recording career hit a milestone in August when Warner Music Nashville released his third and latest album, ‘It’s All Happening.’
“I don’t impersonate him or try to sound like him, because no one can sound exactly like Randy Travis,” Dupré said. “This is a celebration of a country music icon, his life and his music. Besides all his big hits, video plays throughout the show, even some of his movies and TV shows. It’s a beautiful live documentary about Randy Travis.”
Last year, Dupré’s involvement with Travis took another turn when vocals Dupré recorded for an unreleased song, “Where That Came From,” were used as the “bed vocal” for an AI-assisted new Travis single. CBS News documented the project in a “CBS Sunday Morning” report.
At producer Kyle Lehning’s studio in Nashville, Dupré recalled, “They surprised me and got my reaction on camera. As I’m listening to ‘Where That Came From,’ I hear Randy sing it exactly as how I sang it. I realized ‘OK, this must be AI.’ ”
Lehning and Warner Music Nashville wanted Dupré’s blessing as well as his continued participation in the creation of new Travis recordings.
“They were excited about it,” he said. “I was, like, ‘Absolutely. This is incredible.’ ”
The Travis recording project opened a second unexpected door for Dupré this year, when Warner Music Nashville finally released an album of songs he recorded with Lehning in 2011. Dupré guesses that the rise of hip-hop and rock-influenced bro-country in the 2010s made his traditional country sound noncommercial.
“I never thought it would see the light of day,” he said of recordings he made during his four-year contract with Warner Music Nashville. “It’s the first project that I did in the studio and it will always be special to me. I’m so glad that it’s actually out in the world.”
Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn.com
7 p.m. Sunday
Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St.
$25-$55
manshiptheatre.org and jamesdupre.com
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James Dupré joins 5 other Louisiana artists for 'Hitmakers' concert at the Manship Theatre – The Advocate
