A Mississippi musician who got an unorthodox start to a late career in the entertainment industry has experienced an even rarer rise to prominence.
Tommy Rice lost his wife Deborah in 2020 to glioblastoma – a rare form of brain cancer. She would outlive the initial prognosis by nearly 2 and a half years, with much of the fight occurring at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson. As Rice describes, her death spun him to a place he had never been.
“She changed my whole life. Watching somebody you love so much, seeing her leaving. It was tough,” Rice said on Good Things with Rebecca Turner. “When she passed, it was devastating. I was grieving myself to death.”
After losing his wife of 20 years, friends encouraged Rice to attend grief counseling. It was there that he was told to put his pain to paper – something he had never done. But when he read aloud the short story about Deborah’s battle and death to his group the next week, a new life in music was born.
Rice was spurred to turn the writing into song by those who heard it. It became his first single – “Miss Her More Today Than Yesterday.” Four years and about 400 songs later, Rice is among the premiere songwriters in the world. He was recently named the 2024 International Singer-Songwriters Association Songwriter of the Year.
Though the journey was unexpected and began with the visceral grief of losing a loved one, Rice says the music has helped him heal. In a way, it’s also kept Deborah alive.
“Life was an adventure with her. Now I’ve got a new adventure, but she’s still alive to me,” Rice said. “I feel her presence all the time. It’s become a passion for me now.”
The Magnolia State native had never so much as penned a poem before becoming a nearly overnight songwriting sensation. But he’s become a well-known force in Nashville and the global music industry for his heartfelt, soul-wrenching lyrics.
“Debby would be happy with it. She loved music,” Rice said. “We just started doing it and one thing led to another. The music has been heard in 119 countries now. We had 10 million views last year. I’m so humbled by that.”
Rice has hewn his own corner of the music universe and doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon. He’s also using the success to help those who have been through the same path he and Deborah walked down, donating the proceeds from his songs to help those with terminal illnesses and those fighting alongside them.
For those who hear his songs, Rice wants them to come away with one clear message.
“Take your life one day at a time,” Rice concluded. “Be thankful you have people to love. It’s not money, what your net worth is, how big a car you drive, how big your house is – that’s all temporary. But the love is forever. Love is the key to life.”
Those interested in learning more about Rice’s music can click here.
