Home Free Announces Departure Of Austin Brown

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Austin Brown, lead singer for a cappella vocal group Home Free, has announced his exit from the group.

In a press release issued Thursday (Feb. 15), Home Free announced that the vocal band will see their first major lineup shift in 8 years with the departure of tenor Austin Brown.

Home Free rose to fame on the short-lived NBC singing competition show, The Sing-Off. They took home the Sing-Off title, a record deal and $100K cash in 2013. The lineup at the time consisted of Rob Lundquist, Tim Foust, Austin Brown and brothers Chris and Adam Rupp.

 

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Three years after their win, Home Free co-founder Chris Rupp announced his departure from the group. He was replaced by Adam Chance, marking the only major lineup change in the last decade. The news of tenor Austin Brown’s exit that was announced Thursday came as a shock to fans, aka Home Fries, who have grown accustomed to the stunning vocals and onstage comedic relief he offers the group.

“After 12 years, I’m truly amazed looking back at what we’ve built together. These guys have become so much more than friends; we’re brothers, and we always will be,” says Austin Brown in a statement. “I’m grateful for their unwavering support throughout this journey and moving forward, and I will always be their biggest fan! Lord knows I wouldn’t be who I am without them and whoever is lucky enough to join this amazing group next is truly in for the ride of their life.”

RELATED: HOME FREE SHARES DAZZLING COVER OF “BLUE AIN’T YOUR COLOR”

The sad news was accompanied by the announcement that Home Free will be releasing a new album to celebrate 10 years since their breakout debut album, Crazy Life, was released. Crazy(er) Life will be available for pre-save starting tomorrow, February 16, and will be the final recording with Brown. The album will be officially released on March 29 and “will continue that nostalgic trend, as the band re-imagine the popular songs from the career-defining early days when they first arrived in the national spotlight.”

Fans React To Austin Brown’s Departure

Fans reacted to Thursday’s announcement with a mix of shock, emotion and well wishes for Austin Brown.

What’s Next For Austin Brown and Home Free?

As posted in a press release, Home Free’s remaining members, Adam Chance, Tim Foust, Rob Lundquist and Adam Rupp, will be “recruiting” and plan to replace Austin Brown later this year.

“We’re going to miss our baby brother. The tour bus will be eerily quiet,” adds Tim Foust. “But we’re eternally grateful for Austin’s immeasurable contributions to this band, and we also embrace each new beginning. We can’t wait to find out what the future holds for him and for Home Free.”

Austin Brown’s future plans aren’t clear, but the singer has built an impressive social media following due to solo content and videos recorded with his wife.

In 2020, Brown started pursuing solo ventures and released his debut single, “Earn It.” Subsequent solo releases followed, leaving fans hopeful that he is pursuing a solo career and will be releasing more music in the future.

“The only goal I have with my career and with my music is to be happy, and to feel like I’m putting something out in the world that makes the world better, and makes the people around me better,” says Austin. “I want to give people — my Superfans, most specifically — music that lifts them up when they need it.”

See one of our favorite Austin Brown performances in the video below.