American Idol Standout Ryleigh Madison and Uncle Dustin Chapman Premiere Powerful Inspirational Ballad “Family Thing”

Ryleigh Madison and Uncle Dustin Chapman

On March 13th, the world met Ryleigh Madison, the 16-year-old from Whiteville, North Carolina, who made Katy Perry “catch the country.” The high school sophomore captivated millions around the world with her rendition of Gabby Barrett’s “The Good Ones.” 


Now, Madison and her Uncle Dustin Chapman are releasing their first collaborative single, “Family Thing.” Chapman, an accomplished singer/songwriter in his own right, is the reigning Carolina Country Music Awards “Entertainer of the Year” and has had national success with past singles such as “Slow Dance.” Chapman is also an American Idol alum, as he was chosen to be a contestant on season 19 of the hit series. 


Chapman battles an extremely rare esophageal disease called Achalasia, and he says the support their family has shown them through every circumstance–musical, medical, or just everyday life–inspired him to write this song. 


“This song is truly autobiographical for us. It speaks of knowing that no matter how far away you may have to go, you know the values instilled in you have prepared you for the road ahead and ultimately helped you realize that your family will always be there to pick you up when things don’t go as planned. As an uncle/niece duo, we are so excited for our first release to be truly authentic to us, our lives, and our backstory.” 


Filmed by True Faith Media Productions, the music video for “Family Thing” showcases the pure nature of the duo and even features a cameo by their grandmother; it was filmed at the Carolina Civic Center in Lumberton, NC, and their hometown of Whiteville, NC. The audio recording was recorded at Studio 101 in Woodruff, SC, and produced by Brad Phillips and Ian Guthrie. 


Check the video out here: Dustin Chapman & Ryleigh Madison – “Family Thing” and make sure to click the links below to follow Dustin & Ryleigh on their musical journeys. 


Dustin: WebsiteFacebookInstagramTikTokSpotifyYouTube

Ryleigh: FacebookInstagramTikTokSpotify