Who is Chicken Willie? The Man Behind Ryan Upchurch’s Rooster Spirit

Ever wonder about the mysterious “Chicken Willie” that country rapper Ryan Upchurch mentions in his songs? I’ve been digging into this reference that appears throughout Upchurch’s music, and there’s an interesting family connection that explains a lot about the artist’s persona and music style.

When Ryan Upchurch calls himself “The Rooster” or references rooster imagery, it’s not just a random nickname – it’s deeply rooted in his family history and upbringing. Let me break down who Chicken Willie really is and why he matters so much to one of country-rap’s biggest stars.

The Family Connection

Chicken Willie was actually Ryan Upchurch’s grandfather’s nickname. This isn’t just some stage name or marketing gimmick – it’s a genuine family connection that has profoundly shaped Upchurch’s identity as an artist.

According to Upchurch himself, his grandfather “Chicken Willie” had a specific attitude and approach to life that left a “huge impact” on him. While Upchurch doesn’t spell out exactly what traits his grandfather possessed, we can gather from context that toughness, pride, and perhaps a fighting spirit were central to Chicken Willie’s character.

Growing Up on a Game Rooster Farm

One of the most interesting aspects of Upchurch’s connection to his “Chicken Willie” grandfather is that Ryan was literally “raised around game roosters” his entire life. In his own words:

“I choose a ‘Rooster’ for my spirit animal in my songs for many reasons… it’s what I was raised around my entire life growing up on a ‘Game Rooster’ farm.”

This upbringing on what appears to be a family farm dedicated to raising game roosters (fighting roosters) clearly made a deep impression on young Ryan. The imagery, sounds, and culture of game roosters became embedded in his identity from childhood.

The Rooster as a Symbol

When Upchurch adopts the rooster as his spirit animal he’s drawing on three specific connections

1. His childhood surrounded by game roosters on the family farm
2. His grandfather’s nickname “Chicken Willie” and the attitude he embodied
3. What roosters symbolize: toughness, pride, and fighting spirit

As Upchurch explains it “a rooster is one of the toughest birds there is they naturally fight their whole life & the pride in a rooster is so embedded in their DNA that either they fight to win or they die fighting… either way their pride is not dented.”

This symbolism clearly resonates with how Upchurch sees himself and his approach to his music career – fighting to succeed on his own terms, maintaining his pride regardless of the outcome

The Influence on Upchurch’s Music

The influence of Chicken Willie and the rooster imagery runs deep in Upchurch’s music. He even referenced Alice In Chains’ song “Rooster” when discussing his own rooster identity, saying “in the words & lyrics of the great Alice In Chains.. ‘here comes the rooster’.”

Upchurch has used hashtags like #chickenwillie and #therooster in his social media posts, showing how central this family connection remains to his public identity.

The phrase “Til Death Do We Part” accompanying these references suggests that Upchurch sees this connection to his grandfather and the rooster spirit as a lifelong commitment – something that defines who he is as both a person and artist.

Who is Ryan Upchurch?

To better understand the significance of Chicken Willie, it helps to know more about Ryan Upchurch himself:

• Born May 24, 1991, in Cheatham County, Tennessee (currently 32 years old)
• Started as a comedian on YouTube before transitioning to music
• Net worth estimated around $5 million as of 2023
• Known for mixing country, rap, and rock genres
• Stands about 5’9″ tall
• Has released multiple successful albums including “Heart of America,” “Chicken Willie,” and “Creeker”

Upchurch initially gained popularity through comedy videos online before launching his music career in 2015 with his EP “Cheatham County.” His breakthrough came with the phrase “raise hell and eat cornbread,” which became so popular he named his clothing line RHEC after it.

The Musical Legacy

While Chicken Willie himself isn’t a musician (as far as we know from available information), his influence clearly shaped Upchurch’s musical direction and persona. Upchurch has embraced a multi-genre approach, covering:

• Country music
• Rap
• Rock
• Comedy

His album “Chicken Willie” – named in obvious tribute to his grandfather – reached No. 22 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 11 on the Rap Albums charts, selling 2,800 copies in its first week.

The Rooster Imagery in Upchurch’s Brand

Upchurch has fully embraced the rooster imagery as part of his personal brand. In 2019, he specifically referenced this connection when announcing new music, using the hashtags #CREEKERII #creeker #animal #upchurch #rock #band #chickenwillie #therooster.

The rooster symbolism appears to represent several key traits that Upchurch values:

• Toughness and resilience
• Fighting spirit
• Unwavering pride
• Rural/country identity
• Family heritage

By adopting “The Rooster” as a persona, Upchurch keeps his grandfather’s memory and influence alive while creating a distinctive identity in the crowded music industry.

Personal Life and Relationships

While not directly related to Chicken Willie, understanding Upchurch’s personal life gives context to how family connections like his grandfather influence him:

• Has been in relationships with Brianna Harness, Taylor Eileen Smith, Brianna Vanvleet, and Katie Noel
• Was briefly married to Taylor Eileen Smith after getting engaged in July 2020
• Has a brother named Austen
• Maintains strong connections to his hometown in Cheatham County, Tennessee

Despite achieving significant success, Upchurch appears to maintain strong ties to his roots and family heritage – including the influence of his grandfather.

The Impact of Chicken Willie’s Attitude

Upchurch specifically mentions that his grandfather’s “attitude left a huge impact” on his life. While he doesn’t elaborate on the specific traits or behaviors, we can infer from context that Chicken Willie likely embodied certain values that Upchurch admires:

• Resilience in the face of challenges
• Pride in one’s identity and work
• Fighting spirit and determination
• Perhaps a certain rebellious or independent streak

These qualities align with the rooster symbolism and with Upchurch’s own public persona as an independent artist who crosses genre boundaries and maintains his authentic country identity.

Why Does Chicken Willie Matter?

For fans of Ryan Upchurch, understanding the Chicken Willie connection provides deeper insight into:

1. Where Upchurch’s fighting spirit comes from
2. Why he adopts certain imagery and themes in his music
3. The family influences that shaped his artistic identity
4. The authentic rural upbringing that informs his country credibility

This isn’t just a stage name or gimmick – it’s a genuine family connection that helps explain why Upchurch approaches music and life the way he does.

So who is Chicken Willie? He’s Ryan Upchurch’s grandfather, a man whose nickname and attitude profoundly influenced one of country-rap’s most successful independent artists. Through this family connection and his upbringing on a game rooster farm, Upchurch developed the persona of “The Rooster” – a symbol of pride, fighting spirit, and unwavering determination.

While we don’t have extensive details about Chicken Willie as an individual, his impact lives on through his grandson’s music, imagery, and approach to his career. For Upchurch fans, the reference provides an authentic glimpse into the family roots that shaped the artist they enjoy.

Next time you hear Upchurch refer to himself as “The Rooster” or mention Chicken Willie, you’ll understand he’s not just creating a brand – he’s honoring a family legacy that fundamentally shaped who he is as both a person and an artist.

Yes, it appears Ryan Upchurch is still making music and has upcoming concerts for his “The Civil Tour 2025”, which will feature new songs from Creeker 3 and fan favorites.