Jason Aldean

Biography

Jason Aldine Williams (born February 28, 1977), known professionally as Jason Aldean, is an American singer. Since 2005, he has been signed to BBR Music Group (formerly known as Broken Bow Records), a record label for which he has released eleven country music albums and 40 singles. His 2010 album, My Kinda Party×My Kinda Party2 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Tattoos on This Town3:222Dirt Road Anthem3:493Church Pew or Bar Stool4:194Just Passing Through3:205Fly Over States3:386My Kinda Party4:457I Ain’t Ready to Quit3:338It Ain’t Easy3:019Country Boy’s World4:0610The Heartache That Don’t Stop Hurting3:5511Texas Was You3:2512Don’t You Wanna Stay4:1613See You When I See You3:4814If She Could See Me Now3:3015Days Like These3:59, is certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2012 album Night Train×Night Train16 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1This Nothin’ Town3:122When She Says Baby2:513Feel That Again3:224Wheels Rollin’4:405Talk3:496The Only Way I Know3:137Take a Little Ride3:088I Don’t Do Lonely Well3:259Night Train3:521019944:0311Staring at the Sun3:1512Drink One for Me3:0613Black Tears4:1614Walking Away3:3815Water Tower3:44 is certified double-platinum, while his 2005 self-titled debut, 2007 album Relentless×Relentless29 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Johnny Cash3:112Laughed Until We Cried3:233Do You Wish It Was Me4:254I Use What I Got3:075Who’s Kissing You Tonight3:256Relentless3:427My Memory Ain’t What It Used to Be4:148No3:429Back in This Cigarette4:3510Grown Woman3:5811I Break Everything I Touch3:2012Not Every Man Lives3:55, 2009 album Wide Open×Wide Open7 April 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Wide Open4:002This I Gotta See3:583Fast4:144Crazy Town3:045Don’t Give Up on Me3:416She’s Country3:417On My Highway3:478Keep the Girl4:309Big Green Tractor3:2410The Truth3:5811Love Was Easy3:35, and 2014 album Old Boots, New Dirt×Old Boots, New Dirt7 October 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Just Gettin’ Started3:152Show You Off3:083Burnin’ It Down3:394Tryin’ to Love Me3:465Sweet Little Somethin’3:246Laid Back3:047Tonight Looks Good on You3:528Too Fast3:229If My Truck Could Talk3:3110Old Boots, New Dirt2:5411I Took It With Me3:0312Don’t Change Gone2:5613Miss That Girl2:5614Gonna Know We Were Here3:4415Two Night Town3:20 are all certified platinum. Aldean has received five Grammy Award nominations throughout his career, twice for Best Country Album.
30 of Aldean's 41 singles have reached number one on either the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts. His songs include "Amarillo Sky×Amarillo Sky26 June 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amarillo Sky3:22", "She's Country", "Big Green Tractor×Big Green Tractor26 May 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Big Green Tractor3:24", "Crazy Town", "My Kinda Party", "Dirt Road Anthem×Dirt Road Anthem4 April 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dirt Road Anthem3:50", "Fly Over States×Fly Over States2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fly Over States3:35", "When She Says Baby×When She Says Baby18 November 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1When She Says Baby2:51", "Burnin' It Down×Burnin' It Down22 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Burnin' It Down3:42", "You Make It Easy×You Make It Easy26 January 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1You Make It Easy3:16", "If I Didn't Love You", "Trouble with a Heartbreak×Trouble With A Heartbreak13 January 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Trouble With a Heartbreak3:15", "Try That in a Small Town×Try That in a Small Town19 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Try That In A Small Town3:03", and "Whiskey Drink×Whiskey Drink6 October 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Whiskey Drink3:10".

Early life

Jason Aldine Williams was born in Macon, Georgia, on February 28, 1977. His parents separated when he was three. He was raised by his mother in Macon, and during the summer he spent time with his father in Homestead, Florida. He attended Windsor Academy, a private Christian school in Bibb County, Georgia. Before going to work, Aldean's father would map out guitar chords on notebook paper to show his son where to place his fingers to play the chords and Jason would sit and practice all day while his father was at work. When his father got home, he got out his own guitar and they played together. Soon he could play a song after hearing it only a few times. His early favorites included George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away", Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Blues Man", and Alabama's "My Home's in Alabama".
Both of his parents encouraged young Aldean as he progressed musically. From age 14, after watching the country-music awards on television, he wanted to perform on stage. With his mother's help, he performed at the local VFW hall in Macon. He sang John Anderson's song "Seminole Wind" and Tracy Lawrence's "Sticks and Stones". He then began performing at area talent contests and local fairs. At 15, he joined the "house band" at Georgia nightspot Nashville South.
In order to stand out, Aldean used an alternate spelling of his middle name, Aldine, to come up with the name Aldean.

1998–2004: Career beginnings

After high school, with his father's money, Aldean and his band performed at clubs and festivals around the Southeast. With Justin Weaver (one of the band's members), Aldean began writing and recording original songs. In 1998, he performed songs from his first album at a showcase staged by Atlanta nightclub The Buckboard. He was approached by Michael Knox, then of the Warner-Chappell song-publishing company.

2005–2008: Jason Aldean and Relentless

Aldean's debut single, "Hicktown×Hicktown28 March 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Hicktown5:062Hicktown (Music Video)4:08", was released in early 2005. It served as the lead-off to his self-titled debut album and reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The album contained his first number one hit with "Why". This album contained the number 4 hit "Amarillo Sky×Amarillo Sky26 June 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amarillo Sky3:22", which had previously been a non-charting single in 2002 for McBride & the Ride. The song earned a 2006 ACM nomination for Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Aldean earned the title "Top New Male Vocalist" at the 2006 ACM Awards. Over 1,000,000 copies of the album were sold in the United States and it was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2007.

Aldean spent most of January 2007, in the studio with producer Michael Knox to finish his second album, Relentless×Relentless29 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Johnny Cash3:112Laughed Until We Cried3:233Do You Wish It Was Me4:254I Use What I Got3:075Who’s Kissing You Tonight3:256Relentless3:427My Memory Ain’t What It Used to Be4:148No3:429Back in This Cigarette4:3510Grown Woman3:5811I Break Everything I Touch3:2012Not Every Man Lives3:55. The album was released on May 29, 2007, and at Wal-Mart locations was sold with a Limited Edition CMT Pick DVD that included Aldean's performances. The album's lead-off single, "Johnny Cash×Johnny Cash5 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Johnny Cash3:11", was originally recorded by Tracy Byrd, but Aldean's version of it peaked at No. 6. Its followup "Laughed Until We Cried×Laughed Until We Cried1 August 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Laughed Until We Cried3:22" became his 5th consecutive Top 10 hit. Relentless was also certified platinum by the RIAA, and its title track was released as its 3rd single. The song was Aldean's lowest-charting single both in the U.S. and Canada, failing to reach the Top 10 on the country charts.

2009–2012: Wide Open and My Kinda Party

Aldean released his seventh single titled "She's Country" on December 1, 2008. This song serves as the lead-off single from his third album Wide Open×Wide Open7 April 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Wide Open4:002This I Gotta See3:583Fast4:144Crazy Town3:045Don’t Give Up on Me3:416She’s Country3:417On My Highway3:478Keep the Girl4:309Big Green Tractor3:2410The Truth3:5811Love Was Easy3:35, which was released on April 7, 2009. The single debuted at No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart in late-November 2008. Being his 7th consecutive Top 40 hit on the country charts, it is also his 1st Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It later became his second number-one hit, and his first since "Why" in May 2006. The next single, "Big Green Tractor×Big Green Tractor26 May 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Big Green Tractor3:24", became Aldean's third number-one hit. Wide Open debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. "The Truth×The Truth28 September 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Truth3:58" became the album's third consecutive number-one hit in January 2010, with "Crazy Town" being the album's fourth single and peaking at No. 2 on the country charts.
Aldean performed with Bryan Adams on an episode of CMT Crossroads in the beginning of May, and the episode premiered on June 26, 2009. In an interview with Shave Magazine, Aldean explained that working with Bryan on Crossroads "was great" and that "[h]e was a lot of fun." But the real highlight for him was that he was working with Randy Owen. "I am a big fan of Alabama so I got a chance to work with Randy Owen on this album (it didn't make the album but it eventually made a bonus track). It was really cool. Alabama were like 'The Beatles' for me so working with him was definitely one of the highlights," he said "I mean, both of those guys were really cool moments, but if I had to pick one highlight, it would be working with Randy [Owen] this year." A live DVD titled Wide Open Live & More was released on August 25, 2009. At the 2010 CMT Music Awards, Aldean picked up 3 nominations in Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for "The Truth", as well as Collaborative Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year for his performance of "Heaven" with Bryan Adams.
In August 2010, Aldean released the single "My Kinda Party×My Kinda Party2 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Tattoos on This Town3:222Dirt Road Anthem3:493Church Pew or Bar Stool4:194Just Passing Through3:205Fly Over States3:386My Kinda Party4:457I Ain’t Ready to Quit3:338It Ain’t Easy3:019Country Boy’s World4:0610The Heartache That Don’t Stop Hurting3:5511Texas Was You3:2512Don’t You Wanna Stay4:1613See You When I See You3:4814If She Could See Me Now3:3015Days Like These3:59", which entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 41. It is the lead-off single from his album of the same name, which was released on November 2, 2010. It marks as Aldean's tenth top-10 country hit. Aldean also collaborated with Kelly Clarkson on the intimate duet "Don't You Wanna Stay". His and Clarkson's performance on November 10, 2010, at the CMA Awards received positive recognition, and debuted at No. 59 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart from unsolicited airplay for the week of November 20, 2010. In March 2011, it became Aldean's fifth number-one hit.
In early 2011, Aldean's version of "Dirt Road Anthem×Dirt Road Anthem4 April 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dirt Road Anthem3:50", which was recorded previously by both of its writers country rap artist Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert (who also wrote "My Kinda Party"), debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 57 as an album cut from an unsolicited airplay for the week of February 5, 2011. In March 2011, the song was chosen as the third single from My Kinda Party. Aldean also collaborated with Ludacris for the song at the 2011 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on June 8, 2011. In addition to making #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 30, 2011, it also became Aldean's first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at #7.
Aldean performed "My Kinda Party" at the start of the 2011 Home Run Derby, which was broadcast on ESPN. Aldean won the CMA award for Album of the Year in 2011 as well as the Musical Event of the Year with "Don't You Wanna Stay", his duet with Kelly Clarkson. This was his first win. On October 25, 2011, it was announced that Aldean would be performing on The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music's Biggest Night, the 1-hour special which took place live on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. "Don't You Wanna Stay" received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, but lost to The Civil Wars at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012. The fourth single from the album was "Tattoos on This Town×Tattoos on This Town5 September 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tattoos on This Town3:23", which peaked at No. 2, followed by yet another number one single, entitled "Fly Over States×Fly Over States2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fly Over States3:35".

2012–2016: Night Train and Old Boots, New Dirt

The first single from Aldean's fifth album was entitled "Take a Little Ride×Take a Little Ride16 July 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Take a Little Ride3:06". It was released on July 16, 2012. Later, the album's title was announced as Night Train×Night Train16 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1This Nothin’ Town3:122When She Says Baby2:513Feel That Again3:224Wheels Rollin’4:405Talk3:496The Only Way I Know3:137Take a Little Ride3:088I Don’t Do Lonely Well3:259Night Train3:521019944:0311Staring at the Sun3:1512Drink One for Me3:0613Black Tears4:1614Walking Away3:3815Water Tower3:44. This album was released on October 16, 2012. Its second single, "The Only Way I Know", is a collaboration among him, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church. The album's third single, entitled "1994", is a tribute to Joe Diffie. The album's fourth single, the title track, was released to country radio on June 24, 2013. The fifth single, "When She Says Baby×When She Says Baby18 November 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1When She Says Baby2:51", was released to country radio on November 18 of that same year. "Take a Little Ride", "The Only Way I Know", "Night Train", and "When She Says Baby" all peaked at number 1 on the Country Airplay chart respectively.
During a radio interview on May 18, Aldean hinted at another possible collaboration with Ludacris. He did state that it would not be on Night Train. On December 16, 2014, Ludacris released an Extended Play titled Burning Bridges, in which the title track featured him and Aldean as a duet. Aldean performed "My Kinda Party×My Kinda Party2 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Tattoos on This Town3:222Dirt Road Anthem3:493Church Pew or Bar Stool4:194Just Passing Through3:205Fly Over States3:386My Kinda Party4:457I Ain’t Ready to Quit3:338It Ain’t Easy3:019Country Boy’s World4:0610The Heartache That Don’t Stop Hurting3:5511Texas Was You3:2512Don’t You Wanna Stay4:1613See You When I See You3:4814If She Could See Me Now3:3015Days Like These3:59" during the People's Choice Awards on January 9, 2013. On June 5, 2013, Jason Aldean co-hosted the 2013 CMT Music Awards with actress Kristen Bell. He and Lenny Kravitz opened the awards show singing "American Woman".
On July 22, 2014, Aldean released a new single "Burnin' It Down×Burnin' It Down22 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Burnin' It Down3:42". This song would serve as the lead single off his sixth studio album Old Boots, New Dirt×Old Boots, New Dirt7 October 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Just Gettin’ Started3:152Show You Off3:083Burnin’ It Down3:394Tryin’ to Love Me3:465Sweet Little Somethin’3:246Laid Back3:047Tonight Looks Good on You3:528Too Fast3:229If My Truck Could Talk3:3110Old Boots, New Dirt2:5411I Took It With Me3:0312Don’t Change Gone2:5613Miss That Girl2:5614Gonna Know We Were Here3:4415Two Night Town3:20, which was released on October 7, 2014. This song reached No. 1 both on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. The album's second single, "Just Gettin' Started×Just Gettin' Started10 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Just Gettin' Started3:15", was released to country radio on November 10, 2014. It reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart in March 2015. "Tonight Looks Good on You×Tonight Looks Good on You23 March 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tonight Looks Good on You3:51" was released as the third single on March 23, 2015. It reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart in July 2015. also performed CMT Crossroads with Bob Seger song called "Turn the Page". The album's fourth single, "Gonna Know We Were Here×Gonna Know We Were Here17 August 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gonna Know We Were Here3:22" released to country radio on August 17, 2015. It reached No. 2 on the Country Airplay chart in January 2016. Jason Aldean is one of only three artists to achieve RIAA platinum sales certification on an album released this year. His Old Boots, New Dirt album, which debuted at the top of Billboard's all-genre Top 200 chart in October, has now shipped more than one million units. This means that he is the only country star to release a platinum-seller in 2014, and joins only Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande in platinum album certifications for collections released this year.
At the conclusion of Aldean's Burn it Down Tour, he donated over $600,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure of South Florida.

2016–2018: They Don't Know and Rearview Town

In July 2016 it was announced that the seventh regular studio album, They Don't Know, was set for release on September 9 of that year. Again produced by Michael Knox, the album was preceded by the single "Lights Come On×Lights Come On2 April 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lights Come On3:14", released to country radio on April 1, 2016. The album's second single, "A Little More Summertime", released to country radio on July 15, 2016. The album's third single, "Any Ol' Barstool", was released to country radio on December 5, 2016. The album's fourth and final single, the title track of the album, was released to country radio on May 8, 2017. At the 2016 ACM Awards, Aldean was awarded Entertainer of the Year for the first time in his career. He would go on to win that award in 2017 and also 2018.
In March 2017, Aldean announced that he is working on his eighth album, titled Rearview Town×Rearview Town13 April 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Dirt To Dust2:482Set It Off2:503Girl Like You3:134You Make It Easy3:135Gettin' Warmed Up2:556Blacktop Gone3:267Drowns The Whiskey3:228Rearview Town3:049Love Me Or Don't3:1310Like You Were Mine3:1211Better At Being Who I Am3:2012I'll Wait For You3:1813Ride All Night2:5614Up In Smoke3:0515High Noon Neon2:55, which was released on April 13, 2018. The lead single, "You Make It Easy×You Make It Easy26 January 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1You Make It Easy3:16", was released on January 26, 2018. Aldean also confirmed two other songs would appear on the album: "Gettin' Warmed Up" and "Set It Off".
On October 1, 2017, Aldean had just begun performing "When She Says Baby×When She Says Baby18 November 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1When She Says Baby2:51" at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, when Stephen Paddock began firing into the crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort. Aldean and his band managed to exit the stage unharmed but 60 concertgoers died and 867 others were injured during the incident. On October 7, Aldean opened Saturday Night Live with words of support for those hurting in the aftermath of the shooting, saying that "we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night (and why) and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal. But you can be sure that we're going to walk through these tough times together, every step of the way. Because when America is at its best, our bond and our spirit — it's unbreakable." He then performed a cover of "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, who had died five days earlier.

2019–2023: 9 and Macon, Georgia

Aldean performed at the 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum Concert and Induction Ceremony. Aldean's ninth album, titled 9, was released on November 22, 2019. The album's first single, "We Back×We Back8 September 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1We Back3:17" released to country radio on September 9, 2019. It peaked at number 6 on the Country Airplay in March 2020 and number 1 on the Canadian Country chart. The album's second single, "Got What I Got×Got What I Got23 March 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Got What I Got2:52" released to country radio on April 6, 2020. "Blame It on You×Blame It on You30 October 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Blame It on You3:35" was released on October 26, 2020, as the album's third and final single.
On July 23, 2021, Aldean released the single "If I Didn't Love You", featuring Carrie Underwood. It was the leadoff single to his tenth studio album, a double album project titled Macon×MACON12 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1After You2:592Over You Again3:133That’s What Tequila Does3:094Small Town Small2:535If I Didn’t Love You3:326Story for Another Glass3:077Heaven4:118This Bar Don’t Work Anymore3:479The Sad Songs3:3210Watching You Love Me2:5111Amarillo Sky (live from Nashville, TN)3:2112Johnny Cash (live from Los Angeles, CA)3:1613She’s Country (live from Las Vegas, NV)3:5414Big Green Tractor (live from Dallas, TX)3:1615My Kinda Party (live from St. Louis, MO)5:06, Georgia×GEORGIA22 April 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Whiskey Me Away3:152Trouble With a Heartbreak3:163The State I’m In3:214Midnight and Missin’ You3:075Ain’t Enough Cowboy2:376God Made Airplanes3:407My Weakness3:558Holy Water3:219Rock and Roll Cowboy3:1310Your Mama4:2511Take a Little Ride (live from Las Vegas, NV)3:4812Burnin’ It Down (live from St. Louis, MO)3:4113Any Ol’ Barstool (live from Knoxville, TN)3:2214Rearview Town (live from St. Louis, MO)3:2615Blame It on You (live from Manchester, TN)3:31. The first half, Macon, was released on November 12, 2021. On January 14, 2022, "Trouble with a Heartbreak×Trouble With A Heartbreak13 January 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Trouble With a Heartbreak3:15" was released as the album's second single and was the leadoff single to the second half of the album, Georgia, which was released on April 22, 2022. On March 25, 2022, Aldean and Brantley Gilbert released the single "Rolex® on a Redneck×Rolex® On a Redneck25 March 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rolex® On a Redneck2:59". On July 18, 2022, Aldean released "That's What Tequila Does×That's What Tequila Does8 July 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1That's What Tequila Does3:08" to country radio as the third and final single off Macon, Georgia. In November 2022, Aldean released his version of Alabama's "Christmas in Dixie×Christmas in Dixie4 November 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Christmas in Dixie3:53".

2023–2025: "Try That in a Small Town" and Highway Desperado

On May 19, 2023, Aldean released "Try That in a Small Town×Try That in a Small Town19 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Try That In A Small Town3:03" as the lead single from his eleventh album. Its music video was released on July 14, generating controversy for invoking imagery related to the 2020 George Floyd protests while being filmed in front of the Maury County courthouse, the site of a 1946 race riot and a 1927 lynching of a Black man. Four days after its release, CMT pulled the music video from air. The song and video were denounced by fellow musicians including Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and Margo Price while drawing support from country musicians Cody Johnson and Brantley Gilbert and then-former president Donald Trump. Amid the controversy, the song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, Aldean's best chart performance of his career. The next week, it rose to number one and became Aldean's first national chart-topper.
On August 24, 2023, Aldean announced his eleventh album Highway Desperado×Highway Desperado3 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tough Crowd3:212Let Your Boys Be Country3:163Knew You’d Come Around3:144Hungover in a Hotel3:245Try That in a Small Town3:026Whiskey Drink3:107Whose Rearview3:178I’m Over You3:019Rather Watch You3:3310Breakup Breakdown3:0111Get Away From You3:2012Changing Bars3:2513From This Beer On3:0714Highway Desperado4:27, which was released on November 3, 2023, and released the song "Let Your Boys Be Country" the following day, on August 25. "Let Your Boys Be Country" was later released as the album's second single on November 27, 2023.
"Whiskey Drink×Whiskey Drink6 October 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Whiskey Drink3:10", also originally a promotional single, would be released to country radio on July 24, 2024 as the album's third single.

2025-present: "How Far Does a Goodbye Go" and Songs About Us

On September 12, 2025, Aldean released "How Far Does a Goodbye Go×How Far Does A Goodbye Go12 September 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1How Far Does A Goodbye Go3:56" as the lead single from his twelfth album, Songs About Us×Songs About Us24 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Anytime Soon4:332Drinking About You3:033Don’t Tell on Me3:054How Far Does a Goodbye Go3:565Songs About Us2:526Good Thing Going2:577She’s Why2:578Backroads of My Memory3:389Dust on the Bottle3:4910The High Road3:0111Easier Gone3:4712Help You Remember3:5213Country Into Rock 'n' Roll3:0714What’s a Little Heartache2:5315One Last Look3:1416Fight a Fire3:4717Hard to Love You3:3918Little Hometown Left2:5619Her Favorite Color3:1820Lovin' Me Too Long3:14. The album was announced on November 7, 2025, and was released on April 24, 2026.

Personal life

Aldean married Jessica Ann Ussery on August 4, 2001. Together, the couple have a daughter born in 2003, and another born in 2007. On September 30, 2012, Aldean admitted to having "acted inappropriately at a bar" with former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr, responding to reports linking her and Aldean. In a statement, Kerr said she had suffered "a lapse in judgment" and "would like to sincerely apologize to everyone that has been affected by this." Aldean filed for divorce on April 26, 2013, citing irreconcilable differences and listing the filing date as the formal separation date.
Aldean and Kerr began dating and made their first public appearance as a couple at the 2014 CMT Awards. They announced their engagement in September 2014 and were married on March 21, 2015. Their son Memphis was born on December 1, 2017. Their daughter Navy was born in early 2019. In August 2022, Brittany Aldean posted an Instagram video in which she stated, "I'd really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life", followed by a longer post in which she stated an opposition to trans existence. In response, Aldean's public relations firm The GreenRoom dropped him after 17 years as a client on September 1.

Aldean owns part of a hunting company, Buck Commander, in partnership with former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Adam LaRoche, Ryan Langerhans, and Tom Martin; Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty; and fellow country singers Luke Bryan and Tyler Farr. He also owns Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, which opened in Nashville in 2018. A second location in Gatlinburg opened in 2023, a third location in Pittsburgh opened in March 2024, and a fourth location in Las Vegas opened in December 2024.
He also is a co-owner of the E3 Chophouse in Nashville with Luke Bryan and Adam LaRoche. The restaurant opened in 2013 before closing in February 2026. In June 2026, a lawsuit was filed against Aldean, Bryan and LaRoche individually, alleging unpaid rent and breach of contract, following a $1.4 million judgment against the restaurant's parent company.
In 2015, Forbes estimated Aldean's annual income at $43.5 million. Aldean was the seventh highest-earning country musician making about $32.5 million in 2017. In 2017, Aldean was on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list, being ranked at 98. Aldean became the sixth artist to receive the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award in 2019. The award is given to artists who were consistently on top of the charts over the span of the decade.

Charity work

Aldean has supported raising awareness for breast cancer research since 2004, after losing a close friend to the disease. He has raised close to $4 million for cancer research through donating a portion of each ticket sale, special merchandise, VIP meet and greets, a donate button on his website, and his annual Concert for the Cure, most of which he has contributed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Political beliefs

Aldean is a registered Republican. He performed at a concert for the inauguration of President Donald Trump in 2017, which he described as an "honor," stating he viewed it as a celebration of the presidency rather than a purely political event. He has posted support for Trump on Instagram, including a 2024 post with the caption "Ladies and Gentlemen, President Donald J Trump" where he expressed that a potential second Trump term would be a "new era" for America.
The 2023 release of his song "Try That in a Small Town×Try That in a Small Town19 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Try That In A Small Town3:03" attracted significant political controversy, with critics interpreting the song as having political undertones, while he defended it as being about community and safety.
He endorsed Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election. Aldean is a spokesperson for Patriot Mobile, a Christian, conservative wireless provider.

Band members

Jason Aldean – lead vocals, guitar, piano
Tully Kennedy – bass guitar, backing vocals
Kurt Allison – lead guitar
Rich Redmond – drums, percussion
Carl Ray (Jay) Jackson – pedal steel guitar, banjo, backing vocals
Jack Sizemore – guitar, backing vocals

Studio albums

Jason Aldean (2005)
Relentless (2007)
Wide Open (2009)
My Kinda Party (2010)
Night Train (2012)
Old Boots, New Dirt (2014)
They Don't Know (2016)
Rearview Town (2018)
9 (2019)
Macon, Georgia (2021–2022)
Highway Desperado (2023)
Songs About Us (2026)