Age: 47
Jason Aldean
Age: 47
Jason Aldine Williams (born February 28, 1977), known professionally as Jason Aldean, is an American country music singer. Since 2005, Jason Aldean has been signed to Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released six albums and 24 singles. His 2010 album My Kinda Party is certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2012 album Night Train is certified double-platinum, while his 2005 self-titled debut, 2007 album Relentless, 2009 album Wide Open, and 2014 album Old Boots, New Dirt are all certified single-platinum.
Of his singles, 14 have reached number one on either the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts with "Why", "She's Country", "Big Green Tractor", "The Truth", "Don't You Wanna Stay" (a duet with Kelly Clarkson), "Dirt Road Anthem", "Fly Over States", "Take a Little Ride", "The Only Way I Know" (a collaboration with Luke Bryan and Eric Church), "Night Train", "When She Says Baby", "Burnin' It Down", "Just Gettin' Started", and "Tonight Looks Good on You". Eight more of his singles have reached the top 10.
Early life
Aldean was born as Jason Aldine Williams in Macon, Georgia, in the United States. His parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. He was raised by his mother, in Macon, where he went to high school at Windsor Academy. During the summer, he would spend time with his father in Homestead, Florida.
Before going to work during the day, his dad would map out guitar chords on notebook paper to show Aldean where to place his fingers to play the chords. Aldean sat and practiced all day while his dad was at work. When his dad got home, he got out his own guitar and they played together. Soon, after hearing a song only a few times, he could play it. 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, Georgia. He sang John Anderson's song "Seminole Wind" and Tracy Lawrence's "Sticks and Stones". He would later say that the entire audience - all ten - applauded, and that he almost had to be dragged off the stage because he was hooked on performing. He then began performing at area talent contests and local fairs. At 15, he joined the "house band" at Georgia nightspot Nashville South.
Aldean chose his stage name as there were already a number of people called "Jason Williams" including a well-known basketball player. In order to stand out, he changed the spelling of his middle name, Aldine, to come up with the name Aldean.
Personal life
Aldean married his high school sweetheart, Jessica Ussery, on August 4, 2001. Together the couple have two daughters, Kendyl and Keeley. On April 25, 2013, seven months after Aldean admitted to acting inappropriately with former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr, news outlets reported Aldean and his wife had separated in January. Aldean filed for divorce on April 26, citing irreconcilable differences. Aldean and Kerr officially began dating in March 2014 and made their first public appearance as a couple at the 2014 CMT Awards. and on September 24, 2014, Aldean and Kerr announced their engagement. The couple were married on March 21, 2015.
Along with current Major League Baseball (MLB) players Adam LaRoche and Ryan Langerhans, former MLB players Chipper Jones and Tombo Martin, Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, and fellow country singer Luke Bryan, Aldean owns a hunting company called Buck Commander.
Aldean owns 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) of land just outside Nashville, Tennessee dubbed "Black Jack Ridge".
Jason is a Georgia Bulldogs fan and spends every Saturday he can watching games. He played the first-ever concert at the University of Georgia's Sanford Stadium for over 60,000 fans in April 2013, and Ludacris happened to make an appearance for their collaboration of "Dirt Road Anthem." Aldean has a bulldog named Athens, for the location of the university and also has a “Man Barn” at his home, which includes televisions, a full bar, leather couches, and Georgia Bulldogs decorations which is under renovation.
In 2015, Forbes estimated Aldean's annual income at $43.5 million.
Musical career
After high school, with his father's help, Aldean and his band performed at Truman State University (previously Northeast Missouri State University) in Kirksville, Missouri. With Justin Weaver (one of the band's members), Aldean began writing songs. In 1998, he performed his original songs at a showcase staged by Atlanta nightclub The Buckboard. He was approached by Michael Knox, then of the Warner-Chappell song-publishing company. After signing with Warner-Chappell, Aldean moved to Nashville on November 1, 1998, at age 21.
Aldean was offered a recording contract but was subsequently dropped. He signed with another label but again was dropped in 2000 for postponing his recording sessions repeatedly. Various showcases failed to bring him a contract. The last straw was an attempt at the Wildhorse Saloon where the promised label talent scouts never even showed up. Finally, Lawrence Mathis spotted Aldean at one of the showcases at The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. He signed as Aldean's first manager. Still frustrated and discouraged with his struggling career, Aldean gave himself 6 months before planning to leave Nashville and return home to Georgia. Then 5 weeks later, he was offered a deal from Broken Bow Records in Nashville. Shortly after the release of his self-titled debut album, Aldean picked up his new (and current) agent Kevin Neal. Furthermore, while recording Relentless, Aldean moved to Clarence Spalding and Spalding Entertainment for management.
2005-07: Jason Aldean
Aldean's debut single, "Hicktown", was released in early-2005. It served as the lead-off to his self-titled debut album and reached a peak of No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album also produced his first Number One hit in "Why", This album finally released the No. 4 hit "Amarillo Sky", which had previously been a non-charting single in 2002 for McBride & the Ride. This 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. The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2007.
2007-08: Relentless
Aldean spent most of January 2007, in the studio with producer Michael Knox to finish his second album, Relentless. This album was released on May 29, 2007 and at Wal-Mart locations, it was released with a Limited Edition CMT Pick DVD that included Aldean's performances. The album's lead-off single, "Johnny Cash", was originally recorded by Tracy Byrd, but Aldean's version of it peaked at No. 6. Its followup "Laughed Until We Cried" became his 5th consecutive Top 10 hit. Relentless has also been certified platinum by the RIAA, and its title track was released as its 3rd single. The song has also been Aldean's lowest charting single both in the U.S. and Canada, failing to reach the Top 10 on the country charts.
2009-10: Wide Open
Aldean released his 7th single titled "She's Country" on December 1, 2008. This song serves as the lead-off single from his 3rd album Wide Open, 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 2nd number-one hit, and his first since "Why" in May 2006. The next single, "Big Green Tractor," became Aldean's 3rd Number One hit. Wide Open debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. "The Truth" became the album's 3rd consecutive Number One hit in January 2010, with "Crazy Town" being the album's 4th 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 "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 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.
2010-12: My Kinda Party
In August 2010, Aldean released a new single "My Kinda Party," 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 5th number one hit.
In early 2011, Aldean's version of "Dirt Road Anthem", 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 3rd 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.
Aldean performed "My Kinda Party" at the start of the 2011 Home Run Derby, which was aired 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 made it 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 however 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", which peaked at No.2, followed by yet another number one single, entitled "Fly Over States".
2012-14: Night Train
The 1st single from Aldean's 5th album was entitled "Take a Little Ride." It was released on July 16, 2012. Later, the album's title was announced as Night Train. This album was released on October 16, 2012. Its 2nd single, "The Only Way I Know," is a collaboration among him, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church. The album's 3rd single, entitled "1994," is a tribute to Joe Diffie. The album's 4th single, the title track, was released to country radio on June 24, 2013. The fifth single, "When She Says Baby", 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 wouldn't 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" 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".
2014-16: Old Boots, New Dirt
On July 22, 2014, Aldean released a new single "Burnin' It Down". This song would serve as the lead single off his 6th studio album Old Boots, New Dirt, which was released on October 7, 2014. This song reached #1 both on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. The album's second single, "Just Gettin' Started", was released to country radio on November 10, 2014. It reached #1 on the Country Airplay chart in March 2015. "Tonight Looks Good on You" was released as the third single on March 23, 2015. It reached #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" released to country radio on August 17, 2015. It reached #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, Aldean donated over $600,000 to Susan G. Komen of South Florida.
In 2015, Aldean was widely criticized for docking blackface on Halloween in a Lil' Wayne costume.
2016-present: untitled seventh studio album
The album's first single, "Lights Come On" released to country radio on April 1, 2016.
At the 2016 ACM Awards, Aldean was awarded with the Entertainer of the Year prize for the first time in his musical career.
Discography
Main article: Jason Aldean discographyAlbums
- Jason Aldean (2005)
- Relentless (2007)
- Wide Open (2009)
- My Kinda Party (2010)
- Night Train (2012)
- Old Boots, New Dirt (2014)
- TBA (2016)
Tours
- Headlining
- 2008: CMT ON TOUR: Relentless
- with Lady Antebellum
- 2010: Wide Open Tour
- with Luke Bryan and Ash Bowers (All Year) and David Nail, Jake Owen, Uncle Kracker, Love and Theft (Select Dates)
- 2011—12:My Kinda Party Tour
- 2011: Spring leg-Eric Church and The JaneDear Girls/Fall leg-Chris Young and Thompson Square
- 2012: All year-Luke Bryan/Spring leg-Lauren Alaina/Summer, fall leg-Rachel Farley
- 2013:Night Train Tour
- with Luke Bryan (Sanford Stadium), Miranda Lambert (Fenway Park), Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett and Kelly Clarkson (Wrigley Field)
- 2013—15:Burn It Down Tour
- with Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Farr and Miranda Lambert (Twelve shows in 2015 were merge with Kenny Chesney, The Big Revival Tour)
- 2016: We Were Here Tour
- with Thomas Rhett and A Thousand Horses
- Supporting
- 2006: Me and My Gang Tour
- with Rascal Flatts (Eric Church was kicked off for playing too long and Aldean took his spot, along with Taylor Swift)
- 2007: Still Feels Good Tour
- with Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift
- 2007:Free and Easy Summer Tour
- with Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert
- 2008: Live Your Voice Tour
- with Tim McGraw
- 2010: Last Rodeo Tour
- with Brooks & Dunn
Touring band
Aldean's road band consists of Rich Redmond, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Allison. All three were formerly in the band Rushlow, which was fronted by former Little Texas lead vocalist Tim Rushlow. The road band, along with David Fanning, also comprises the production team New Voice Entertainment. Fanning is also signed to Broken Bow's sister label, Red Bow.
Awards and nominations
Year | Organization | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | ACM Awards | Top New Male Vocalist | Won |
2007 | ACM Awards | Song of the Year - "Amarillo Sky" | Nominated |
Video of the Year - "Amarillo Sky" | Nominated | ||
CMA Awards | Horizon Award | Nominated | |
2010 | American Country Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year - "The Truth" | Nominated | |
Male Video of the Year - "The Truth" | Nominated | ||
Collaborative Video of the Year - "Heaven" | Nominated | ||
2011 | ACM Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Nominated | |
Top Country Album - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | |
Male Video of the Year - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
Collaborative Video of the Year - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Nominated | ||
Best Web Video of the Year - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
CMA Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | |
Single of the Year - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Nominated | ||
Musical Event of the Year - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Won | ||
Album of the Year - My Kinda Party | Won | ||
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Billboard Touring Awards | Breakthrough | Won | |
American Music Awards | Favorite Country Male Artist | Nominated | |
Favorite Country Album - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
American Country Awards | Male Music Video of the Year - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | |
Artist of the Year | Won | ||
Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Album of the Year - My Kinda Party | Won | ||
Single of the Year: Male - "My Kinda Party" | Won | ||
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Won | ||
Touring Headline Act of the Year | Won | ||
Music Video: Group, Duo, or Collaboration - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Won | ||
2012 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Solo Performance - "Dirt Road Anthem" | Nominated |
Best Country Duo/Group Performance - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Nominated | ||
Best Country Album - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
ACM Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Album of the Year - "My Kinda Party" | Nominated | ||
Vocal Event of the Year - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Won | ||
Single Record of the Year - "Don't You Wanna Stay" | Won | ||
Video of the Year - "Tattoos on This Town" | Nominated | ||
Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Nominated | |
Top Country Album - "My Kinda Party" | Won | ||
Top Country Song - "Dirt Road Anthem" | Won | ||
CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year - "Dirt Road Anthem" | Nominated | |
Male Video of the Year - "Dirt Road Anthem" | Nominated | ||
CMT Performance of the Year - "Tattoos On This Town" | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Male Country Artist | Nominated | |
Choice Country Song: Tattoos On This Town | Nominated | ||
CMA Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year | Nominated | ||
American Music Awards | Country Music: Favorite Male Artist | Nominated | |
American Country Awards | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year - "Tattoos On This Town" | Nominated | ||
Single by a Male Artist - "Tattoos On This Town" | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year: "Fly Over States" | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year: "Tattoos On This Town" | Nominated | ||
Touring Artist of the Year | Won | ||
2013 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Country Singer | Nominated |
ACM Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
Vocal Event of the Year - "The Only Way I Know" | Won | ||
Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Nominated | |
Top Country Album- "Night Train" | Nominated | ||
Top Male Artist | Nominated | ||
CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year - "1994" | Nominated | |
Male Video of the Year - "Take a Little Ride" | Nominated | ||
Collaborative Video of the Year - "The Only Way I Know" | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Male Country Artist | Nominated | |
CMA Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Musical Event of the Year - "The Only Way I Know" | Nominated | ||
American Country Awards | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
Artist of the Year: Male | Nominated | ||
Album of the Year: Night Train | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year - Vocal Collaboration: "The Only Way I Know" | Nominated | ||
Touring Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Music Video of the Year: Male - Take a Little Ride | Nominated | ||
2014 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Album - "Night Train" | Nominated |
ACM Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
American Music Awards | Favorite Country Male Artist | Nominated | |
American Country Countdown Awards | Digital Song of the Year - "Burnin' It Down" | Nominated | |
Artist of the Year | Won | ||
Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year - "When She Says Baby" | Nominated | ||
2015 | ACM Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
Album of the Year - Old Boots, New Dirt | Nominated | ||
Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Nominated | |
Top Country Album - "Old Boots, New Dirt" | Won | ||
Top Country Song - "Burnin' It Down" | Won |
Filmography
- Sweet Vengeance (2013)