Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean

Aldean performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name Jason Aldine Williams[1]
Born February 28, 1977[2]
Macon, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Origin Nashville, Tennessee
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2005–present
Labels Broken Bow
Associated acts Brantley Gilbert, Michael Knox, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Kelly Clarkson
Website www.jasonaldean.com

Jason Aldine Williams (born February 28, 1977), known professionally as Jason Aldean, is an American country music singer. Since 2005, Jason Aldean has recorded for Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released six albums and twenty-two 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, thirteen have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts: "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", and "Just Gettin' Started". Nine more of his singles have reached the Top 10 on the same charts.

Early life

Aldean was born as Jason Aldine Williams in Macon, Georgia. 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 a result of his name "Jason Williams" sounding too generic. 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 has 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.[3] Aldean filed for divorce on April 26, citing irreconcilable differences.[2] Aldean and Kerr officially began dating in March 2014 and made their first public appearance as a couple at the 2014 CMT Awards.[4] and on September 24, 2014, Aldean and Kerr announced their engagement.[5] The couple were married on March 21, 2015.[6]

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.[7]

Aldean owns 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) of land just outside of Nashville, Tennessee dubbed "Black Jack Ridge".[8]

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.[9]

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 in Kirksville, Missouri. With one of the band's members, Justin Weaver, 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.[10] 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. Mathis signed as Aldean's first manager. Still frustrated and discouraged with his struggling career, Aldean gave himself six months before planning to leave Nashville and return home to Georgia. Then five weeks later, he was offered a deal from Broken Bow Records in Nashville. Shortly after the release of his first 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 first single, "Hicktown", was released in early 2005.[10] It served as the lead-off to his debut album Jason Aldean, and reached a peak of No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.[11] The album also produced his first Number One hit in "Why",[11] as well as the No. 4-peaking "Amarillo Sky",[11] which had previously been a non-charting single in 2002 for McBride & the Ride. "Amarillo Sky" earned a 2006 ACM nomination for song of the year and video of the year. Aldean earned the title of "Top New Male Vocalist" at the 2006 ACM Awards. The album has sold over one million 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.[10] This album was released on May 29, 2007, and at Wal-Mart, it was released with a Limited Edition CMT Pick DVD that includes performances from Aldean. The album's lead-off single, "Johnny Cash", was originally recorded by Tracy Byrd and peaked at No. 6[11] when Aldean released it. Its followup, "Laughed Until We Cried", has become his fifth consecutive Top Ten hit.[11] Relentless has also been certified platinum by the RIAA, and its title track was released as its third single. The song has also been Aldean's lowest charting single in both the U.S. and Canada,[11] failing to reach Top Ten on the country charts.[11]

2009–10:Wide Open

Aldean released a seventh single titled "She's Country" to radio on December 1, 2008. It is the first single from his third album Wide Open which was released on April 7, 2009. The single debuted at No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart[11] in late-November 2008. His seventh consecutive Top 40 hit on the country charts,[11] it is also his first Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and became his second number-one hit,[11] and his first since "Why" in May 2006.[11] The next single, "Big Green Tractor," became Aldean's third Number One hit.[11] Wide Open debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. "The Truth" became the album's third consecutive Number One hit in January 2010,[11] with "Crazy Town" being the album's fourth single and peaking at No. 2 on the country charts.[11]

Aldean performed with Bryan Adams on an episode of CMT Crossroads in the beginning of May, and the episode premiered on June 26, 2009.[12] In an interview with Shave Magazine, Aldean explained that working with Bryan on Crossroads "was great. He was a lot of fun." But the real highlight for Aldean 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. 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."[13]

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.[14]

2010–12: My Kinda Party

Aldean released a new single in August 2010, "My Kinda Party," which entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 41,[11] which is the lead-off single from his album of the same name, released on November 2, 2010.[15] It marks as Aldean's tenth top 10 country hit.[11] He also collaborated with Kelly Clarkson on the intimate duet "Don't You Wanna Stay". Aldean 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[11] from unsolicited airplay for the week of November 20, 2010. In March 2011, "Don't You Wanna Stay" became Aldean's fifth number one hit.[11]

In early 2011, Aldean's recording of "Dirt Road Anthem", 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 [11] from unsolicited airplay for the week of February 5, 2011.[16] In March 2011, "Dirt Road Anthem" was selected as the third single from My Kinda Party. Aldean also collaborated with Ludacris on the song "Dirt Road Anthem" at the 2011 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on June 8, 2011. In addition to making number one on the Hot Country Songs chart[11] for the week of July 30, 2011, "Dirt Road Anthem" has also become Aldean's first top ten hit on the Hot 100 chart.

Aldean performed his song "My Kinda Party" at the start of the 2011 Home Run Derby, 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 his duet, "Don't You Wanna Stay", with Kelly Clarkson. 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 one-hour special which took place live on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. [17] "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 My Kinda Party was "Tattoos on This Town" at number 2[11] followed by the number 1 "Fly Over States".[11]

2012–14: Night Train

The first single from Aldean's fifth album was "Take a Little Ride." It was released on July 16, 2012. Later, the album's title was announced as Night Train. The album was released on October 16, 2012. The album's second single, "The Only Way I Know," is a collaboration among Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church. The album's third single, "1994," is a tribute to Joe Diffie. The album's fourth single, "Night Train", was released to country radio on June 24, 2013. The album's fifth single, "When She Says Baby", was released to country radio on November 18, 2013. "Take a Little Ride", "The Only Way I Know", "Night Train" and "When She Says Baby" all peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart.[18]

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", where the title track features Aldean and Ludacris in a duet.[19]

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. Aldean and Lenny Kravitz opened the awards show singing "American Woman".[20]

2014–present: Old Boots, New Dirt

On July 22, 2014, Aldean released a new song "Burnin' It Down". It is the lead single off his sixth studio album, Old Boots, New Dirt which was released on October 7, 2014. This song reached number one on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay chart.[11] The album's second single, "Just Gettin' Started", was released to country radio on November 10, 2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in March 2015. "Tonight Looks Good on You" was released as the album's third single on March 23, 2015.

Road 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.[21] Fanning is also signed to Broken Bow's sister label, Red Bow.

Tours

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Result
2005 ACM Awards Top New Male Vocalist Won
2007 ACM Awards[22] Song of the Year – "Amarillo Sky" Nominated
Video of the Year – "Amarillo Sky" Nominated
CMA Awards[23] Horizon Award Nominated
2010 American Country Awards Male Artist of the Year Nominated
CMT Music Awards[24] Video of the Year – "The Truth" Nominated
Male Video of the Year – "The Truth" Nominated
Collaborative Video of the Year – "Heaven" with Bryan Adams from CMT Crossroads Nominated
2011 ACM Awards[25] Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Billboard Music Awards[26] Top Country Artist Nominated
Top Country Album – "My Kinda Party" Nominated
CMT Music Awards[27] 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" with Kelly Clarkson Nominated
Best Web Video of the Year – "My Kinda Party" live from CMT.com webcast Nominated
CMA Awards[28] Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson Nominated
Musical Event of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson Won
Album of the Year – My Kinda Party Won
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Billboard Touring Awards[29] Breakthrough Won
American Music Awards[30] Favorite Country Male Artist Nominated
Favorite Country Album – "My Kinda Party" Nominated
American Country Awards[31] 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" with Kelly Clarkson Won
Touring Headline Act of the Year Won
Music Video: Group, Duo, or Collaboration – "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson Won
2012 Grammy Awards[32] Best Country Solo Performance – "Dirt Road Anthem" Nominated
Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson Nominated
Best Country Album – "My Kinda Party" Nominated
ACM Awards[33] 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" with Kelly Clarkson Won
Single Record of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson Won
Video of the Year – "Tattoos on This Town" Nominated
Billboard Music Awards[34] Top Country Artist Nominated
Top Country Album – "My Kinda Party" Won
Top Country Song – "Dirt Road Anthem" Won
CMT Music Awards[35] 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" from Artists of the Year 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[36] Country Music: Favorite Male Artist Nominated
American Country Awards[36] 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"(with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) Won
Billboard Music Awards Top Country ArtistNominated
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"(with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) Won
Teen Choice Awards Male Country Artist Nominated
CMA Awards[37] Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Musical Event of the Year - "The Only Way I Know"(with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) Nominated
American Country Awards[38] 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"(with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) Nominated
Touring Artist of the Year Nominated
Music Video of the Year: Male - Take a Little Ride Nominated
2014 Grammy Awards[39] Best Country Album – "Night Train" Nominated
ACM Awards[40] Male Vocalist of the Year Won
American Music Awards Favorite Country Male Artist Nominated
American Country Countdown Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year - "Burnin' It Down" Nominated
Single of the Year - "Just Gettin' Started" Won
Song of the Year - "Burnin' It Down" Nominated
2015 ACM Awards Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Won
Album of the Year - Old Boots, New Dirt Nominated

Discography

Albums

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 21. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Jason Williams vs. Jessica Ann Ussery Williams Complaint for Divorce" (PDF). Chancery Court for Williamson County, Tennessee. April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ Takeda, Allison (April 25, 2013). "Exclusive: Jason Aldean, Wife Jessica Ussery Separate After Cheating Scandal". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ Errico, Sammi (June 5, 2014). "Jason Aldean Shows Off Former Mistress Brittany Kerr At CMTs". Hollywood Life. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ Nudd, Tim (September 26, 2014). "Brittany Kerr Flashes Engagement Ring from Jason Aldean: 'We've Been on Cloud Nine'". People.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.people.com/article/jason-aldean-married-brittany-kerr
  7. ↑ "Buckmen". Buck Commander. 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  8. ↑ Amy Sciarretto (2012-02-11). "Jason Aldean Buys 1,300-Acre Farm". Tasteofcountry.com. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  9. ↑ "Fun Facts Jason Aldean". Vivid Seats. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Leggett, Steve. "Jason Aldean biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 "Jason Aldean Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Artist". MusicRow. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  13. ↑ Ziyah. "Interview With Jason Aldean". ShaveMagazine.com. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  14. ↑ "Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland Lead 2010 CMT Music Awards Nominees | CMT Blog". Blog.cmt.com. 2010-04-05. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  15. ↑ "Jason Aldean Sets Release of Fourth Studio Album – My Kinda Party for 11.2.2010". Jason Aldean. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  16. ↑ "CMT: News: Kenny Chesney's "Somewhere With You" Remains on Top". CMT. 2011-01-29. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  17. ↑ "Aldean, Others Set To Perform For GRAMMYs Nomination Party!". WUSN-FM US99.5.
  18. ↑ "Jason Aldean Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Jason Aldean to Collaborate with Ludacris Again". Broadwayselectricbarnyard.com. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Jason Aldean, Lenny Kravitz Open CMT Music Awards With "American Woman"". Cmt.com. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Jason Aldean’s Band Tells the Story of Production Team New Voice Entertainment". Tasteofcountry.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  22. ↑ "News : Headlines : 42nd Academy of Country Music Awards Final Nominees : Great American Country". Gactv.com. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  23. ↑ "2007 CMA Awards Nominations · Country Music News · ACountry · Just Like Being There". Acountry.com. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  24. ↑ "2010 CMT Awards Nominees". The Boot. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ "2011 Billboard Music Award Nominees Include Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum". Tasteofcountry.com. 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  27. ↑ "News : 2011 CMT Music Awards Nominees Revealed". CMT. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  28. ↑ "CMA Awards 2011: List of nominations - 11/09/2011 | Entertainment News from". OnTheRedCarpet.com. 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  29. ↑
  30. ↑ "Nominated for Two 2011 American Music Awards! » News". Jason Aldean. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  31. ↑ "American Country Awards 2011 Nominees Announced". Tasteofcountry.com. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  32. ↑ "54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  33. ↑ "2012 ACM Awards Nominees Announced". Tasteofcountry.com. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  34. ↑ "Billboard - Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery & Free Video". Billboard. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  35. ↑
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1
  37. ↑ "Jason Nominated for 3 CMA Awards!". Jason Aldean. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  38. ↑ "CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS!". Jason Aldean. Retrieved 6 October 6, 2014. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  39. ↑ "56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
  40. ↑ "JASON NOMINATED FOR ACM AWARD". Jason Aldean. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Fall Album Preview: 72 Anticipated Releases". Billboard. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.

External links