Jason Aldean moved to Music City at 21. A month later, he was offered a recording contract. The next three years brought a marriage and a daughter but no career progress. But after a showcase at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville in early 2004, manager Lawrence Mathis approached him. Aldean said he had six months to make something happen or else he’d be leaving Nashville. Within five weeks, Mathis secured him a record deal with the independent label Broken Bow Records. Aldean released his first album for the label in 2005. Its hit singles included “Hicktown,” “Why” and “Amarillo Sky.” A 2007 follow-up album, Relentless, featured “Johnny Cash” and “Laughed Until We Cried.” His 2009 album, Wide Open, offered the No. 1 hits “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor” and “The Truth,” as well as “Crazy Town,” which spent five weeks at No. 2. My Kinda Party, his most successful album to date, debuted at No. 2 in November 2010 and finally reached No. 1 the following February. More hits followed, including: “My Kinda Party,” “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson, “Tattoos on This Town,” “Dirt Road Anthem” and “Fly Over States.” In 2016, he dropped the album They Don’t Know. Jason Aldean continues to tour the country.
