Singer, songwriter and record producer since 2005, Aldean has been signed to Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released ten albums and 38 singles. His 2010 album, My Kinda Party, was certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2012 album Night Train was certified double-platinum, while his 2005 self-titled debut, 2007 album Relentless, 2009 album Wide Open, 2014 album Old Boots, New Dirt are all certified platinum. Aldean has received four Grammy Award nominations throughout his career, twice for Best Country Album. 24 of his 35 singles have reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay charts & New Music Weekly with “Why”, “She’s Country”, “Big Green Tractor”, “The Truth”, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (a duet with Kelly Clarkson) among the many. He was born Jason Aldine Williams 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. Before his father went to his work, he 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 dad was at work. When his dad 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 changed the spelling of his middle name, Aldine, to come up with the name Aldean & the rest is history.
