He’s taken home trophies for Entertainer of the Year, Artist of the Year, Top Country Artist, and more. Bryan has also appeared as an adviser and judge in major music competitions such as The Voice and American Idol.
It’s been a pretty amazing journey for Bryan. The Leesburg, Georgia native started life as the son of peanut farmers. Terrible challenges befell him when he lost his older brother Chris in tragic circumstances. Still, he fought through, determined to follow his dreams.
Initially ready to go to Nashville at age 19, Bryan stayed near his home to provide emotional support to his family as he attended Georgia Southern State University. Earning a BA in Business Administration, he also met his future wife, Caroline. They dated for a year, parted ways, then reunited.
Not long after college, with his father’s support, Bryan finally moved to Nashville to follow his musical career aspirations. Knocking on doors, writing songs, and performing live, he made connections and headway until his work began to be recognized.
Bryan’s first taste of the music industry was as a songwriter for a publishing house in Nashville where he wrote some successful country hits like the title track of Travis Tritt’s My Honky Tonk History album. During this time he was signed as a performer to Capitol Records, but he still found time to keep writing.
After co-writing Billy Currington’s single “Good Directions,” which made number one on the Hot Country Songs charts, it was time for Bryan to release his own record. His debut album I’ll Stay Me was released in August 2007 under the Capitol Nashville label, with Bryan involved in writing all 11 songs.
After a steady rise in popularity, Bryan’s fourth single “Do I,” released in May 2009, got all the way to number 2 in the Country charts. His next two singles, “Rain Is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby” appeared on his critically acclaimed second album Doin’ My Thing, which finally cracked the number one spot on the Country charts. Sadly, 2007 would see his only other sibling, Kelly, pass away suddenly. Hard as this was, this event would impact him again as he grew in fame.
In 2011, a whole bunch of singles and the EP Spring Break 3…It’s a Shore Thing kept his fan base growing. Tracks like “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” electrified audiences, serving to introduce what would be his third studio album, Tailgates & Tanlines. This album came out that summer, peaking at the top of the Country Albums chart and reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Bryans’ next three albums all made number one in the Billboard 200 and Country Music Charts. The 2013 release Crash My Party included hits like the title track and “Drink a Beer.” Then, in 2014, a huge collaboration with Florida Georgia Line produced the single “This Is How We Roll.”
In the midst of it all, Bryan’s late sister’s husband, Ben Lee Cheshire, passed away. Bryan and his wife Caroline took over the duties of raising his surviving nephew and nieces.
Never slowing down, Bryan got busy on his next full-length album, 2015’s Kill the Lights. In the first week of its release, it sold a staggering 345,000 copies, beating out superstar rap artist Dr. Dre’s record Compton to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. Bryan also broke a new record, becoming the first artist even on the Billboard Country Airplay chart to have six singles reach the number one spot.
In 2017, the country crooner would have the honor of performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. By the end of that year, after releasing singles like “Light It Up,” Bryan would release What Makes You Country, his sixth album.
True to form, Luke kept busy in 2019, releasing two singles, ”Knockin' Boots” and “What She Wants Tonight,” which made waves on the country charts. Anticipating a new release and planning a tour named “Proud to Be Here,” Bryan was looking forward to a robust 2020.
Covid delayed all those plans, but only for so long. Born Here Live Here Die Here hit listener’s ears in 2021, with sales once again proving as robust as his creative output. Followed up with the long-delayed tour, things got back on track.
All these albums later, Bryan’s success continues to snowball with more sales and awards every time he makes new music. In between breaking records and releasing new material, he’s done everything from philanthropic work for City of Hope to starting his own record label. He’s even opened his own Nashville restaurant. Bryan has become one of the biggest acts in country and looks set to carry on that way.
The trajectory of Aldean’s career to date serves as a sharp example of the old adage that good things come to those who wait, although you could certainly forgive him for wishing that things had panned out a little more simply for him. He seemed to have the world at his feet in 1998; at the age of twenty-one, he signed a record deal with Warner-Chappell. He was subsequently, and repeatedly, dropped, and spent some years struggling to get his music career - something which had once looked like a dead-cert - off the ground. It meant that he didn’t manage to get his self-titled debut record out into the world until 2005, although it brought the success that his talent had always promised; “Why” became his first number one single on the U.S. Country charts, and the album itself would eventually go platinum in his homeland, too.
Since then, he’s released a further three platinum albums and another, November 2010’s “My Kinda Party”, that was certified triple-platinum. He’s a bona fide country titan now, with a slew of Grammy nominations and another Billboard number one position for his latest album, October 2010’s Old Boots, New Dirt, proof of his national stardom.
Luke Bryan is one of the best out there, in my opinion. He was in Raleigh for two nights in a row, but I was graduating so I could only go to one (I would have seen both if I could!) Luke was here along with Lee Brice and Cole Swindell. That was one of the best concerts I have been to. Luke knows people are obsessed with his butt, so every few minutes during a song he would pause and allow people to take pictures of his butt. While Luke was singing "Country Girl Shake It For Me," someone held up a banner proposing to his wife. Luke saw it and had the guy throw the banner to the stage. He was laughing and said "This is how you know we're at a country concert when you propose to this song haha." (She said yes if anyone was wondering). Most of his songs were the fun ones, but he sang he few of the slower songs. I definitely recommend going to this concert.
My husband my son and I went to Lakewood in Atlanta to see Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia line and Tyler Farr. The tickets were reserve pit. My 10 year old son got to high five Jason. It was an amazing and unforgettable night. The tickets were about $100 per person but to us was worth every dime. We took a lot of great pics. The staff at Lakewood were very helpful and nice. Jason Aldean is an awesome performer. He played all our favorite songs. He rocked the ATL. By far my favorite concert EVER! I hope I get to see him live again. The sound was great and Jason sounded perfect. I'm glad he picked Florida Georgia line to tour with him. I think it is a perfect combination. They even rocked out together at the end in an awesome jam session. If you get a chance, go see Jason!
With a handful of female country superstars dominating the forefront of the genre, it can be hard for any up and coming talent to break the industry.
That said, as country music enters the mainstream more and more, we are seeing more country singers appearing on TV talent shows, such as American Idol and X Factor USA. Whilst someone have questioned these shows as legitimate routes into carving a music career, they should be viewed as platforms to showcase talent that otherwise would be ignored. Country's leading female vocalist, Carrie Underwood, was herself a winner of American Idol.
Another talent that American Idol has produced, Lauren Alaina is a new country superstar taking the industry by storm. I was fortunate enough to see her live on a trip to Nashville earlier this year, the home of country music, and was taken by surprise by how polished and mature the 19-year-olds performance was. She sang her way through a short set of sure to be hit songs including first single "Like My Mother Does", the perfect, emotional country song.
At just 19, Lauren Alaina has clearly got the talent to spend many more years making music and I'm sure she will be a credit to the country genre. Her live performance was truly exceptional for someone so young and so new to the industry and was a testament to just how far she will go.