Jason Aldean - Early Life

Early Life

Aldean was born in Macon, Georgia. His parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. He was raised by his mother, mainly 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 parents encouraged young Aldean as he progressed musically. From age 14, after watching the country-music awards on TV, 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 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, along with the fact that the name was commonly associated with basketball as there were three players with the same name at the time his music career began. He changed the spelling of his middle name, Aldine, to come up with the name Aldean.