Aldean Rides “Big Green Tractor” to No. 1 on the Charts

A mere 14 weeks after being released “Big Green Tractor” lands Jason Aldean another No. 1 song. Aldean has been making waves in country music ever since he debuted his self titled album in 2005. This album gained him 3 Billboard top 50 hits as well as the award for top new male vocalist at the 2006 Academy of Country Music awards.

To be honest, I have had a serious bone to pick with country music, of late. I grew up on country music. It was, in fact, the only thing that was allowed to be played in my mother’s car. In those days it seemed like the industry was driven by the artists; you had talented musicians who expressed their emotion through music. The artists were not driven by what the industry wanted to hear, and that’s what made them great. Because of this there was a group of talented, independent artists who came out with several albums, each album an evolution in the individual’s musical style. Growing up with these country greats, I have been very disappointed in the way that the country music industry has conformed to the style of the music industry as a whole. The industry has begun to praise the artists that are here today and gone tomorrow. Always searching for new talent and not cultivating the old has become the MO of the music industry and, therefore, of country music.

This said; I have been more than impressed with Jason Aldean’s staying power in the scene. 4 years after his debut, Aldean is still around and bigger than ever. In a musical environment that prizes new musicians and new styles, Aldean has been able to stay ahead of the reaper (unlike many of the other musicians that have come along in the last 5 years). “Big Green Tractor’s” rapid rise to the top shows that he still has what country music fans are looking for and embodies my hope that the industry is going back to its roots, where the truly talented few, not the “one hit wonder” drove the industry.

Aldean is joining one of his peers, Miranda Lambert, in concert at Applebees Park in Lexington as part of the Festival. Miranda Lambert is another relatively new artist that has shown her resilience in the industry. Having been around since 2003 Lambert has proven herself ready to stand in country music for a long time as well. More to come about her later…

The Intern