While Jason Aldean may have made a name for himself thanks to leading hits like the 2010 track “Dirt Road Anthem” and his breakthrough 2005 “Hicktown,” he’s no longer looking to exude this same backroad rowdy mentality in his music.
With an incredible career of over 20 years in country music and 31 number one hits under his belt, Aldean has stamped himself in the genre as a household name– blending a gritty southern rock sound with traditional country values, spearheading the bro-country sub-genre. However, with the upcoming release of his 12th studio album, Songs About Us, Aldean revealed his style has understandably evolved since his start.
In a recent appearance on the songwriter-led Try That In A Small Town Podcast, Aldean told the four hosts and creators of Aldean’s 2023 hit (Kurt Allison, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kelley Lovelace) that he’s become pickier when it comes to choosing the songs he cuts specifically for this new album. “When people are pitching us songs and stuff now it’s like don’t pitch me a song about you know riding around in the mud with your truck. Like we did that when I was 28, you know I mean? Yeah I’m like, I just turned 49, so it’s like it’s a different…”
He goes on to say that in this new wave of music, he continues to transition with leading singles from the project like “Trouble With A Heartbreak” and “Whiskey Drink.” He uses “Try That In A Small Town” as a prime example of the message he wants to exude in his music, saying, “things that are just a little more meat on the bone with the lyric stuff, and as we get older, we wanna go play songs that resonate with like our fan base, that’s believable.”
While Aldean’s music certainly still falls into the category of these high-energy beats with drinking motifs (along with the few love songs, of course), there’s a noticeable shift away from the forced, rowdy Saturday night persona he once projected. He adds, “We’re not up there tryna sing these super young lyrics that kinda don’t make sense for us anymore.”
According to Aldean, this new album, featuring 20 tracks, will be a culmination of the experiences of everyday life. “It means the world when one of my songs helps someone through a hard time–or celebrates their best moments. This album is about all of that–the highs, the lows, and everything in between.”
Set to release later this month on April 24, ten tracks have already dropped, including one with his wife, Brittany Aldean, “Easier Gone,” and a reimagining with David Lee Murphy on “Dust On the Bottle.” Still to come is a featured track with fellow Georgia-native, Luke Bryan, for the title track, “Songs About Us.”
Aldean will also take these songs on the road with him for the coinciding 2026 Summer tour, kickstarting on July 16 in Bangor, Maine, followed by 22 dates rounding out on September 26 in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Tour Dates:
Thu July 16 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater^
Fri July 17 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center^
Sat July 18 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^
Thu July 23 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena^
Fri July 24 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center^
Sat July 25 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater^
Thu July 30 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater^
Fri July 31 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater^
Fri Aug 14 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre^
Sat Aug 15 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center at Fresno State^
Sat Aug 22 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center#%
Thu Aug 27 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena^
Fri Aug 28 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater^
Sat Aug 29 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^
Thu Sep 10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach^
Fri Sep 11 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater^
Sat Sep 12 – Hartford, CT – The Meadows Music Theatre^
Thu Sep 17 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum^
Fri Sep 18 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview^
Sat Sep 19 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion^
Fri Sep 25 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion^
Sat Sep 26 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion^
^ with Chase Matthew, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dee Jay Silver
# with Chase Matthew and Dee Jay Silver
% with Elizabeth Nichols