Georgia’s finest, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, teamed up for an epic co-headlining concert this past weekend that not only rocked the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, but also cemented a historic night for the venue.
Throwing things back to their initial 2013 Athens show, in which Bryan was the opener for Aldean’s Night Train Tour, the two returned to Sanford Stadium as just the second concert, and the only artists to ever perform there. Obviously, returning 13 years later, with over 30 number-one singles each, it only felt fitting that they shook things up by sharing the stage in an unprecedented move and packing the night with unforgettable surprises.
Beyond the fact that the Saturday, April 25 show kicked off with incredible opening sets from fellow Georgia girl, Lauren Alaina, and one of country music’s hottest rising stars, Zach Top, the night was only getting started. For those fortunate enough to witness this highly monumental concert and want to reminisce, or anyone hoping to get a glimpse into this insanely fun show, here are some of the reigning best moments from the night.
Aldean & Bryan’s Coin Tossing Intro Skit
Considering a lot has changed over the past few years since Bryan took the stage as an opener for Aldean, there was a bit of speculation as to how this show would go down. As the lights dimmed and the main event started to finally amp up, before officially heading out onto the end zone stage, the two put the debate to rest in a hilarious video skit.
Taking their back-and-forth decision of “who would go first” to the center field, the video shows Bryan and Aldean bickering about the dilemma, who’s the true Georgian, the better hunter, and more number ones. Finally, the friendly rivalry came down to the flip of a coin onto the field, which, of course, landed on its side.
High-fiving each other, the two decide, “that settles it,” before heading out onto the stage together for an electric live collaboration of Aldean’s 2010 hit, “My Kinda Party.”
Aldean & Bryan Sing Their New Song “Songs About Us” And “Drink A Beer”
Luckily, the crossovers didn’t end with just the opening song, as both Aldean and Bryan continued to switch on and off, singing their own tracks while also joining one another for many collaborations. Given the exciting Friday, April 24 release of Aldean’s twelfth studio album, Songs About Us, it only made sense that the two paired up for the title track featuring Bryan.
Prior to the performance, Aldean opened up about how the track was inspired by the country legends he and Luke Bryan listened to, along with the songs that defined their generation. In his eyes, with a now 20+ year old career under his belt and both artists dominating country radio throughout the 2010s, he thought it was only fitting to get his fellow peach state native on the song.
As expected, this debut performance from the 20-track album made for an absolutely standout moment in the night, which was followed by another incredible stadium-silencing performance by the two of them of Bryan’s 2013 hit, “Drink A Beer.”
Brantley Gilbert Joins For “Dirt Road Anthem”
The night wouldn’t have been complete without an appearance from the staple hometown Georgia celebrity and one of Aldean’s long-time collaborators, Brantley Gilbert. Penning some of his major hits like “My Kinda Party” and their latter collaboration, “Rolex On A Redneck,” Gilbert also played a major role in creating what is arguably one of Aldean’s most career-defining songs, “Dirt Road Anthem.”
Co-written by Colt Ford, the country rap fusion track was a Georgia staple that took over the state with many locals first coming to know and love the duo’s 2008 version. Aldean’s chart-topping version followed in 2010 with the release of the cover on his fourth studio album, My Kinda Party.
For any true fans of the original version, though, Gilbert surprised the crowd with his third verse, marking a truly full-circle moment for the singer-songwriter who grew up just down the road in Jefferson.
Georgia Bulldogs’ Head Coach Kirby Smart “Calls The Dawgs”
Given that the stadium is more accustomed to hosting SEC football than massive concerts, it was only fitting that Kirby Smart made an appearance during the night, delivering a crowd-erupting moment that perfectly tied the event back to its Georgia football roots. The head coach of ten years made his surprise appearance halfway through the set, announcing the next song of the night, “She’s Country,” and of course letting out a big “Go Dawgs” call that had every fan erupting in howls.
Aldean Joins For “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”
It’s widely known that no one has more fun at a Luke Bryan concert than Luke Bryan. The “Play It Again” singer knows how to get things grooving, especially with his hip-shaking 2011 anthem, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”
However, getting to see Bryan share this infectious high-energy performance with his buddy Aldean had to be one of the best duets of the night. Tossing verses back and forth on the lead single from Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines album, the two had an absolute blast during this live rendition, with Bryan continuously hyping up Aldean as he sang along.
Luke Bryan’s OnlyFans Jokes
Continuing to keep the crowd entertained by their hilarious friendship, it’d be hard not to mention when Bryan joked that everyone needed to get their cameras ready to capture a video for their “TikTok and Sh**,” Instagram, and OnlyFans. Aldean joked back, asking, “Do you have one of those?” adding that there’s probably a lot of money to be made and fans who would watch Bryan’s content. He joked back, emphasizing, “I got great feet,” to which Aldean responded, “No, you don’t.”
While the show will forever go down as an iconic night for the stadium and both country superstars, hopefully, it’s just the start of many more surprises to come from Aldean and Bryan. In a shared collaboration post recapping the night, both the ending of the video and the caption tease, “To be continued…” Considering the massive success of the first official co-headlining concert and their highly entertaining on-stage dynamic, the potential is endless for another run of stops.