1.
Macon, Georgia
–
Macon /ˈmeɪkən/ is a city located in the state of Georgia, United States. Macon lies near the center of the state, approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta. Settled near the line of the Ocmulgee River, Macon is the county seat of Bibb County and had a 2014 estimated population of 153,691. Macon is the city of the Macon metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 231,259 in 2014. In a 2012 referendum, voters approved the consolidation of Macon and Bibb County, the two governments officially merged on January 1,2014. Macon is served by three highways, I-16, I-75, and I-475. The city has several institutions of education, as well as numerous museums. The area is served by the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and the Herbert Smart Downtown Airport, the mayor of Macon is Robert Reichert, a former Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Reichert was elected mayor of the consolidated city of Macon–Bibb. Macon lies on the site of the Ocmulgee Old Fields, where the historic Creek Indians lived in the 18th century and their prehistoric predecessors, the Mississippian culture, built a powerful chiefdom based on an agricultural village and constructed earthwork mounds for ceremonial, burial and religious purposes. The areas along the rivers in the Southeast had been inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples for 13,000 years before Europeans arrived. Macon developed at the site of Fort Benjamin Hawkins, built from 1806–1809 at the line of the Ocmulgee River to protect the new frontier. The fort was named in honor of Benjamin Hawkins, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southeast territory south of the Ohio River for more than two decades and he lived among the Creek and had a Creek wife. This was the most inland point of navigation on the river from the Low Country, president Thomas Jefferson forced the Creek to cede their lands east of the Ocmulgee River and ordered the fort built. A gathering point of the Creek and American cultures for trading, it was also a center of state militia, the fort served as a major military distribution point during the War of 1812 against Great Britain and also during the Creek War of 1813. Afterward, the fort was used as a trading post for years and was garrisoned until 1821. It was decommissioned about 1828 and later burned to the ground, a replica of the southeast blockhouse was built in 1938 and stands today on a hill in east Macon. Part of the site is occupied by the Fort Hawkins Grammar School
2.
Nashville, Tennessee
–
Nashville is the capital of the U. S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in the central part of the state. The city is a center for the music, healthcare, publishing, banking and transportation industries and it is known as a center of the country music industry, earning it the nickname Music City, U. S. A. Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government which includes six municipalities in a two-tier system. Nashville is governed by a mayor, vice-mayor, and 40-member Metropolitan Council, thirty-five of the members are elected from single-member districts, five are elected at-large. Reflecting the citys position in government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Courts courthouse for Middle Tennessee. According to 2015 estimates from the U. S. Census Bureau, the balance population, which excludes semi-independent municipalities within Nashville, was 654,610. The 2015 population of the entire 13-county Nashville metropolitan area was 1,830,345, the 2015 population of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Columbia combined statistical area, a larger trade area, was 1,951,644. The town of Nashville was founded by James Robertson, John Donelson, and it was named for Francis Nash, the American Revolutionary War hero. Nashville quickly grew because of its location, accessibility as a port on the Cumberland River, a tributary of the Ohio River. By 1800, the city had 345 residents, including 136 African American slaves and 14 free blacks, in 1806, Nashville was incorporated as a city and became the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee. In 1843, the city was named the permanent capital of the state of Tennessee, by 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South, antebellum Nashville was a prosperous city. The citys significance as a port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river. In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops, the state was occupied by Union troops for the duration of the war. Within a few years after the Civil War, the Nashville chapter of the Ku Klux Klan was founded by Confederate veteran John W. Morton, meanwhile, the city had reclaimed its important shipping and trading position and developed a solid manufacturing base. The post–Civil War years of the late 19th century brought new prosperity to Nashville and these healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area. Circa 1950 the state approved a new city charter that provided for the election of city council members from single-member districts. This change was supported because at-large voting diluted the minority populations political power in the city and they could seldom gain a majority of the population to support a candidate of their choice
3.
Country music
–
Country music is a genre of United States popular music that originated in the southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from the genre of United States, such as folk music. Blues modes have been used throughout its recorded history. The term country music is used today to many styles and subgenres. In 2009 country music was the most listened to rush hour radio genre during the evening commute, immigrants to the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North America brought the music and instruments of Europe and Africa along with them for nearly 300 years. Country music was introduced to the world as a Southern phenomenon, Bristol, Tennessee, has been formally recognized by the U. S. Congress as the Birthplace of Country Music, based on the historic Bristol recording sessions of 1927. Since 2014, the city has been home to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, historians have also noted the influence of the less-known Johnson City sessions of 1928 and 1929, and the Knoxville sessions of 1929 and 1930. Prior to these, pioneer settlers, in the Great Smoky Mountains region, had developed a musical heritage. The first generation emerged in the early 1920s, with Atlantas music scene playing a role in launching countrys earliest recording artists. Okeh Records began issuing hillbilly music records by Fiddlin John Carson as early as 1923, followed by Columbia Records in 1924, many hillbilly musicians, such as Cliff Carlisle, recorded blues songs throughout the 1920s. The most important was the Grand Ole Opry, aired starting in 1925 by WSM in Nashville, during the 1930s and 1940s, cowboy songs, or Western music, which had been recorded since the 1920s, were popularized by films made in Hollywood. Bob Wills was another musician from the Lower Great Plains who had become very popular as the leader of a hot string band. His mix of country and jazz, which started out as dance hall music, Wills was one of the first country musicians known to have added an electric guitar to his band, in 1938. Country musicians began recording boogie in 1939, shortly after it had played at Carnegie Hall. Gospel music remained a component of country music. It became known as honky tonk, and had its roots in Western swing and the music of Mexico. By the early 1950s a blend of Western swing, country boogie, rockabilly was most popular with country fans in the 1950s, and 1956 could be called the year of rockabilly in country music. Beginning in the mid-1950s, and reaching its peak during the early 1960s, the late 1960s in American music produced a unique blend as a result of traditionalist backlash within separate genres
4.
Country rock
–
Country rock is subgenre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock and country. It was developed by musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late-1960s and early-1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal styles, country rock began with Bob Dylan and The Byrds, reaching its greatest popularity in the 1970s with artists such as Emmylou Harris, the Eagles, Michael Nesmith, Poco and Pure Prairie League. Country rock also influenced artists in genres, including The Band, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones. It also played a part in the development of Southern rock, john Einarson states, From a variety of perspectives and motivations, these musicians either played rock & roll attitude, or added a country feel to rock, or folk, or bluegrass, there was no formula. Dylans lead was followed by The Byrds, who were joined by Gram Parsons in 1968. Parsons had mixed country with rock, blues and folk to create what he called Cosmic American Music. Earlier in the year Parsons had released Safe at Home with the International Submarine Band, the result of Parsons brief tenure in the Byrds was Sweetheart of the Rodeo, generally considered one of the finest and most influential recordings in the genre. Country rock was a popular style in the California music scene of the late 1960s. Some folk-rockers followed the Byrds into the genre, among them the Beau Brummels, one of the few acts to successfully move from the country side towards rock were the bluegrass band The Dillards. Former members of Ronstadts backing band went on to form the Eagles, however, the principal country influence in the Eagles came from Bernie Leadon of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and little country influence was left in the band after he left in late 1975. The genre declined in popularity in the late 1970s, but some established artists, List of country rock albums List of country rock musicians
5.
Contemporary R&B
–
Contemporary R&B, also known as simply R&B, is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance. The genre features a record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, an occasional saxophone-laced beat to give a jazz feel. Electronic influences are becoming a trend and the use of hip hop or dance-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of melisma, popularized by such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Craig David, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston. That same year, Teddy Riley began producing R&B recordings that included hip hop influences and this combination of R&B style and hip hop rhythms was termed new jack swing and was applied to artists such as Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Al B. Guy, Jodeci and Bell Biv DeVoe, the style became less popular by the end of the 1990s, but later experienced a resurgence. In 1990 Mariah Carey released Vision of Love as her debut single and it was immensely popular peaking at number 1 in many worldwide charts including the Billboard Hot 100, and it propelled Mariahs carrier. The song is said to have popularized the use of melisma. During the mid-1990s, Whitney Houstons The Bodyguard, Original Soundtrack Album sold over 40 million copies becoming the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Janet Jacksons self-titled fifth studio album janet. which came after her historic multimillion-dollar contract with Virgin Records, sold over twenty million copies worldwide. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, including One Sweet Day, Carey also released a remix of her 1995 single Fantasy, with Ol Dirty Bastard as a feature, a collaboration format that was unheard of at this point. Carey, Boyz II Men and TLC released albums in 1994 and 1995—Daydream, II and CrazySexyCool. In the late 1990s, neo soul, which added 1970s soul influences to the hip hop soul blend, arose, led by such as DAngelo, Erykah Badu. Hill and Missy Elliott further blurred the line between R&B and hip hop by recording both styles, beginning in 1995, the Grammy Awards enacted the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, with II by Boyz II Men becoming the first recipient. The award was received by TLC for CrazySexyCool in 1996, Tony Rich for Words in 1997, Erykah Badu for Baduizm in 1998. At the end of 1999, Billboard magazine ranked Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson as the first, simultaneously, in the second half of the 1990s, The Neptunes and Timbaland set influential precedence on contemporary R&B and hip hop music. R&B acts such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, in 2001, Alicia Keys released Fallin as her debut single. It peaking at one on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Top 40
6.
Broken Bow Records
–
Broken Bow Records is an American independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in July 1999 by Benny Brown, the label specializes in country music, the labels general manager is Jon Loba. Craig Morgan produced the first number-one single for the label with his 2005 hit Thats What I Love About Sunday, thompson Square had a number-one hit on the label in early 2011 with Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not. Jason Aldean has produced the most number-one hits on the label, in 2009, Broken Bow Records launched a sister label, Stoney Creek Records. Three years later, Broken Bow partnered with RED Distribution to form Red Bow Records, whose first signees are Joe Nichols, in August 2015, Broken Bow launched another imprint label, Wheelhouse Records, with Trace Adkins and Granger Smith the first artists signed to it. Broken Bow was acquired by BMG Rights Management in February 2017
7.
Tyler Farr
–
Tyler Lynn Farr is an American country music singer and songwriter. Originally signed to BNA Records, Farr released two singles for the label before it closed and he then transferred to Columbia Records Nashville, for which he has released two albums, Redneck Crazy in 2013 and Suffer in Peace in 2015. Overall, he has charted eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and his highest ranking on the latter is A Guy Walks Into a Bar, which placed at No.1 in 2015. Farr grew up in Garden City, Missouri and attended Missouri State University with degree in voice, Farr co-wrote the songs Hey Yall for Cole Swindell and Shes Just Like That for Joe Nichols. In early 2012, Farr released his single, Hot Mess. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the four stars out of five, calling Farrs voice unique. Following the merger of his label, BNA Records, Farr moved to Columbia Nashville to release his second single. His third single, Redneck Crazy, became his first Top 10 hit in 2013, after it came the top 3 hit Whiskey in My Water. All four singles were included on his album, Redneck Crazy. Farr led off his album in mid-2014 with A Guy Walks Into a Bar. The album, entitled Suffer in Peace, was released on April 28,2015, the albums second single, Withdrawals released to country radio on June 15,2015. It had only reached number 52 on the Country Airplay chart before it was pulled from radio, the decision to change the single was made in order to give Farr an up-tempo, female friendly song that he could sing live, according to Steve Hodges of Sony Nashville. Farr is also a trained opera singer and took voice lessons during his teenage years. He claims he discovered country music after his mother married George Jones touring guitarist, Farr married his long-time girlfriend, Hannah Freeman, on October 10,2016
8.
Brantley Gilbert
–
Brantley Keith Gilbert is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer from Jefferson, Georgia. He was originally signed to Colt Fords label, Average Joes Entertainment and he also wrote Jason Aldeans singles My Kinda Party and Dirt Road Anthem. Brantley Gilbert went to Nashville as a songwriter, signed to Warner Chappell Publishing and he continued performing at local venues. In 2009, he released his album, Modern Day Prodigal Son. He followed with Halfway to Heaven in 2010, in 2011, he signed with Valory Music Co. a division of Big Machine Records, who re-released Halfway to Heaven with new recordings and bonus tracks. The album was produced by Dann Huff and its first two singles, Country Must Be Country Wide and You Dont Know Her Like I Do, both went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart. After them, Kick It in the Sticks peaked at number 34 and he won the ACM New Male Artist award in 2013. Gilberts second Valory album, Just as I Am, was released in May 2014 and its lead single, Bottoms Up, also reached number one. The second single, Small Town Throwdown, featured guest vocals from labelmates Thomas Rhett, the third single, One Hell of an Amen, became Brantleys fourth number one hit in 2015. The albums fourth single, Stone Cold Sober, is off Platinum Edition of Just As I Am, in addition to his original work, Gilbert has written songs that Colt Ford and Jason Aldean have recorded. The songs Dirt Road Anthem and My Kinda Party, were released on Aldeans 2010 album My Kinda Party and my Kinda Party was originally recorded by Gilbert on Modern Day Prodigal Son, while Dirt Road Anthem was on Halfway to Heaven. Aldean has also covered Gilberts The Best of Me, available on the Wal-Mart exclusive, performances, Gilbert Accompanies other artists in 2015 in London, in the O2 Arena for the Country2Country music festival. It was announced in September 2012 that Brantley Gilbert was dating country music singer and they met at the CMT Music Awards in June 2012. They got engaged on January 20,2013, his 28th birthday, in June 2015, Gilbert married Georgia schoolteacher Amber Cochran in a small ceremony at his home. He admitted that she was the girl who inspired his singles You Dont Know Her Like I Do, More Than Miles, on July 24, while on the honeymoon, his grandfather died. In 2013, Gilbert embarked on an eight-day USO tour to entertain American service members stationed in Italy, Brantley Gilbert was in a near-fatal truck accident when he was 19. Gilbert is an active Christian, and his song My Faith In You, off Just as I Am, in May 2015, Gilbert got a tattoo showing his support of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. B Stone Cold Sober did not enter the Hot 100, but charted at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, which acts as a 25-space extension of the Hot 100
9.
Michael Knox (record producer)
–
Michael Knox is an American record producer. Knox is best known for discovering Jason Aldean and producing all of his albums and he also helped Crossin Dixon sign to Broken Bow Records, the same label to which Aldean is signed, after a friend of his saw the band perform. Other artists whom he has produced include Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins, before working as a producer, Knox was an executive at Warner/Chappell Music. His first production credit was Danni Leighs 29 Nights, Knox worked as a song plugger. In 2011, Knox won Album of the Year from the Country Music Association for his production on My Kinda Party, in 2012, he won two Academy of Country Music awards for Aldean and Kelly Clarksons Dont You Wanna Stay. He also won the Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Event in 2013 for producing The Only Way I Know with Aldean, Luke Bryan and he is the son of Rock n Roll singer Buddy Knox. Song recordings produced by Michael Knox
10.
Luke Bryan
–
Thomas Luther Luke Bryan is an American country music singer and songwriter. He began his career in the mid-2000s, writing songs for his longtime friends from high school, performers Travis Tritt and Billy Currington. Tailgates & Tanlines, released in 2011, includes Country Girl, and the number one singles I Dont Want This Night to End, Drunk on You, and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye. Bryans fourth album, Crash My Party, was released in August 2013 and includes the number one singles Crash My Party, Thats My Kind of Night, Drink a Beer, Play It Again, Roller Coaster and I See You. His fifth album, Kill the Lights, was released in August 2015 and its single, Kick the Dust Up, became his thirteenth number one hit. Bryan was the recipient of the Academy of Country Music Awards, to date, Bryan has sold over 7 million albums and 27 million singles worldwide. Bryan was born in rural Leesburg, Georgia to LeClaire and Tommy Bryan, shortly before Luke was going to move to Nashville at age 19, tragedy struck his family. My older brother, Chris, was killed in a. car accident. Im kind of hyperventilating talking about it and his mother, LeClaire, had made a statement, We knew Luke at some point would come to Nashville, his mother said. You cant leave your family, and, I couldnt bear the thought of him being away. Instead, Luke went to college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, one of Bryans Chapter Brothers is Cole Swindell, Georgia Southern 2005, who won the Academy of Country Musics New Artist of the Year Award in 2015. Bryan made it to Nashville years later in 2007, after his father told him to pack his truck to pursue a career in music. He finally gained success as a songwriter, but soon after he signed as a performer, when Luke was invited to perform at the famous Grand Ole Opry, his older sister, Kelly, organized 129 people to attend his Opry debut. A few days after his performance, his sister died at home for unknown reasons. Bryan said the cause remains undetermined, gone from the world, in a flash in two, two different, crazy, tragic manners, that. Well never know, and never understand, soon after his arrival in Nashville, Bryan joined a publishing house in the city. Among his first cuts was the track of Travis Tritts 2004 album My Honky Tonk History. He was later signed by Capitol Nashville to a recording contract, in the meantime, Bryan co-wrote Billy Curringtons single Good Directions, which went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in mid-2007
11.
Thomas Rhett
–
Thomas Rhett Akins, Jr. better known by his stage name Thomas Rhett, is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the son of American country music singer and songwriter Rhett Akins, Rhett has released two studio albums for Big Machine Records Valory Music imprint, It Goes Like This and Tangled Up. In addition to much of his own material, Rhett has also written singles for Jason Aldean, Lee Brice, growing up, Rhett was used to seeing country idols like Tim McGraw or Brooks & Dunn in his home because his father was famous country singer Rhett Akins. In junior high, Rhett learned how to play the drums, when he was old enough, he would go onstage with his father and play the drums for him. A band was put together in high school called The High Heeled Flip Flops. Besides music, he did not have a choice in mind. After high school, Rhett went to college at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Rhetts love for music grew throughout the years and as a result he failed to keep his promise to his mom and dropped out of college when he was 20 to pursue a career in music. One night while playing at a club, an executive from Big Machine Label Group approached him and he accepted and began writing many songs for the company. Rhett co-wrote the song I Aint Ready to Quit on Jason Aldeans 2010 album My Kinda Party, the albums first 21 weeks were spent in the top 40 of the Billboard 200, it also has sold 1.7 million in its first years of release. In early 2012, he released his single, Something to Do with My Hands. Both of these made top 30 on the Hot Country Songs charts and his third single, It Goes Like This, topped the Country Airplay chart and also peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs. His debut album, also titled It Goes Like This, was released on October 29, the albums fourth single, Get Me Some of That, became Rhetts second number 1 single in early 2014. The albums fifth single, Make Me Wanna, was released to radio on August 4,2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart on March 7,2015, in between the two singles, Rhett sang guest vocals along with Justin Moore on Brantley Gilberts Small Town Throwdown. On April 7,2015, Rhett released a new single titled Crash, the album, Tangled Up, was released on September 25. It reached at one on the Country Airplay chart in September 2015. The albums second single, Die a Happy Man released to radio on September 28,2015. It reached at one on the Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs and Canada Country chart in December 2015
12.
Kelly Clarkson
–
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the first season of American Idol, Clarksons debut single, A Moment Like This, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling single of 2002 in the U. S. It was followed with her studio album, Thankful, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Trying to reinvent her own image, Clarkson decided to part ways with American Idol management and developed a pop sound for her second album. It sold over 15 million copies worldwide and earned Clarkson two Grammy Awards and she took further creative control for her third album, My December, by becoming the executive producer and co-writing the entire material. However, it caused feud with her label, that was dissatisfied with her darker, less commercial rock music, Clarkson returned to the top of the charts with her more mainstream-oriented fourth album, All I Ever Wanted. Its lead single, My Life Would Suck Without You, holds the record for the biggest jump to one on the Billboard Hot 100. She scored another Hot 100 number-one single with Stronger from her studio album. Clarkson also became the first act to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album twice. Her sixth studio album and first Christmas record, Wrapped in Red, ended up as the holiday album of the year. Her seventh and final album under RCA, Piece by Piece, was her album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Its title track became her eleventh single on the Hot 100. She signed with Atlantic Records in 2016 and has prepared a soul-influenced album for a 2017 release, Clarkson has sold over 70 million records worldwide and scored a total of 100 number ones on the Billboard charts. Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. Often called one of the best vocalists in the industry, Clarkson is known for her powerhouse voice and she became the first artist in history to top each of Billboards pop, adult contemporary, country and dance charts. She was ranked nineteenth on VH1s list of 100 Greatest Women in Music, Clarkson has also ventured into television and film, as well as writing childrens book. Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jeanne Ann, a first-grade English teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson and she is the youngest of three children with a brother named Jason and a sister named Alyssa. Clarkson also has two half brothers from her fathers second marriage
13.
Ludacris
–
Christopher Brian Chris Bridges, better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American hip hop recording artist and actor from Atlanta, Georgia. Alongside his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, throughout his career, Ludacris has won Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice, MTV, and Grammy Awards. Along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Big Boi and André3000 of OutKast, born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludacris moved to Atlanta at age nine, where he began rapping. In 2001, he released Word of Mouf, followed by Chicken-n-Beer in 2003 and he took a more serious approach with his next two albums, Release Therapy, and Theater of the Mind. His next record, Battle of the Sexes, was released in 2010, Ludaversal was released on March 31,2015. As an actor, he has appeared in films including Crash, Gamer, and New Years Eve, but is best known for playing Tej Parker in the The Fast and the Furious film series. Ludacris was born as Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois and he later moved to the Chicago area, where he attended Emerson Middle School in Oak Park, and Oak Park & River Forest High School for one year. He then moved to Centreville, Virginia and attended Centreville High School for one year and he attended Banneker High School in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1995. From 1998 to 1999, he studied management at Georgia State University. His parents were both African-American, and he also has some English and Native American ancestry and he is a distant cousin of late comedian Richard Pryor. Bridges wrote his first rap song at age nine when moving to Atlanta, Bridges served as an intern and then a DJ at Atlantas Hot 97.5 under the name Chris Lova Lova. He was also known for DJing during Freaknik at one point, Ludacris collaborated with Timbaland on the track Phat Rabbit from his album Tims Bio, Life from da Bassment. This song was a hit in many countries, in Ludacris early music career he collaborated with Dallas Austin and Jermaine Dupri. In 1998, Ludacris began to record his debut album Incognegro and this album was the defining example of Ludacris fast, wild, and comedic flow, a unique style for southern rappers. Timbaland handled part of the production, despite its poor sales, it was never deleted and is still sold today. Ludacris also appeared on Timbalands 1998 debut on Phat Rabbit, a track that would later be used on his re-issue of Incognegro called Back For The First Time, in 2000, Ludacris released his major label debut, Back for the First Time. It was produced with the help of the underground producer Sessy Melia, the album reached as high as #4 on the U. S. Billboard 200, and was a major success. Ludacris made his mark on the industry with such as Southern Hospitality and Whats Your Fantasy, along with his first ever single the Phat Rabbit
14.
Eric Church
–
Kenneth Eric Church is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Nashville since 2005, he has released a total of five studio albums for that label. His debut album, 2006s Sinners Like Me, produced three singles on the Billboard country charts including the top 20 hits How Bout You, Two Pink Lines, and Guys Like Me. His second album, 2009s Carolina, produced three singles, Smoke a Little Smoke and his first top 10 hits, Love Your Love the Most. 2011s Chief, his first No.1 album, gave him his first two No.1 singles, Drink in My Hand and Springsteen, and the hits Homeboy, Creepin, and Like Jesus Does. His third No.1 single was The Only Way I Know, which he, Jason Aldean, a fourth album, The Outsiders, was released in February 2014. It produced five new singles between 2013–15 with the track, Give Me Back My Hometown, Cold One, Talladega. Talladega and Give Me Back My Hometown each reached number one on the Country Airplay chart, Eric Church got his sixth No.1 hit with Keith Urban in May 2015 with the single Raise Em Up. He released his studio album, Mr. Misunderstood, on November 3,2015. Church was born on May 3,1977 in Granite Falls, at 13, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of school, he had found a gig at a local bar. He played many Jimmy Buffett cover songs and a few of his own songs in some dive bars. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage, for a few years, the band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. The band Mountain Boys consisted of his roommate, brother. Before moving to Nashville, Eric graduated from South Caldwell High School, upon graduation, Church became engaged with a Spanish teacher in the town of Lenoir, North Carolina. The future brides father attempted to persuade Eric into a corporate career and she broke the engagement and he headed to Nashville with his fathers financial backing. His father also provided the opportunity to make contacts, and more importantly, Church co-wrote Terri Clarks 2005 single The World Needs a Drink, and the track Whiskey Wings on Dean Millers 2005 album Platinum. He started recording with different producers, Capitol Nashville showed an interest and watched him perform but they were yet to be convinced enough to offer a recording contract
15.
Colt Ford
–
Jason Farris Brown known professionally as Colt Ford, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He has released four albums via Average Joes Entertainment, which he co-founded, Brown was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He was a golfer, playing on the Nationwide Tour. Later, he turned his interests to music, taking influence from country music, assuming the stage name Colt Ford, he released his debut album, Ride Through the Country, on December 2,2008, through Average Joes Entertainment, which he cofounded. He also appeared on a rap remix of Montgomery Gentrys late-2008 Number One single Roll with Me, Fords debut album also has guest appearances from country singer Jamey Johnson, as well as Bone Crusher and Jermaine Dupri, Adrian Young of No Doubt, and Jeremy Popoff of Lit. The album did not enter the Billboard albums charts until 2009, Ford wrote the theme song Buck em for the Professional Bull Riders association. He also appears as a guest vocalist on the track Tailgatin on Cledus T. Judds 2009 album Polyrically Uncorrect, Fords second studio album, Chicken & Biscuits, was released in April 2010, following the release of its title track. Ford released a studio album on May 3,2011. The albums lead-off single, Country Thang, debuted at number 55 for the chart week ending February 19,2011. She Likes to Ride in Trucks, featuring Craig Morgan, served as the second single. Fords fourth album, Declaration of Independence, became his first number 1 album on Top Country Albums and its first charted single is Back, a duet with Jake Owen. Back is Fords highest charting single to date, making Top 40 on Hot Country Songs, in 2012, Colt Ford headlined the Declaration Of Independence Tour with supporting acts The Lacs, Lenny Cooper, and JB and the Moonshine Band. In the fall of 2012 Ford announced he would be touring with JJ Lawhorn on the Answer To No One Tour, Colt Fords fifth studio album, Thanks for Listening, was released on July 1,2014. 4 Lane Gone is the first single from his sixth studio album. Ford released a video for the single on September 11,2016 Ride Through the Country Chicken & Biscuits Every Chance I Get Declaration of Independence Thanks for Listening
16.
My Kinda Party
–
My Kinda Party is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on November 2,2010 on Broken Bow Records, the songs were written by various songwriters including Neil Thrasher, Brantley Gilbert and Michael Dulaney. Aldean said that he chose the name of the album because he thought it was representative of what my fans have come to expect. He also said that it has a unique sound because he recorded it with his touring band, on November 30,2011, the album received a nomination for the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Country Album. The first single from My Kinda Party is the title track, the song has become Aldeans tenth Top 10 hit on that chart, peaking at number two. The song also debuted at number 54 on the Hot 100 chart and my Kinda Party was written and originally recorded by country rock artist Brantley Gilbert for his 2009 album Modern Day Prodigal Son. Aldeans version was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, the second single Dont You Wanna Stay, a duet with pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson, debuted on the country charts from unsolicited airplay at number 59 for the week of November 20,2010. The song also debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Aldean and Clarkson performed the song at the 44th Annual CMA Awards on November 10,2010. Dont You Wanna Stay became Aldeans fifth number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart and it was also his first release to AC and Hot AC radio, where it debuted at #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #39 on the Adult Top 40 chart. Dont You Wanna Stay was also certified Double Platinum by the RIAA, the third single is the country rap-themed Dirt Road Anthem, which was previously recorded separately by both of its writers, Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford. It debuted as a cut on the Hot Country Songs chart from unsolicited airplay at number 57 for the week ending February 5,2011. Aldeans version of Dirt Road Anthem was certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA, Dirt Road Anthem became Aldeans sixth number one hit on the country chart the week of July 30,2011. The fourth single from My Kinda Party is Tattoos on This Town and it charted at number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart before it was released as a single. It was released as a single to radio on September 5,2011. It debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart at number 59 for the week ending August 27,2011, on the week ending November 26,2011, it peaked at number two for six weeks, making it his thirteenth top ten hit to date on this chart. Also, it debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending October 8,2011 and has peaked at number 38, most recently, it debuted at number 96 on the Canadian Hot 100 and has peaked at number 59. Tattoos on This Town has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA, the albums fifth and final single is Fly Over States, which was released as a single on February 6,2012. It debuted at number 59 on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart, in its second week of release, the album dropped to number six on the Billboard 200, selling 81,000 copies
17.
Recording Industry Association of America
–
The Recording Industry Association of America is a continental North and South American trade organization that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says create, the RIAA headquarters is in Washington, D. C. The RIAA was formed in 1952 and its original mission was to administer recording copyright fees and problems, work with trade unions, and do research relating to the record industry and government regulations. Early RIAA standards included the RIAA equalization curve, the format of the record groove and the dimensions of 33 1/3 rpm,45 rpm. Since 2001, the RIAA has spent $2 to $6 million each year on lobbying in the United States, the RIAA also participates in the collective rights management of sound recordings, and it is responsible for certifying Gold and Platinum albums and singles in the United States. Cary Sherman has been the RIAAs chairman and CEO since 2011, Sherman joined the RIAA as its general counsel in 1997 and became president of the board of directors in 2001, serving in that position until being made chairman and CEO. Mitch Glazier has been the RIAAs senior executive vice president since 2011 and he served as executive vice president for public policy and industry relations from 2000 to 2011. The past RIAA chairman and CEO is Mitch Bainwol, who served from 2003 to 2011 and he left in 2011 to become president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The board of directors consists of 26 members of the board, the RIAA operates an award program for albums that sell a large number of copies. The program originally began in 1958, with a Gold Award for singles, the criterion was changed in 1975 to the number of copies sold, with albums selling 500,000 copies awarded the Gold Award. In 1976, a Platinum Award was added for one million sales, the awards are open to both RIAA members and non-members. Since 2000, the RIAA also operates a program for Latin music sales. Currently, a Disco De Oro is awarded for 30,000 units, the RIAA defines Latin music as a type of release with 51% or more of its content recorded in Spanish. In 2006, digital ringtones were added to branch of certification. In the same year, the RIAA introduced the Latin Digital Award for digital recordings in Spanish and this release format includes DVD and VHS releases, and certain live albums and compilation albums. The certification criteria is different from other styles. Gold,50,000 Platinum,100,000 Multi-Platinum,200,000 copies The RIAA opposes unauthorized sharing of its music, studies conducted since the association began its campaign against peer-to-peer file-sharing have concluded that losses incurred per download range from negligible to moderate. The association has commenced high-profile lawsuits against file sharing service providers and it has also commenced a series of lawsuits against individuals suspected of file sharing, notably college students and parents of file sharing children
18.
Night Train (Jason Aldean album)
–
Night Train is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on October 16,2012 via Broken Bow Records, the album features a collaboration with Luke Bryan and Eric Church on The Only Way I Know. It was produced by Michael Knox and features Aldeans road band, the album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it Aldeans third and second consecutive album to do so. The album debuted at one on the US Billboard 200. The album was also the highest first sales week of an album since 2010 behind Taylor Swifts Speak Now. Night Train was certified platinum, signifying one million copies shipped, in December 2012 and it was the 10th best-selling album of 2012 in the US, having sold 1,024,000 copies for the year. As of January 2015, the album has sold 1,750,000 copies in the US, Night Train has received generally positive reviews from most music critics. NET, USA Today. The mixed reviews for the release are from About. com, AllMusic, American Songwriter, Roughstock, Taste of Country, Ultimate Guitar, the next best rating for the album was a 4. The second from Reporter Online Krista Bellardo, who noted that the album is Armed with great balance, catchy lyrics and strong melodies, granted, he’s not crossing over very far. Night Train is a country-pop album, meaning it inherently carries an aura of corniness. The album got four three-star reviews from About. com, American Songwriter, Roughstock, first, About. coms Robert Silva surmised that But too often the songs are weighed down by arena-rock white noise and watery lyricism. Still, there are few true clunkers here, listeners willing to play the law of averages are encouraged to roll the dice. Next, Jewly Hight of American Songwriter proclaimed that the album is no wistful affair, then, Dan MacIntosh of Roughstock stated that Night Train is mostly far closer to Southern rock than traditional country. The worst rating come from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, who cringed that the album feels weary, a little hollow, the reviews that were given out of four was the USA Today and The Washington Times. Jerry Shriver with USA Today rated the album a three-star effort, on the subject of ratings out of ten, ukCOUNTRYmusic. NETs Jordan Mitchell rated the album a nine-out-of-ten, and called the album well written and perfected by his iconic voice. Conversely, BwareDWare94 of Ultimate Guitar rated the album a 5. 5-out-of-ten, theyre worth the money, and Night Train is no exception. You can expect distorted guitars, faint steel rides, and soaring vocals, of the graded reviews, Mandi Bierly with Entertainment Weekly gave the album, saying, While Aldean can pull off his wilder detours, hes at his best when he hews to traditional themes. Glenn Gamboa Newsday graded the album a, and commented that Night Train shows no sign of slowing him down. The lone review without a score was from Tammy Ragusa with Country Weekly, and she said that With Night Train, gone are the days of Jason just “doing what he does best. ”Because, with these 15 tracks, it’s clear he can do it all pretty damn good
19.
Jason Aldean (album)
–
Jason Aldean is the self-titled debut album of American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on July 26,2005 and has certified platinum by the RIAA. The album produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, Hicktown, Why, and Amarillo Sky, additionally, Good to Go was recorded by John Corbett on his self-titled debut album, from which it was released as a single. Finally, Asphalt Cowboy was previously recorded by Blake Shelton on his 2003 album The Dreamer.6 million copies in the US as of January 2015
20.
Relentless (Jason Aldean album)
–
Relentless is the second studio album by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on May 29,2007 via Broken Bow Records, the album debuted at number 4 on the U. S. Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top Country Albums chart, selling about 98,000 copies in its first week. On October 4 of the year, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. It was certified platinum in September 2012, relentless has produced three chart singles for Aldean on the Hot Country Songs charts. The lead-off single Johnny Cash and Laughed Until We Cried both reached No.6 on that chart, and the track reached No.15 in late 2008. Ken Tucker of Billboard gave a review, saying that every cut features full. He considered Johnny Cash, Back in This Cigarette and I Break Everything I Touch standout tracks. com
21.
Wide Open (Jason Aldean album)
–
Wide Open is the third studio album released by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on April 7,2009 on Broken Bow Records, the album has thus far produced four singles, three of which have topped the Billboard country singles chart. Shes Country, the single, became his second number-one hit on the chart in May 2009. It was followed by the releases of Big Green Tractor and The Truth, crazy Town is the fourth single from the album, which peaked at number 2. As with his first two albums, Wide Open was produced by Michael Knox and this album debuted at #2 on the US Top Country Albums chart. The first single from Wide Open is Shes Country, which was co-written by former Western Flyer member Danny Myrick. This song reached number one on the U. S. country singles charts in May 2009, becoming Aldeans second number one, Big Green Tractor is the next single, released in May 2009 became Aldeans third number one in August 2009. This I Gotta See was previously recorded by Andy Griggs on his 2004 album of the same name, Griggs version of the song reached #58 on the country charts in mid-2005. Additionally, Trent Willmon previously recorded The Truth on his 2008 album Broken In
22.
Old Boots, New Dirt
–
Old Boots, New Dirt is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on October 7,2014 via Broken Bow Records and its lead single, Burnin It Down, reached the top of the US Hot Country Songs chart during its second week of availability. The album was produced by Aldeans longtime producer Michael Knox, the albums second single, Just Gettin Started, was released on November 10,2014. Tonight Looks Good on You was released as the third single. Gonna Know We Were Here was released as the fourth single. The album received a score of 54, indicating mixed or average reviews. He judged the casual, almost steely, assurance of the album made it one of Aldeans best. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times felt that Aldean had fully emerged as a purveyor of love songs, and excelled at songs like Show You Off and Tryin’ to Love Me. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone made the observation that the album had gone further into pop territory, while Jim Casey of Country Weekly also noted the R&B and pop overtones of some of the songs. Casey also thought that apart from a few songs and a hidden gem of a song in Two Night Town. Marc Hirsh of The Boston Globe considered the album to be all ambition and no boldness, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200. It is Aldeans second album to number one on the chart. The album was predicted to sell up to 400,000 in its first week in the US, however. On December 82014, the album was officially certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipping over 1 million copies, in July 2015, Old Boots, New Dirt reached its millionth sales mark in the United States. As of November 2016, the album has sold 1,150,200 copies in the US, in Canada, the album debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 16,000 copies
23.
Why (Jason Aldean song)
–
Why is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Vicky McGehee and Big & Richs John Rich and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in November 2005 as the single from his self-titled debut album. It became Aldeans first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, a mid-tempo ballad backed by electric guitar, the song centralizes on the male character who has finally come to the realiziation that he has caused his lover emotional pain. He then asks himself why he lets himself treat her wrongly, kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a positive rating. He said the song is interesting and sounds very real and sincere, the music video was directed by Wes Edwards. It premiered in the week of November 14,2005, why debuted at number 49 on the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of December 3,2005. As of April 2015, the song has sold 675,000 digital copies in the United States, Country music singer Shannon Brown also recorded the song for her 2006 album Corn Fed. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
24.
She's Country
–
Shes Country is a song written by Danny Myrick and Bridgette Tatum and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in December 2008 as the single from his album Wide Open. This song is used in the Rock Band Country Track Pack and this song is a moderate up-tempo featuring accompaniment from electric guitar. The verses outline various females from various places in the United States. Each is described as being country in nature from her cowboy boots to her down home roots, according to Country Weekly magazine, songwriter Bridgette Tatum got together with fellow songwriter Danny Myrick after thinking of a groove that she didnt want to forget. They were thinking of several lyrics until Myrick added a guitar riff, when Myrick and Tatum finished the song, they recommended the song to Aldean. Pierce Greenberg of Engine 145 gave the song a thumbs-down rating and he described it as having dumbed-down lyrics and amped-up, rock-based production, in addition to saying that it was a step backwards from his previous singles such as Laughed Until We Cried. Blake Boldt of Country Universe gave it a C- rating, saying that its lyrics were cliché-laden, Aldean debuted the song in November 2008 at the Country Music Association awards shortly before its release as a single. Footage of the performance was used as the songs music video. This music video shows Jason Aldean at his concerts, and during his touring, the video was voted number 35 on GACs Top 50 Videos of the Year. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 51 for the week of December 6,2008. On the week of May 16,2009, it became his second song on the chart. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of November 29,2008, at number 90, but fell off until the chart week of February 7,2009. The song has since become Aldeans first top 40 hit on the Hot 100, peaking at number 29. It has also certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America as a digital single on October 5,2012. As of June 2011, the song was sold 1,612,000 times in the United States, making it the second best-selling song by a solo country artist
25.
Big Green Tractor
–
Big Green Tractor is a song written by Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in May 2009 as the single from his album Wide Open. The song debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2009, the song is a mid-tempo where the narrator asks if his lover wants to go to town with him, or if she would rather ride with him on his big green tractor. I walked in there and asked him if he’d be willing to tackle another tractor song, Collins agreed, but he said that this song should take on a different direction than She Thinks My Tractors Sexy, which he called tongue-in-cheek. Regarding his decision to record the song, Aldean said that Murphy is a friend and his style is a lot like mine, really uptempo. Aldean said that he considered the song romantic, the song received mixed reviews from critics. Matt Bjorke of Roughstock was less favorable, saying that the melody was derivative of Jason Michael Carrolls Livin Our Love Song and Craig Morgans later releases for Broken Bow. He added, So while Big Green Tractor is likely to continue Jason Aldeans radio success, the music video for the song was released on July 25,2009 and was directed by Ivan Dudynsky. It is footage of a performance in February 2009 in Knoxville. It also uses a live version of the song. The song debuted at number 48 on the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2009 and it became his third number one on the chart week of September 5,2009. It was also his single on the Billboard Hot 100. On September 2,2009, the received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for 1,000,000 registered downloads. It is the single of his career to earn this certification. As of May,2012, according to Roughstock digital sales reporting, as a ringtone, “Big Green Tractor” became a #1 ringtone in all genres in 2009 becoming the first Country ringtone to hold that distinction and logged more than one million downloads. It also had five weeks as the #1 most downloaded ringtone on Apples iTunes in 2009. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
26.
The Truth (Jason Aldean song)
–
The Truth is a song written by Brett James and Ashley Monroe, and recorded by Trent Willmon for his 2008 album Broken In. The song was covered by Jason Aldean on his album Wide Open. Aldeans version was released to radio on September 28,2009 as the single from the album, following the number one hits Shes Country. The Truth is a ballad in which a male looks at his failing relationship. The final line reveals that the truth is that he needs her. The song was recorded by Trent Willmon on his 2008 album Broken In before Aldean recorded it for his studio album. I dont know a guy who hasnt been through that before, Ashley Monroe told Country Weekly magazine that she began writing the song with Brett James after having dinner at his house. She was missing a boy at the time, and used her relationship as the inspiration for the song. She and James thought that it would be interesting to write about stuff thats not the truth. James said that he enjoyed Aldeans recording because he sounds just like the character I had in mind when I hear him sing it, Jason Aldean has stated The Truth is his favorite song from the Wide Open album. The song was met generally positive reviews. Sam Gazdziak of Engine 145 gave the song a thumbs-up, with his saying that it may be the most country-sounding song he’s ever released. He also described Aldeans vocal performance favorably, the music video, directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions, premiered to CMT on November 10,2009. The video pictures Aldean mailing a letter, then getting on a bus, on the week ending November 21,2009, The Truth debuted at No.91 on the Billboard Hot 100 and moved up the following week to #78. It has since reached a peak of #40 and it became his fourth number one song on the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart week of February 6,2010. At No.86 on Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of March 4,2010
27.
Don't You Wanna Stay
–
Dont You Wanna Stay is a duet recorded by American singers Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson from Aldeans 2010 album, My Kinda Party. It was also included in the edition of Clarksons 2011 album Stronger. It was written by Andy Gibson, Paul Jenkins and Jason Sellers, the song contains elements of country and pop, and its lyrics speak of the difficulties of finding and maintaining love. Dont You Wanna Stay was met generally favorable reviews by critics who considered the song as a classic power ballad. Critics also lauded the combination between Aldeans and Clarksons voices. The song enjoyed success in United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. It became Aldeans fifth number one single and Clarksons first number one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Both Aldean and Clarkson performed the song on several occasions, footage from the Country Music Association award performance were used to comprise a music video for Dont You Wanna Stay, directed by Paul Miller. The song was nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards, Dont You Wanna Stay was written by Andy Gibson, Paul Jenkins and Jason Sellers. According to Sellers, they were at Jenkins house when they started composing the song and he explained, We just wanted to write a love song. We had an idea of what we were targeting and we didn’t write it as a duet. We wrote it, and Andy thought about recording it, after we got the song written, we played it for Jason. Jason Aldeans idea for it was to make it a duet, the song is the first duet that Aldean has recorded. In an interview with Nashville. com, Aldean revealed that the song was not originally presented to him as a duet, nevertheless, he and producer Michael Knox thought the lyrics would work for two people if he could find a female artist as a duet partner. Aldean considered a number of vocalists to record the song with, especially Kelly Clarkson. However, Clarkson remained as his first choice and he explained, We had the song pitched to us and originally it wasn’t a duet. The more I was listening to the thing and learning the song, when I called my producer about it he asked who I wanted to sing it with me and I said Kelly Clarkson, but I didn’t think we’d be able to get her. I’ve always been a big fan of hers, I love her voice and I love her style
28.
Dirt Road Anthem
–
Dirt Road Anthem is a country rap song written by American artists Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert, each of whom recorded his own version of the song. Jason Aldean covered the song for his 2010 album My Kinda Party, the song debuted as a single as Aldeans previous single, Dont You Wanna Stay, was currently at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. On November 30, the received a Nomination in 54th Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance. It is the song in digital history by a male country solo artist in the United States with over 4 million sold. Dirt Road Anthem is a song, styled as country rap. The song expresses country pride, southern values, and remembering good times from the past, Country rapper Colt Ford originally recorded the song for his 2008 album Ride Through the Country, with Brantley Gilbert singing vocals on the chorus. Gilbert later recorded a version of the song for his 2010 album Halfway to Heaven. He continued by saying. if I was to do anything like that, at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, Aldean performed the song with guest rapper Ludacris, who joined Aldean onstage after the second chorus to perform his own hip hop-style second verse. On picking Ludacris for the collaboration, Aldean said. even though our music is totally different and we both know about hot Georgia summers and cooling off with a six pack or two. It wasnt that much of a stretch, a remixed studio version featuring Ludacris was released for digital download through iTunes on June 9,2011. Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert released a version of their original recording, featuring a third verse of rapping by Gilbert. Dirt Road Anthem has received mixed reception from critics. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a D rating, using heavy sarcasm to acknowledge that the songs content followed tired, the music video for Dirt Road Anthem, directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions, premiered June 13,2011 on CMT. The video for Dirt Road Anthem was filmed around Old Hickory, the twin bridges are crossing the Cumberland River, and the factory scene, railroad beds and small town were filmed around Rayon City. The song debuted at number 57 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated February 5,2011. Dirt Road Anthem had reached a peak of number 49 before being released as a single in April 2011, the song later became Aldeans sixth number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart the week of July 30,2011. It also debuted at number 68 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of April 23,2011 and it has since become his first top ten hit on that chart, and the highest-charting single of his career. It also debuted at number 92 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of May 28,2011, in September 2011, the song became the first for a male solo country artist to top the 2 million mark in digital sales
29.
Fly Over States
–
Fly Over States is a song written by Neil Thrasher and Michael Dulaney and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in February 2012 as the fifth and final single from his 2010 album My Kinda Party, in May 2012, it became his seventh number one hit as well as his fourteenth top 10 hit and his ninth consecutive top 5. The title references the term states, often associated with the Midwestern United States. Billy Dukes from Taste of Country gave Fly Over States four stars out of five and he ended the review, Aldean hasn’t released many songs like this, choosing instead to share the rowdy, but easily digestible, country-rock anthems and a few heavy love songs. Kevin John Coyne from Country Universe graded the song a B+ and he said during the review, In the American media, big city life is pretty much all that’s depicted. There aren’t news networks and situation comedies and international magazines being beamed in from those fly over states, the music video for Fly Over States premiered on March 16,2012 on CMT. The video was directed by Wes Edwards, one of Aldeans usual directors of choice, throughout the video, Jason is shown in an empty airplane. Jason and his band are shown in an airplane graveyard performing the song. It also shows different scenes that refer to the lyrics including the Badlands, at the end of the video, the camera looks up into the night sky after one last look at the graveyard. Fly Over States debuted at number 59 on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart for the week of January 14,2012 and it also debuted at number 92 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of March 10,2012. It also debuted at number 98 on Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of April 14,2012, on the country chart dated May 26,2012, it became Aldeans seventh number-one single. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
30.
Take a Little Ride
–
Take a Little Ride is a song written by Dylan Altman, Rodney Clawson and Jim McCormick and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on July 16,2012, as the first single from his studio album Night Train. The song Take a Little Ride revolves around the happenings of a man getting off work and it is in the key of E minor with a chord pattern of E-G-D-A. Eight days after the release, Broken Bow Records released a re-recording of the song, in which the line a little Shiner Bock is changed to a couple Rocky Tops. This re-recording was done because Aldean had signed an endorsement deal with Coors, matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song a four-star review, saying that Aldean was relaxed, confident, and deliver a song that fits exactly what weve come to expect from a superstar. The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and premiered on August 10,2012, Take a Little Ride debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Country Songs chart for the week of August 4,2012. It also debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 12, the song also made history on Country Digital Songs, moving 189,000 downloads during the tracking week ending July 22, marking the biggest opening week by a male artist. On the country chart dated October 6,2012, Take a Little Ride became his eighth number-one single, the song has sold over a million digital downloads as of January 2013. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
31.
The Only Way I Know
–
The Only Way I Know is a song written by David Lee Murphy and Ben Hayslip and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church. It is the single released from Aldeans 2012 album, Night Train. This song is hard work, loyalty, small town values. The singers explain that they were raised in a small town southern atmosphere and they had not realized that other lifestyles existed and were practiced and the one by which they grew up is the only way know. Its verses are largely spoken-word, with Aldean on the first verse, Bryan on the second, billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave The Only Way I Know a four-star review, saying that it sounds best at neighbor-irritating volumes. Ashley Cooke of Roughstock also gave the song a review, stating that the song has a powerful chorus which allows listeners to get a little rowdy. Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church opened the 46th Country Music Association Awards with The Only Way I Know on November 1,2012, on November 13,2012, Aldean performed the song on NBCs The Voice. Two contestants, Bryan Keith and Dez Duron joined him for the performance instead of Luke Bryan, footage from the 46th Country Music Association Award performance were used to comprise a music video for The Only Way I Know, directed by Paul Miller. The Only Way I Know debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Country Songs chart and number 63 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of November 3,2012, as an album cut from downloads. It also debuted at number 93 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of November 24,2012. On the Country Airplay chart dated of February 16,2013, it reached number one, becoming Aldeans ninth number one, Bryans sixth, and Churchs third
32.
Night Train (Jason Aldean song)
–
Night Train is a song written by Neil Thrasher and Michael Dulaney and recorded by American country artist Jason Aldean. It was released in June 2013 as the single and title track from his fifth album of the same name. Night Train is a mid-tempo rocking ballad about two lovers finding the perfect spot for romance, billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave Night Train three out of five stars. He stated, the lyrics aren’t as vivid as some of Aldean’s better ballads and he also said, Aldean shows real vocal power and that this song is a nice reminder of what he’s capable of. Jason Aldean debuted the new single on June 5,2013 on the CMT Music Awards, the music video was directed by Wes Edwards and premiered on August 6,2013. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No,92, and the Hot Country Songs chart at No.26 for the week that the album Night Train was released. It dropped from the chart until the song was released to radio as a single and it peaked at No.26 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the charted dated October 12,2013. The song has reached its million sales mark in the US by April 2014, the song debuted at No.85 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week the album was released
33.
When She Says Baby
–
When She Says Baby is a song written by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in November 2013 as the fifth and final single from his studio album. The song received a review from Taste of Country, which said that it speaks to the masses with lyrics that are easy to relate to. The music video was taken from Aldeans Night Train to Georgia DVD and it premiered on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown on November 16,2013. When She Says Baby debuted at number 58 on the U. S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of November 9,2013. It also debuted at number 33 on the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of November 3,2012 as an album track. It also debuted at number 93 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of December 14,2013, the song has sold 711,000 copies in the U. S. as of April 2014. The song debuted at number 76 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of December 21,2013
34.
Burnin' It Down
–
Burnin It Down is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins and Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in July 2014 as the single from his sixth studio album Old Boots. It won the Top Country Song category at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, the song is a midtempo ballad about a sexual encounter with a lover. Aldean told Country Music Television that he considered the song baby making music and he also felt that it was a different song style for him due to it being more sexual in nature and featuring a drum loop. During its first week in release, the song sold 184,000 downloads in the United States, in its second week, the song moved from number 42 to 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. On September 29,2014, the song was certified Platinum by the RIAA just nine weeks after release and it reached its millionth sales mark in October 2014. As of April 2015, the song has sold 1,589,000 copies in the US, in Canada, the song sold 15,000 downloads in its debut week. The music video was directed by Wes Edwards and premiered in August 2014
35.
Just Gettin' Started
–
Just Gettin Started is a song written by Chris DeStefano, Rhett Akins and Ashley Gorley and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in November 2014 as the single from his sixth studio album, Old Boots. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe rated the song a D, a review from Taste of Country was more favorable, stating that Jason Aldean’s ‘Just Gettin’ Started’ returns to what fans have come to count on from the Georgia-born country rocker. Hard-charging, guitar-drenched songs about love in the fast lane earned him a fine reputation and this latest cut builds on his legacy. The music video premiered in February 2015 and it consists of live footage from the 2014 American Country Countdown Awards Show which was directed by Joe DeMaio. Just Gettin Started debuted at number 58 on the U. S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of November 8,2014, the song has sold 503,000 copies in the US as of August 2015
36.
Tonight Looks Good on You
–
Tonight Looks Good on You is a song recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released to radio on March 23,2015 as his twenty-third single and third from his sixth studio album, Old Boots. It was written by Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, and Dallas Davidson, the single has received mixed to negative reviews from critics. ”It’s basically another, slightly less creepy version of “Burnin’ It Down. ”The good news is Aldean doesn’t mention getting naked in this song. The bad news is bro country godfather Dallas Davidson helped write this song, taste of Country was more favorable, saying that There’s something dangerous about Jason Aldean’s new single Tonight Looks Good on You, and many of the love songs found on Old Boots, New Dirt. The story is familiar, but his delivery is unique and sincere, and Lyrically the song separates itself from his previous late-night love songs. The music video was directed by Mason Dixon and premiered in May 2015, the song has sold 529,000 copies in the US as of September 2015
37.
Homestead, Florida
–
Homestead is a city within Miami-Dade County in the U. S. state of Florida, between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and an agricultural area. It is a city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,012,331 people at the 2015 census. Homestead was incorporated in 1913 and is the second oldest city in Miami-Dade County next to the city of Miami and it is located approximately 35 miles southwest of Miami, and 25 miles northwest of Key Largo. The name originates from when the Florida East Coast Railway extension to Key West was being built, the population was 60,512 at the 2010 census. Homestead and neighboring South Miami-Dade County communities bore the brunt of Category 5 Hurricane Andrew on August 24,1992, the city of Homestead is located near the southern terminus of the Homestead Extension of Floridas Turnpike where it ends at its junction with U. S.1. Homestead is immediately north and east of Florida City, and these two cities comprise the greater Homestead-Florida City area, some of the notable unincorporated communities in the area are Redland, Leisure City, Naranja, and Princeton. Its race track is the finale of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series as well as the two minor championships of NASCAR. Homestead is located at 25°28′16″N 80°28′5″W, according to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 square miles. 14.3 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is water. At its greatest north-south points – along SW 137th Avenue – its city limits extend only 4 miles – from SW 288th Street at the end to SW 352nd Street at the south end. At its greatest east-west points – along SW 328th Street – its city limits extend 6 miles – from SW 132nd Avenue at the east end to SW 192nd Avenue at the west end. It is at this point at the end that Homestead. A noteworthy tourist attraction within Leisure City is Coral Castle, built by a lover, Edward Leedskalnin. The Fruit and Spice Park is also of interest, Homestead experiences a tropical monsoon climate that borders on a tropical savanna climate. Summers are hot and humid and high temperatures average between 88° and 92 °F, winters are mild, but average cooler than nearby coastal areas. The all-time record high temperature is 100 °F, on 21 July 1942, lows in summer average between 70° and 75 °F, with low temperatures in all times of year averaging 5–15 degrees cooler than coastal Miami, mainly because of its inland and rural location. In winter, the area sees cold fronts bring cold weather for short periods from November to March, the lowest temperature ever recorded is 26 °F, on 13 December 1934, which was recorded at Homestead Air Force Base, some 10 miles east of the town
38.
George Strait
–
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. He is known as the King of Country and is considered one of the most influential, Straits success began when his first single Unwound was a hit in 1981. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. In the 2000s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989,1990 and 2013 and he has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist. In 2009, he broke Conway Twittys previous record for the most number-one hits on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart when his 45 number one singles surpassed Twittys 40, Strait is also known for his touring career when he designed a 360- degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years and his concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX in June 2014 drew 104,793 people, marking a new record for largest indoor concert in North America. Strait was successful innovating country music and in aspects of being a part of popular music. Strait has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the music artists of all time. His certifications from the RIAA include 13 multi-platinum,33 platinum and his best-selling album is Pure Country, which sold 6 million. His highest certified album is Strait Out of the Box, which sold 2 million copies, according to the RIAA, Strait is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall. George Harvey Strait was born on May 18,1952, in Poteet, Texas, to John Byron Strait, Sr. and Doris Jean Couser. He grew up in nearby Pearsall, in Frio County, where his father was a high school mathematics teacher. The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers, when George was in the fourth grade, his father and mother were divorced, and his mother moved away with his sister, Pency. George and his brother John, Jr. or Buddy, were raised by their father, Strait began his musical interest while attending Pearsall High School, where he played in a rock and roll garage band. The Beatles were popular when Strait was in high school, the Beatles were big, Strait confirmed. I listened to them a lot and that bunch of groups that were popular then. His musical preference soon turned to country with singers Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Strait did not tune to the country music radio often as a youth, usually listening to the news and the farmers report
39.
Hank Williams Jr.
–
Randall Hank Williams, known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and musician. His musical style is considered a blend of Southern rock, blues. He is the son of country music singer Hank Williams and the father of Hank Williams III, Holly Williams, Hilary Williams, Samuel Williams. Williams began his career by following in his fathers footsteps, singing his fathers songs. Williams own style evolved as he struggled to find his own voice and place within the country music industry. This trend was interrupted by a fall off the side of Ajax Peak in Montana on August 8,1975. After an extended recovery, he challenged the country music establishment with a blend of country, rock, Williams enjoyed much success in the 1980s, from which he earned considerable recognition and popularity both inside and outside the country music industry. As a multi-instrumentalist, Williams repertoire of skills include guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, steel guitar, banjo, dobro, piano, keyboards, harmonica, fiddle, and drums. From 1989 until October 2011, a version of his song All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight was used as the opening for broadcasts of Monday Night Football, Williams was born on May 26,1949 in Shreveport, Louisiana. After his fathers death in 1953, he was raised by his mother, while he was a child, a number of contemporary musicians visited his family, who influenced and taught him various music instruments and styles. Among these figures of influence were Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Earl Scruggs, Lightnin Hopkins, Williams first stepped on the stage and sang his fathers songs when he was eight years old. In 1964, he made his debut with Long Gone Lonesome Blues. Williams provided the voice of his father in the 1964 film Your Cheatin Heart. He also recorded an album of duets with recordings of his father, by the mid-1970s Williams began to pursue a musical direction that would eventually make him a superstar. While recording a series of successful songs, Williams began a heavy pattern of both drug and alcohol abuse. Hank Williams Jr. and Friends, often considered his watershed album was the product of these then-groundbreaking collaborations, in 1977 Williams recorded and released One Night Stands and The New South, and worked closely with his old friend Waylon Jennings on the song Once and For All. On August 8,1975 Williams was nearly killed in a mountain-climbing accident, while he was climbing Ajax Peak in Montana, the snow beneath him collapsed and he fell almost 500 feet onto rock. He suffered multiple skull and facial fractures, the incident was chronicled in the semi-autobiographical, made-for-television film Living Proof, The Hank Williams Jr. Story
40.
Alabama (American band)
–
Alabama is an American country, Southern rock and bluegrass band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama in 1969. The band was founded by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry and they were soon joined by their other cousin, Jeff Cook. First operating under the name Wildcountry, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s and they changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Records for a record deal. Alabamas biggest success came in the 1980s, where the band had over 27 number one hits, seven multi-platinum albums, the bands popularity waned slightly in the 1990s although they continued to produce hit singles and multi-platinum album sales. Alabama disbanded in 2006 following a tour and two albums of inspirational music but reunited in 2010 and have continued to record and tour worldwide. The bands blend of country music and Southern rock combined with elements of gospel. They also toured extensively and incorporated elements such as lighting. The band has over 30 number one records on the Billboard charts to their credit and have sold over 75 million records. AllMusic credited the band with popularizing the idea of a country band, Alabama was formed by guitarists Randy Owen and Jeff Cook, and bassist Teddy Gentry, three cousins born and raised near Fort Payne, Alabama, an area with strong country music roots. Owen and Gentry grew up on cotton farms on Lookout Mountain, learning guitar together. Gentry and Owen played in groups during the 1960s, ranging from pop to bluegrass. Cook joined the band in 1969 forming the group Young Country, Cook also played in numerous bands and was a rock and roll disk jockey. The three cousins all shared vocal duties, with cousin, drummer Jackie Owen, completing the groups first lineup. The bands first performance was at a school talent contest, for which they won first prize. Despite this, all were busy with commitments to pursue music, Owen still in high school, Cook working for Western Electric. The band grew further inactive when Cook went to college and Owen into the military, the group became a professional band in 1972, adding drummer Bennett Vartanian and changing their name to Wildcountry. During this time, the group accepted a position playing at the nearby Canyonland theme park, the park would bring in established stars, such as Jerry Wallace, Bobby Bare, and Narvel Felts, and the band would back them, afterwards performing a one-hour dance set. After a while, with opportunities for the band slimmed, a discouraged Cook took a government job in Anniston, Owen was studying English at Jacksonville State University, and Cook had an electronics job
41.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
–
The organization maintains both its legislative service and central office of its national rehabilitation service in Washington. Partial list of United States campaign medals, ribbons, and badges the VFW uses to determine membership eligibility, the eight-pointed Cross of Malta harks back to the Crusades, launched during the 12th century. The VFW provides Free Call Days twice a month to service members deployed abroad, since then Free Call Days have provided service members with more than 4 million free phone calls home. Unmet Needs assists with basic needs such as mortgage and rent, home and auto repairs, insurance, utilities, food. The financial assistance is in the form of up to $5,000 in grants that do not need to be repaid, all grants are paid directly to the creditor and not to the individual. Each case is reviewed individually and acceptance determined by a committee, Military Assistance Program is the most direct connection between military units and local VFW posts. Through the program, posts have held going away, welcome home events, in the last five years the program has helped Posts host more than 1 million service members and their families. The Adopt-a-Unit program also falls under Military Assistance Program and connects military units around the world with a local Post that can offer resources and support. Annually, the nearly 1.7 million members of the VFW and subsidiaries contribute more than 8.9 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in National Volunteer Week. The VFW was reorganized in 1913 as the result of a series of mergers of previous veterans organizations which consisted of veterans of the Spanish–American War, the VFW grew rapidly after the First World War with hundreds of thousands eligible veterans returning from the war. Between the two wars, the VFW focused on advocating for benefits for veterans as well as combating communism. After the Second World War, millions more veterans were eligible to join the VFW, membership steadily grew after the war peaking at about 2.5 million in 1993 with over 10,000 posts being established nationwide. During the turbulent 1960s era, the VFW supported the American involvement in the Vietnam War, many VFW posts were unwilling to accept Vietnam veterans afterwards, but became more open to them as older veterans died off or their health did not permit them to attend meetings. By the 2000s, the VFW faced a crisis due to the aging of World War II and Korean War veterans
42.
John Anderson (musician)
–
John David Anderson is an American country musician with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years. He has also recorded 22 studio albums on several labels and his newest album, Goldmine, was released on May 26,2015, on the Bayou Boys Music label. Anderson was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on October 5,2014, raised in Apopka, Florida, Andersons first musical influences were not country artists, but rock and roll musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. He played in a band until the age of 15. The club appearances finally paid off in 1977 when he signed his first recording contract with Warner Bros. He first hit the Billboard Country Hot 100 chart in 1977 with the song I’ve Got a Feelin’, Andersons decidedly backwoods accent and distinctive vocal timbre helped land him in the forefront of the New Traditionalist movement with artists like Ricky Skaggs and George Strait. A steady stream of singles through the late 1970s and early 1980s continued to build Andersons name in the country genre, the song Im Just An Old Chunk Of Coal from the 1981 album John Anderson 2 netted Anderson a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The release of Andersons fourth album, Wild & Blue, in 1982 led to his breakthrough to mainstream country when the single Swingin hit the airwaves early the next year, the single became the biggest selling record in the history of Warner Bros. In the wake of Swingin, Anderson received five nominations for Country Music Association awards for the year. He was the winner of the Horizon Award, and the song was named Single of the Year, he received nominations for Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year. Andersons success with Wild & Blue carried on several more albums. In 1986, Anderson and Warner Bros. parted ways, after leaving Warner Bros. Anderson signed with MCA Records and released two albums under that label, followed by one with Capitol Records in 1990. Chart success was minimal throughout those years, however, that turned around in 1991 when Anderson joined BNA Records and, working with legendary country producer James Stroud, released the album Seminole Wind. Powered by the single, which rose to Number Two, and the Number One single Straight Tequila Night. The album has been certified two times platinum, the highest of any of Andersons albums, and he was nominated for three CMA Awards - Male Vocalist, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. The 1993 album Solid Ground produced a Number One single, Money in the Bank and he recorded for BNA through 1996 before leaving the label. In 1993, Anderson was awarded the Academy of Country Music Career Achievement award, Anderson has recorded for several labels since his departure from BNA, with moderate chart success. A new album titled Bigger Hands, a return to working with Stroud as producer, was released in June 2009, over his career, Anderson has collaborated with a number of different artists
