Angie and Jason Aldean meet up before his historic "Live Between The Hedges" Concert at the University Of Georgia's Sanford Stadium to talk about the show, UGA Football, his being from Georgia, and his new album "Songs About Us."
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
All right, guys, hanging out here at Sanford Stadium with
Jason al Dean. I'm so glad to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good to see you too.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Thanks for being here now, Thank you for stopping down
and chatting because it's a big day for you, it's
a big weekend for you. Talk to me about as
you look out we're out here in the press box
here at Sanford Stadium. When you walked in this morning
and you looked out over that stadium right there, what
was the feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Uh? Just uh, I feel really, I don't know, just
blessed to be here, and just the fact that my
career has lasted as long as it has and you know,
dropping a new album, people still care that we're putting
out new music. And you know the fact that we
can play a show and this many people will show up,
(00:48):
that's to me is insane. So just fortunate to be
here and have the career that I've had over the years.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So you grew up in Georgia, South Georgia, making you're
Georgia boy. You're a big Georgia Bulldog fan. Oh yeah,
So did you come to the stadium as a kid
to games? Did you get up here often?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I didn't. Yeah, you know, I was talking about this earlier.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
You know, I never went to a game here until
my sister went to school here. But growing up, you know,
my mom for the most part, was a single parent,
and my dad lived in Florida, my mom lived here,
and so my mom really couldn't afford to bring us
to games and stuff, and so I never really came
to a game here my mom. The first time my
mom ever stepped foot in the stadium was when I
(01:35):
played it back in twenty thirteen, and she came in
and was just like, you know, looked around and disbelief,
you know, and so it started tearing up. And so,
you know, it's anytime I get a chance to play here,
I mean, we've only gotten to do it twice, but
it's I mean, whenever anybody asked me, what's your favorite
show you've ever played, it's twenty thirteen when we played here. Yeah,
(01:55):
I mean, it's always my my answer.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Well, the fact is only two concerts have ever been
played in the stadium, and you're it.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I would like to think it would stay that way,
but I doubt it, you know, but at least we
got to do.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It first, all right, let's talk a little uga football,
and I just have a couple of questions for you.
All right, all right, what's your favorite number of a jersey?
You would wear?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
None? Why?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Just always my number growing up that I wore. I
used to wear three when I was a kid because
I was a big Dale Murphy fan. I was a
huge Dale Murphy fan, Braves, and so I always wore
number three. And then uh, somewhere around middle school, somebody
else had three and I couldn't get it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I started wearing nine, and that was kind of my number.
I'm a single digit guy, I am.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I'm I'm eight. Hobby Lopez.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
All the women like Hobby bathrootball.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know, I'd loved his baseball skills. Yeah, it was
all about the baseball. So how superstitious are you when
it comes to football? Do you have a lucky jersey?
Do you have food you have to eat at a tailgate?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
No?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
But I you know, I have a bunch of football
helmets in like my man cave or whatever. And so
if George is ever playing a team that I have
one of the helmets in there, that helmet has to
go outside, like can't stay in the same room.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That Okay, right. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So like if George is playing Tennessee, the Tennessee helmet
goes in the yard right until the game.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Trah, yeah, trah, just outside of where.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I don't want to look at it, like I don't
want to. I feel like it's bad juju.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I think that's a good one. So favorite UGA player
all time? Is that putting you on the spot?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
No, I mean I think favorite UGA player of all
time herschel Walker. I mean herschel Walker is my first
memories of of Georgia football, and uh, one of the
reasons that I'm a huge fan.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So do you have one UGA play that's like the
most memorable? You always think, man, that's the greatest play
ever in Georgia football.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
One of mine was when uh, you know, when Georgia
was playing Oklahoma and they were going to all the
overtimes and then finally Sona Michelle runs one end and
for Georgia to win the game and overtime to send
us to the first national championship.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
That I think.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It was the Rose Bowl. And to me, it was
the first time in my life that I remember, I
mean other than me.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And three years old. It was the first time I remember.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Georgia football going to play for a national championship, and
that's one that always kind of stands out to me.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
All Right, So I know your wife is an Alabama fan,
grab too, all Right, so it's unfortunate. Will she wear
Bulldog gear? Not at all? And will you wear Alabama gear?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
All right?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
She'll sometimes she might wear like a Georgia shirt, Like
if we're just like lounging around the house and like
I don't know, maybe she's folding my clothes or something,
and there's a Georgia shirt and it's like a pajama shirt,
you know. But she's not gonna go outside the house
of it.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Either We've seen or photograph not.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Wearing Alabama stuff in the house, outside the house at all.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
All Right, I'm glad you've got standards. Okay, all right,
let's talk about the new album. I have to tell you,
I've known you forever. I love you very much. I
love your music. I think this is the best album
you've ever put out.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, I appreciate that we you know, this is this
is what I'm proud of this one.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
This week.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
We worked hard on this, and you know, I'm at
a point in my career where you know, we're not
the shiny new Penny anymore. We're not the new artists
hitting the scene and all that. So I feel like,
you know, it's important to make sure like the songs
are great and we really you know, kind of tap
into to what it is we really want to do
and not you know, to to extend everything. You know,
(05:42):
I want to make sure the records are good and
the songs are great, and I want to keep touring
and do all those things. And you know, you're not
able to just put out whatever, and so we worked
really hard on this record and and I feel like
it's got some really cool features on it and uh
and some of the you know, some of the best
songs I think we've had on an album in a
long time. So I'm excited for it to finally be
(06:04):
out and people get to check it out.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
What's your process when you're putting an album together? Because
what I love about all your albums is they're Jason
al Deane songs. All of your songs sound like a
Jason Aldene song, but they're all so different. Yeah, So
what is the thought process when you're listening or writing?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
I just think it has to be you know, with anything.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I mean, this business to me, it has to be authentic,
Like it has to be like if it's something that
I wouldn't say or just that I wouldn't say like that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Then we don't cut it.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
And you know, there's a lot of you know, I'm
a sucker for a heartbreak song. You know, a lot
of heartache on my albums, and you know, some fun
stuff too, But I've just always been more drawn to
songs like the Truth or Trouble, the Heartbreak and those
kind of songs. And it's it's fine to say it.
It's just like saying it in a cool way. Yeah,
(06:57):
you knows, there's different ways to say things to where
it's not cheesy or it's not whatever. It's like, there's
a cool way to say it. And if we can
ever tap into that. And once those songs come along,
it's like those are the ones that I kind of
gravitate towards and it's things that I know, if they're
a hit, I got to go play these things for
the next hoverlong. So I want them to be, you know, sonically,
(07:19):
things that fit my brand and what I want to do.
And I don't know, I'm not big on soft songs
like I want them to be a little gritty and
a little more attitude driven, and whether whether you're talking
about heartache or falling in love, whatever that is, you know,
I feel like it can still be a little gritty
and cool. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
No, I love that you can sing a heartbreak song
with a rock like feel to it too. It's like
a guy's breakup something.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yeah. Well, I mean that's the thing. And I grew
up listening to so many different kinds of music.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I mean, you know, just in my hometown, you had
the Otis Redding, all my brothers, Little Richard all came
from my hometown, and then up the street a little
way as you got Alan Jackson and Travis Triutt, Trisha
Yearwood and the Black Crows and r Em and you know,
it's just like Georgia just had so much different kinds
of music coming out of it when I was a kid,
(08:14):
And so I liked all those things. Yeah, you know,
I like the storytelling of country music, but I liked,
you know, sonically, I liked how rock music sounded. You know,
it's like instrumentation wise, and like, so it just you know,
I think what I've done over the years is just
what sounds right to me, what I think is cool,
And it's you know, kind of a rock leaning sound
(08:36):
with country lyrics, and it's just it's the way it's
supposed to sound to me.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, all right, So let's talk about some of the
songs on this album. It's called Songs about Us. That
is a collab with some guy you found on the sea.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Trying to help this other kid out from Georgia, Luke.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Brian No, it's great. I loved I've heard you talk
about the song, but tell us a little about Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I mean Songs about Us to me.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
The title track is a song that you know, kind
of name checks some other artists Willie and you know,
Keith Whitley and all these guys and and I guess,
you know, for me, that song, I kind of thought
about how all those guys were, you know, their songs
were kind of the soundtrack for my life growing up,
and you know, and just everything I remember music wise,
(09:22):
it's like I can relate to to their songs. For me,
it was guys like Alabama, George Strait, excuse me, George Straight,
Ronnie Millsap, like those kind of guys, and you know,
their songs were the soundtrack to my childhood and my
you know, my teenage years and all that stuff. And
for the last twenty years, you know, I feel like
(09:43):
we've had a lot of songs out there that have
probably probably been the soundtrack for people's lives, and and
Luke has as well, and so he just kind of
felt like the perfect person to bring in for that.
And you know, it's just between the two of us now,
you know, sixty plus number ones over the last twenty year,
like it's been a it's been kind of a running
(10:04):
theme here lately. But but he just, you know, he
was a perfect fit. And obviously, I mean one of
my best friends too, So anytime we get a chance
to work together, it's just it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Well, I was gonna ask you, you just celebrated your
thirty first number one. He's got thirty two.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think that's what he claims.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
He does claim that is there a you know, like
when that goes number one, do you just like text
him and go checkmate?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
You know, like, well that's kind of where it's getting
to now, you know, And I bet he would tell
you the same thing. It's like, you know, there's a
time where you're not really looking at the numbers when
you're not going, oh, we got twenty seven number one,
like you're not paying attention to that, and then all
of a sudden, you know, people start going.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Hey, this got thirty that's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You know, we're like, really and it just so happens
that we both kind of hit the mark at the
same time, you know, and it's like, you know, he'll
have thirty one, that I'll have thirty one, then he'll
get thirty two, and that you know, it's just like
kind of become this like running joke now. But you know,
that's that's you know, that's a hell of a career,
I think for him and for myself as well, and
(11:10):
just to be able to just longevity wise, to stick
around long enough to see that even happen as crazy.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
So and the fact that you know.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
We're as good at friends as we are and kind
of really kind of came up in the business together
and and all that, it just kind of makes it
that much sweeter.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So you just had the.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Big party celebrating the thirty number ones, but by the
time we had the party for you, there were thirty one.
Weren't you surprised?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Absolutely? Really yes, Actually.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
It was a surprise party. They told me it was
a surprise party. I was like, yeah, right, No.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I mean CRS, which you know a country radio seminar
in Nashville happens every year and the label usually will
get all the artists to come in and we'll all
play a couple of songs for the party. And that's
kind of what I thought I was doing. So I
showed up and you know, was hanging out with my
band and then we kind of went our separate ways
and I went down to get ready to play and
(12:04):
they were like, sit down right here, and I'm like.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, I don't want to sit in on it. Well,
like the label was like sit in this.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Chair, and I'm like I don't want to, Like there's
a lot of like my friends are here, I want
to go talk to them.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
They're like, no, sit in the chair. And so I
was like, what in the hell's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
And finally they started rolling the video and I kind
of started figuring out what was happening. But it wasn't
until I got into the room that yeh for sure.
So it was it was a cool night.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Uh you are responsible for getting Florida Georgia line back
together because they performed at your party. How does that feel?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
It's cool. I mean, it was great to see those guys.
You know.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't know how how responsible I was for that,
but it was the first time they got back on
stage together. And but it was good to see. I mean,
I've been friends with those guys for a long time
and whatever, you know, been going on the last few
years where they were trying to do their own thing
or whatever, you know, And I don't know, I just
I think that what people really want to see is
(12:59):
the two of those guys together doing what they do best.
And I was I was happy to see him at
doing it at our party. And uh, hopefully that's gonna
that's going to mean a new record and some touring
dates and all that stuff and getting those guys back
together and doing what I think people all everybody kind
of wants to see out of them.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Well, kind of back to the title of your album,
songs about us, A lot of their songs are songs
that people have lived their lives.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
With, right, And I mean that's the thing. They were
such an iconic duo in our genre, and we haven't
had a lot of iconic duos I mean, you have
Brooks and Dune and uh, to me, the Bellamie Brothers.
But you know, but FGL was one of those that
really kind of carved out their spot in in country music.
(13:45):
And and you know, I think everybody wants to see
them go back and do their thing.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I think there's another iconic duo on the rise, and
that is Jason Aldan and Britney al Dean. Let's talk
about that song on the album.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, I mean that's something that's you know, it's kind
of been talked about for a while. I think fans
have kind of been asking for it for a while.
We've you know, I think we kind of always knew
that was gonna happen at some point. But for me,
it always has to be the right song. I mean,
it's you know, I've never been one to go, hey,
I'm gonna go I want to cut a song with Luke. Now,
(14:18):
let me go find the song. You know, I just
don't do it like that. It's like, if something comes
in that I think works for him or works for
my wife or whatever, you know, then I kind of
address it like that. And so we got this song
Easier Gone from Charles Kelly from Lady A actually sent
that song and I just thought, man, this is this
could be really cool just knowing her voice, like I know,
(14:39):
and you know, it's like, this.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Could be really cool.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
And I think people probably thought we would do some
big love song or something, but you know, we kind
of threw a change up and did the you know,
heartache song again, so which I loved and so it
you know, initial response we got from it was great,
and you know, I thought she did amazing in there.
So hopefully that kind of opens us up to doing
more stuff down the road, and you know, this is
(15:05):
first of many hopefully we'll.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
See going to perform it ever with you out on
the road.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yeah, I mean I would I would assume that, you know,
this summer when we hit the road and really are
on our tour and get a chance to kind of
work it up and do all that that I would
definitely expect to see here on stage.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
All right, All right, well let's talk about the show
here at Sandford Stadium and how this is going to work.
Because I noticed that it says that Jason and Luke
nine pm is when you're going to be on stage,
So what's gonna happen out there?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Well, it's a different kind of show. I'll say. I
think it's a little bit of an unknown for both.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Of us at this point. You know, we're used.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
To going out and carrying a show from top to
bottom for an hour and a half, two hours a night.
It's actually going to feel like I'm part of a
duo this time, you know what I mean, got somebody
else helping.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Carry the way to the show.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
So what we really wanted to do was something people
haven't seen before. You know, they've seen Luke show, they've
seen my show maybe, but they haven't seen us together
like that. You know, Like it's gonna be tomorrow night,
So I just want to make it fun and interesting
and have him talking about it and something that they
feel like they haven't seen before. So you're gonna see
(16:18):
a little bit of us together, a little bit of
us doing our own thing, and it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Well, don't tell him I asked this, Okay, but did
you have you made sure that, like there's sticky stuff
on the floor, you're gonna put him in bubble wrap.
He has this tendency to kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Slip the fall in it's he is accident.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Have him sign a waiver.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That's what I should do.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah, just keep him from suing me if he falls
off stage and breaks a leg or something, which could
very well happen.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
All right, you're back home in Georgia. I gotta I
gotta see I gotta make sure you haven't lost your
Georgia card.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
All right?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
All right, since you don't live here full time anymore.
Here we go. It's how Georgia are you with Jason Alde?
All right? Here we go? What boiled item? Did Georgian
stop at roadside stands.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
For peanuts than you?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
What must be in tea?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Sugar?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
What drink? Do people put peanuts in?
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Coca cola?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Let's see what side dish is good for breakfast, lunch
or dinner?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Uh? Side dish, that's tricky. It starts with a g grip.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
I I was going to say that, but then I'm
like macaroni and I mean, there's all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
If someone says, what'll you have? Where are they?
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Uh? Have rest waffle house at the varsity?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
The varsity? Yes, waffle house is good though.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
If someone says bless your heart, what do they actually mean?
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You do? Mass?
Speaker 1 (17:57):
He is Georgia or ninety nine per se missed the
waffle house could be.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
What you know, it could be Varsity.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
You know they don't have a far They closed the
Varsity here and ask yeah they did.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Actually it was supposed to be across from our hotel.
And I got in and I was like, where the
heck's the Varsity.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Well used to work there at the one in Atlanta.
Oh yeah, way back in the in the seventies.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I've had way too many hot dogs there, way too many.
Oh yeah, all right, Jason Alden, I love you, love
the album. Thank you for coming home to Georgia and
doing this, not only just for the fact that it's
just super cool that you're here at Sanford Stadium, but
I mean, look, it's done so much for the community
and for our state and for everything you've done. And
thank you also for this nifty little fan you gave me.
(18:38):
Because it's gonna be hot tomorrow. Yep, it's got the
logo on it.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's good for a Braves game for an afternoon Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Brave to ask you about that's probably really loud on
the mic. It sounds like an airplane land in there.
How about those Braves?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I know, best record in the league right now, all right, well,
go braves, Go Braves.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I'm gonna say this. It hurts. I'm gonna say it
for you. Go dogs. Wait, let me do I can
do better. Go dogs. Can you tell me how to
say it?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
That's pretty good or just hold out the oh? Go dogs? Sick?
You gotta get the rest.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Of you, all right, thank you, because you know I
went to Auburn, so it's it's hard.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, can we
Speaker 1 (19:24):
That's a wrap.
All right, guys, hanging out here at Sanford Stadium with
Jason al Dean. I'm so glad to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good to see you too.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Thanks for being here now, Thank you for stopping down
and chatting because it's a big day for you, it's
a big weekend for you. Talk to me about as
you look out we're out here in the press box
here at Sanford Stadium. When you walked in this morning
and you looked out over that stadium right there, what
was the feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Uh? Just uh, I feel really, I don't know, just
blessed to be here, and just the fact that my
career has lasted as long as it has and you know,
dropping a new album, people still care that we're putting
out new music. And you know the fact that we
can play a show and this many people will show up,
(00:48):
that's to me is insane. So just fortunate to be
here and have the career that I've had over the years.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So you grew up in Georgia, South Georgia, making you're
Georgia boy. You're a big Georgia Bulldog fan. Oh yeah,
So did you come to the stadium as a kid
to games? Did you get up here often?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I didn't. Yeah, you know, I was talking about this earlier.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
You know, I never went to a game here until
my sister went to school here. But growing up, you know,
my mom for the most part, was a single parent,
and my dad lived in Florida, my mom lived here,
and so my mom really couldn't afford to bring us
to games and stuff, and so I never really came
to a game here my mom. The first time my
mom ever stepped foot in the stadium was when I
(01:35):
played it back in twenty thirteen, and she came in
and was just like, you know, looked around and disbelief,
you know, and so it started tearing up. And so,
you know, it's anytime I get a chance to play here,
I mean, we've only gotten to do it twice, but
it's I mean, whenever anybody asked me, what's your favorite
show you've ever played, it's twenty thirteen when we played here. Yeah,
(01:55):
I mean, it's always my my answer.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Well, the fact is only two concerts have ever been
played in the stadium, and you're it.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I would like to think it would stay that way,
but I doubt it, you know, but at least we
got to do.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It first, all right, let's talk a little uga football,
and I just have a couple of questions for you.
All right, all right, what's your favorite number of a jersey?
You would wear?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
None? Why?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Just always my number growing up that I wore. I
used to wear three when I was a kid because
I was a big Dale Murphy fan. I was a
huge Dale Murphy fan, Braves, and so I always wore
number three. And then uh, somewhere around middle school, somebody
else had three and I couldn't get it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I started wearing nine, and that was kind of my number.
I'm a single digit guy, I am.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I'm I'm eight. Hobby Lopez.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
All the women like Hobby bathrootball.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know, I'd loved his baseball skills. Yeah, it was
all about the baseball. So how superstitious are you when
it comes to football? Do you have a lucky jersey?
Do you have food you have to eat at a tailgate?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
No?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
But I you know, I have a bunch of football
helmets in like my man cave or whatever. And so
if George is ever playing a team that I have
one of the helmets in there, that helmet has to
go outside, like can't stay in the same room.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That Okay, right. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So like if George is playing Tennessee, the Tennessee helmet
goes in the yard right until the game.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Trah, yeah, trah, just outside of where.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I don't want to look at it, like I don't
want to. I feel like it's bad juju.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I think that's a good one. So favorite UGA player
all time? Is that putting you on the spot?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
No, I mean I think favorite UGA player of all
time herschel Walker. I mean herschel Walker is my first
memories of of Georgia football, and uh, one of the
reasons that I'm a huge fan.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So do you have one UGA play that's like the
most memorable? You always think, man, that's the greatest play
ever in Georgia football.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
One of mine was when uh, you know, when Georgia
was playing Oklahoma and they were going to all the
overtimes and then finally Sona Michelle runs one end and
for Georgia to win the game and overtime to send
us to the first national championship.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
That I think.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It was the Rose Bowl. And to me, it was
the first time in my life that I remember, I
mean other than me.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And three years old. It was the first time I remember.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Georgia football going to play for a national championship, and
that's one that always kind of stands out to me.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
All Right, So I know your wife is an Alabama fan,
grab too, all Right, so it's unfortunate. Will she wear
Bulldog gear? Not at all? And will you wear Alabama gear?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
All right?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
She'll sometimes she might wear like a Georgia shirt, Like
if we're just like lounging around the house and like
I don't know, maybe she's folding my clothes or something,
and there's a Georgia shirt and it's like a pajama shirt,
you know. But she's not gonna go outside the house
of it.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Either We've seen or photograph not.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Wearing Alabama stuff in the house, outside the house at all.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
All Right, I'm glad you've got standards. Okay, all right,
let's talk about the new album. I have to tell you,
I've known you forever. I love you very much. I
love your music. I think this is the best album
you've ever put out.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, I appreciate that we you know, this is this
is what I'm proud of this one.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
This week.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
We worked hard on this, and you know, I'm at
a point in my career where you know, we're not
the shiny new Penny anymore. We're not the new artists
hitting the scene and all that. So I feel like,
you know, it's important to make sure like the songs
are great and we really you know, kind of tap
into to what it is we really want to do
and not you know, to to extend everything. You know,
(05:42):
I want to make sure the records are good and
the songs are great, and I want to keep touring
and do all those things. And you know, you're not
able to just put out whatever, and so we worked
really hard on this record and and I feel like
it's got some really cool features on it and uh
and some of the you know, some of the best
songs I think we've had on an album in a
long time. So I'm excited for it to finally be
(06:04):
out and people get to check it out.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
What's your process when you're putting an album together? Because
what I love about all your albums is they're Jason
al Deane songs. All of your songs sound like a
Jason Aldene song, but they're all so different. Yeah, So
what is the thought process when you're listening or writing?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
I just think it has to be you know, with anything.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I mean, this business to me, it has to be authentic,
Like it has to be like if it's something that
I wouldn't say or just that I wouldn't say like that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Then we don't cut it.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
And you know, there's a lot of you know, I'm
a sucker for a heartbreak song. You know, a lot
of heartache on my albums, and you know, some fun
stuff too, But I've just always been more drawn to
songs like the Truth or Trouble, the Heartbreak and those
kind of songs. And it's it's fine to say it.
It's just like saying it in a cool way. Yeah,
(06:57):
you knows, there's different ways to say things to where
it's not cheesy or it's not whatever. It's like, there's
a cool way to say it. And if we can
ever tap into that. And once those songs come along,
it's like those are the ones that I kind of
gravitate towards and it's things that I know, if they're
a hit, I got to go play these things for
the next hoverlong. So I want them to be, you know, sonically,
(07:19):
things that fit my brand and what I want to do.
And I don't know, I'm not big on soft songs
like I want them to be a little gritty and
a little more attitude driven, and whether whether you're talking
about heartache or falling in love, whatever that is, you know,
I feel like it can still be a little gritty
and cool. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
No, I love that you can sing a heartbreak song
with a rock like feel to it too. It's like
a guy's breakup something.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yeah. Well, I mean that's the thing. And I grew
up listening to so many different kinds of music.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I mean, you know, just in my hometown, you had
the Otis Redding, all my brothers, Little Richard all came
from my hometown, and then up the street a little
way as you got Alan Jackson and Travis Triutt, Trisha
Yearwood and the Black Crows and r Em and you know,
it's just like Georgia just had so much different kinds
of music coming out of it when I was a kid,
(08:14):
And so I liked all those things. Yeah, you know,
I like the storytelling of country music, but I liked,
you know, sonically, I liked how rock music sounded. You know,
it's like instrumentation wise, and like, so it just you know,
I think what I've done over the years is just
what sounds right to me, what I think is cool,
And it's you know, kind of a rock leaning sound
(08:36):
with country lyrics, and it's just it's the way it's
supposed to sound to me.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, all right, So let's talk about some of the
songs on this album. It's called Songs about Us. That
is a collab with some guy you found on the sea.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Trying to help this other kid out from Georgia, Luke.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Brian No, it's great. I loved I've heard you talk
about the song, but tell us a little about Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I mean Songs about Us to me.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
The title track is a song that you know, kind
of name checks some other artists Willie and you know,
Keith Whitley and all these guys and and I guess,
you know, for me, that song, I kind of thought
about how all those guys were, you know, their songs
were kind of the soundtrack for my life growing up,
and you know, and just everything I remember music wise,
(09:22):
it's like I can relate to to their songs. For me,
it was guys like Alabama, George Strait, excuse me, George Straight,
Ronnie Millsap, like those kind of guys, and you know,
their songs were the soundtrack to my childhood and my
you know, my teenage years and all that stuff. And
for the last twenty years, you know, I feel like
(09:43):
we've had a lot of songs out there that have
probably probably been the soundtrack for people's lives, and and
Luke has as well, and so he just kind of
felt like the perfect person to bring in for that.
And you know, it's just between the two of us now,
you know, sixty plus number ones over the last twenty year,
like it's been a it's been kind of a running
(10:04):
theme here lately. But but he just, you know, he
was a perfect fit. And obviously, I mean one of
my best friends too, So anytime we get a chance
to work together, it's just it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Well, I was gonna ask you, you just celebrated your
thirty first number one. He's got thirty two.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think that's what he claims.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
He does claim that is there a you know, like
when that goes number one, do you just like text
him and go checkmate?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
You know, like, well that's kind of where it's getting
to now, you know, And I bet he would tell
you the same thing. It's like, you know, there's a
time where you're not really looking at the numbers when
you're not going, oh, we got twenty seven number one,
like you're not paying attention to that, and then all
of a sudden, you know, people start going.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Hey, this got thirty that's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
You know, we're like, really and it just so happens
that we both kind of hit the mark at the
same time, you know, and it's like, you know, he'll
have thirty one, that I'll have thirty one, then he'll
get thirty two, and that you know, it's just like
kind of become this like running joke now. But you know,
that's that's you know, that's a hell of a career,
I think for him and for myself as well, and
(11:10):
just to be able to just longevity wise, to stick
around long enough to see that even happen as crazy.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
So and the fact that you know.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
We're as good at friends as we are and kind
of really kind of came up in the business together
and and all that, it just kind of makes it
that much sweeter.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So you just had the.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Big party celebrating the thirty number ones, but by the
time we had the party for you, there were thirty one.
Weren't you surprised?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Absolutely? Really yes, Actually.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
It was a surprise party. They told me it was
a surprise party. I was like, yeah, right, No.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I mean CRS, which you know a country radio seminar
in Nashville happens every year and the label usually will
get all the artists to come in and we'll all
play a couple of songs for the party. And that's
kind of what I thought I was doing. So I
showed up and you know, was hanging out with my
band and then we kind of went our separate ways
and I went down to get ready to play and
(12:04):
they were like, sit down right here, and I'm like.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, I don't want to sit in on it. Well,
like the label was like sit in this.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Chair, and I'm like I don't want to, Like there's
a lot of like my friends are here, I want
to go talk to them.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
They're like, no, sit in the chair. And so I
was like, what in the hell's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
And finally they started rolling the video and I kind
of started figuring out what was happening. But it wasn't
until I got into the room that yeh for sure.
So it was it was a cool night.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Uh you are responsible for getting Florida Georgia line back
together because they performed at your party. How does that feel?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
It's cool. I mean, it was great to see those guys.
You know.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't know how how responsible I was for that,
but it was the first time they got back on
stage together. And but it was good to see. I mean,
I've been friends with those guys for a long time
and whatever, you know, been going on the last few
years where they were trying to do their own thing
or whatever, you know, And I don't know, I just
I think that what people really want to see is
(12:59):
the two of those guys together doing what they do best.
And I was I was happy to see him at
doing it at our party. And uh, hopefully that's gonna
that's going to mean a new record and some touring
dates and all that stuff and getting those guys back
together and doing what I think people all everybody kind
of wants to see out of them.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Well, kind of back to the title of your album,
songs about us, A lot of their songs are songs
that people have lived their lives.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
With, right, And I mean that's the thing. They were
such an iconic duo in our genre, and we haven't
had a lot of iconic duos I mean, you have
Brooks and Dune and uh, to me, the Bellamie Brothers.
But you know, but FGL was one of those that
really kind of carved out their spot in in country music.
(13:45):
And and you know, I think everybody wants to see
them go back and do their thing.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I think there's another iconic duo on the rise, and
that is Jason Aldan and Britney al Dean. Let's talk
about that song on the album.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, I mean that's something that's you know, it's kind
of been talked about for a while. I think fans
have kind of been asking for it for a while.
We've you know, I think we kind of always knew
that was gonna happen at some point. But for me,
it always has to be the right song. I mean,
it's you know, I've never been one to go, hey,
I'm gonna go I want to cut a song with Luke. Now,
(14:18):
let me go find the song. You know, I just
don't do it like that. It's like, if something comes
in that I think works for him or works for
my wife or whatever, you know, then I kind of
address it like that. And so we got this song
Easier Gone from Charles Kelly from Lady A actually sent
that song and I just thought, man, this is this
could be really cool just knowing her voice, like I know,
(14:39):
and you know, it's like, this.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Could be really cool.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
And I think people probably thought we would do some
big love song or something, but you know, we kind
of threw a change up and did the you know,
heartache song again, so which I loved and so it
you know, initial response we got from it was great,
and you know, I thought she did amazing in there.
So hopefully that kind of opens us up to doing
more stuff down the road, and you know, this is
(15:05):
first of many hopefully we'll.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
See going to perform it ever with you out on
the road.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yeah, I mean I would I would assume that, you know,
this summer when we hit the road and really are
on our tour and get a chance to kind of
work it up and do all that that I would
definitely expect to see here on stage.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
All right, All right, well let's talk about the show
here at Sandford Stadium and how this is going to work.
Because I noticed that it says that Jason and Luke
nine pm is when you're going to be on stage,
So what's gonna happen out there?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Well, it's a different kind of show. I'll say. I
think it's a little bit of an unknown for both.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Of us at this point. You know, we're used.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
To going out and carrying a show from top to
bottom for an hour and a half, two hours a night.
It's actually going to feel like I'm part of a
duo this time, you know what I mean, got somebody
else helping.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Carry the way to the show.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
So what we really wanted to do was something people
haven't seen before. You know, they've seen Luke show, they've
seen my show maybe, but they haven't seen us together
like that. You know, Like it's gonna be tomorrow night,
So I just want to make it fun and interesting
and have him talking about it and something that they
feel like they haven't seen before. So you're gonna see
(16:18):
a little bit of us together, a little bit of
us doing our own thing, and it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Well, don't tell him I asked this, Okay, but did
you have you made sure that, like there's sticky stuff
on the floor, you're gonna put him in bubble wrap.
He has this tendency to kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Slip the fall in it's he is accident.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Have him sign a waiver.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That's what I should do.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah, just keep him from suing me if he falls
off stage and breaks a leg or something, which could
very well happen.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
All right, you're back home in Georgia. I gotta I
gotta see I gotta make sure you haven't lost your
Georgia card.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
All right?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
All right, since you don't live here full time anymore.
Here we go. It's how Georgia are you with Jason Alde?
All right? Here we go? What boiled item? Did Georgian
stop at roadside stands.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
For peanuts than you?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
What must be in tea?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Sugar?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
What drink? Do people put peanuts in?
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Coca cola?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Let's see what side dish is good for breakfast, lunch
or dinner?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Uh? Side dish, that's tricky. It starts with a g grip.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
I I was going to say that, but then I'm
like macaroni and I mean, there's all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
If someone says, what'll you have? Where are they?
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Uh? Have rest waffle house at the varsity?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
The varsity? Yes, waffle house is good though.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
If someone says bless your heart, what do they actually mean?
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You do? Mass?
Speaker 1 (17:57):
He is Georgia or ninety nine per se missed the
waffle house could be.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
What you know, it could be Varsity.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
You know they don't have a far They closed the
Varsity here and ask yeah they did.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Actually it was supposed to be across from our hotel.
And I got in and I was like, where the
heck's the Varsity.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Well used to work there at the one in Atlanta.
Oh yeah, way back in the in the seventies.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I've had way too many hot dogs there, way too many.
Oh yeah, all right, Jason Alden, I love you, love
the album. Thank you for coming home to Georgia and
doing this, not only just for the fact that it's
just super cool that you're here at Sanford Stadium, but
I mean, look, it's done so much for the community
and for our state and for everything you've done. And
thank you also for this nifty little fan you gave me.
(18:38):
Because it's gonna be hot tomorrow. Yep, it's got the
logo on it.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's good for a Braves game for an afternoon Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Brave to ask you about that's probably really loud on
the mic. It sounds like an airplane land in there.
How about those Braves?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I know, best record in the league right now, all right, well,
go braves, Go Braves.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I'm gonna say this. It hurts. I'm gonna say it
for you. Go dogs. Wait, let me do I can
do better. Go dogs. Can you tell me how to
say it?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
That's pretty good or just hold out the oh? Go dogs? Sick?
You gotta get the rest.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Of you, all right, thank you, because you know I
went to Auburn, so it's it's hard.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, can we
Speaker 1 (19:24):
That's a wrap.
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