Jason Aldean recalled being in dire need of money before his single “Hicktown” catapulted him to fame.
The country star said life was tough before he became famous, and he described just how challenging his situation was when his first child was born during an interview with “Taste of Country Nights: On Demand,” in August. He described his struggle to climb to the top and explained that there were some very dark days as part of his journey.
“I was starving, I had a brand new baby. My oldest daughter had just been born, I didn’t have any money,” Aldean said.
TWIN LAKES, WISCONSIN – JULY 22: Jason Aldean performs onstage at Country Thunder Wisconsin – Day 3 on July 22, 2023 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joshua Applegate/Getty Images)
Aldean’s daughter, Keeley Ann Williams, was born in 2003, when thing were far from easy for the singer.
He explained that he continued to plug away at music, but he wasn’t reaching for the stars at the time, he was just trying to find a way to make ends meet.
“I wasn’t thinking longterm. It was like, ‘I need to get this song going just so I can generate some money to, like, keep from losing my house and to be able to buy diapers.’ Those kind of things,” Aldean told Taste of Country.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MAY 04: Jason Aldean attends the 2024 iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One at Moody Center on May 04, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
He said he worked hard to provide for his family, but had no idea he was on the cusp of becoming a megastar.
“For it to turn into what it has, I never … I dunno, maybe I was just kind of naïve to the point of thinking that it could ever become this,” Aldean said.
Aldean recalled just trying to survive and take care of his family’s day-to-day needs. He went on to sign a record deal with his longtime label, Broken Bow Records in 2005, and he released his debut album and single, “Hicktown,” in the very same year.
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He has come a long way since then, with more than 24 No. 1 hits under his belt. He has a long list of accolades that are represented in the form of numerous statues that require multiple mantels to display. (RELATED: ‘I Had Zero Money’: Sharon Stone Explains How She Lost $18 Million)
The now 47-year-old is now remarried now, and has four children – 3 girls and a son.
He could absolutely retire and live comfortably with the wealth he has amassed, but his true passion is music, and Aldean is showing no signs of slowing down.
