Jason Aldean Returns to Nashville a Superstar

In the week leading up to the event, talk centered on the fact that Aldean had yet to headline a concert in the city and was in some ways coming back to show how far he has come.

With the help of opening acts Luke Bryan and Lauren Alaina, Aldean sold out the city’s largest indoor venue, the Bridgestone Arena, and got to show off his transformation to the music industry professionals who have watched his rise.

Rising from underneath the stage to the opening chords of “Johnny Cash,” Aldean was greeted by the sound of about 17,000 roaring fans.

Many were decked out just like him: tight plaid shirt, straw hat and a well-worn pair of jeans.

Striding to the microphone, a satisfied smirk crossed his face as his hard rock-styled band hammered away at “Big Green Tractor,” “Amarillo Sky” and “Why” before Aldean stopped to catch his breath.

All the while, the stage was bathed in red lights and hanging video screens that moved up and down, making the set look like the molten inside a volcano.

The concert helped cap off the yearly Country Radio Seminar, an event that brings disc jockeys and programmers from across the U.S. to town, and made it clear that Aldean has forged a solid place for himself in country music in the year and a-half since his My Kinda Party album was released.

He was no slouch before, to be sure, having scored four No. 1 hits and an ACM award for best new artist since 2005. But 2011 saw Aldean tally two more chart toppers, land high-profile TV performances on the CMA, ACM and Grammy Awards, collaborate with artists from the worlds of pop and hip-hop and officially take country rap from sideshow to main event.

So, just for good measure, he showed he can rock a crowd, as well.

He spent some time saying thanks and turning around to face the fans seated behind the stage — it was 360-degree seating — to sing the Ashley Monroe-penned No. 1 hit, “The Truth.”

It was another testament to Aldean’s popularity that people would gladly fill the seats behind the band, since that area was opened up after he had sold out the main arena. The performers did a good job of keeping them included in the fun.

“Crazy Town” inspired more than a little bit of hometown pride, and as a lead-in to his current single, “Fly Over States,” Aldean announced he would have a new album out later this year.

Finishing up “Fly Over States,” the confident Georgian tossed his guitar to the side and jumped off the stage. With a spotlight following, he made his way across the floor, slapping hands along his way to a small stage set up close to the back of the arena.

“I don’t want to hear about your seats sucking!” Aldean joked with the crowd.

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