Jason Aldean has a good friend in Travis Tritt. At the recent CMA Fest, Tritt joined Aldean to sing Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” out in 2000, praising Aldean ahead of their performance.
“Great guy,” Tritt tells The Tennessean. “I’ve loved that guy from the very beginning. We just established a great relationship from the very first time I ever met him.”
Aldean’s friendship with Tritt goes back decades, before Aldean’s eponymous album was released in 2005.
“The first time I ever met Jason, he was telling me about the first time he won a talent contest,” Tritt recalls. “He sang my song, ‘I’m Gonna Be Somebody,’ I think. And it was like, first of all, it’s heartwarming to know that your music has gone out and affected other artists, other people that have come along. I think that was one of the things that sparked our relationship in the first place.”
@musicmayhemmagazine.com @Travis Tritt joined @Jason Aldean for a special performance of “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” at #CMAFest in Nashville! #TravisTritt #TravisTrittMusic #ItsAGreatDaytoBeAlive #JasonAldean #JasonAldeanMusic #JasonAldeanConcert #Aldean #Nashville #NashvilleTN #NashvilleTennessee #Country #CountryMusic ♬ original sound – Music Mayhem
It was also Tritt who defended Aldean, amid the “Try That In a Small Town” controversy in 2023.
“This song isn’t promoting violence as some have suggested,” Tritt wrote on social media (via American Songwriter). “It is simply expressing a point of view that many American people share which is against the obvious violence that we have seen from the likes of so many ‘activists groups’ in this country in recent years and the belief shared by millions that this behavior would not be tolerated by many people in many places across the USA. God bless America and all the people in it.”
Aldean has moved well past the controversy two years ago. The father of four recently celebrated his 30th No. 1 single, with “Whiskey Drink.”
“30 number ones is a huge milestone, and I couldn’t let it go by without thanking the fans, country radio, the songwriters, BMG and the best promo team in the business,” says Aldean. “I appreciate all the support we have gotten from everyone over the last 20 years. And, I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon; so, I’m working hard on getting this next round of music out and can’t wait to share it soon.”
“Whiskey Drink is likely Aldean’s last single from his 2023 Highway Desperado album. Aldean reveals he is working on a brand-new record, one that he hints will include a few surprise guests.
“We been in the studio a lot,” the 48-year-old reveals to Taste of Country. “Probably like the last eight months or so, six to eight months. Pretty much done with the album; at least my part.”
“It’s been a cool project,” he teases. “A lot of songs. Couple duets in there too, so it’s gonna be pretty cool … There’s a couple of songs in the works that I know are going to be duets. Then there’s one, maybe two that we still kind of haven’t found our partner for that yet.”
Find all of Aldean’s music and upcoming shows at JasonAldean.com.
Photo Credit: CMA / Acacia Evans