Jason Aldean et Travis Tritt

The trajectory of Aldean’s career to date serves as a sharp example of the old adage that good things come to those who wait, although you could certainly forgive him for wishing that things had panned out a little more simply for him. He seemed to have the world at his feet in 1998; at the age of twenty-one, he signed a record deal with Warner-Chappell. He was subsequently, and repeatedly, dropped, and spent some years struggling to get his music career - something which had once looked like a dead-cert - off the ground. It meant that he didn’t manage to get his self-titled debut record out into the world until 2005, although it brought the success that his talent had always promised; “Why” became his first number one single on the U.S. Country charts, and the album itself would eventually go platinum in his homeland, too.

Since then, he’s released a further three platinum albums and another, November 2010’s “My Kinda Party”, that was certified triple-platinum. He’s a bona fide country titan now, with a slew of Grammy nominations and another Billboard number one position for his latest album, October 2010’s Old Boots, New Dirt, proof of his national stardom.

James did not find his entry into the music industry to be particularly easy, neither of his parents expected him to make a success of himself as a musician. However thanks to the continued support of Warner Bros executive Danny Davenport in 1996 the young songwriter began recording demos that were passed on to other important names within the record label. Thanks to Davenport's encouragement Tritt signed a contract in 1997 to record six songs with the label.

He proved Warner Bros. was right to take a chance on the young musician as his first three singles were all huge Country chart hits. 'Help Me Hold On', his second release scored Tritt his first number one, he has scored four more number ones over his career and a huge selection of top five hits. He has also topped the Canadian Country charts six times and his releases were equally successful there.

After the success of his first album, the single 'The Whiskey Ain't Working' from his second album won the musician his first Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. In 1999 he won again in the same category for the single 'Same Old Train' which featured Marty Stuart and a variety of other musicians. The majority of his albums now hold a platinum selling certificate and he has sold millions worldwide and has won four Country Music Association awards.