From the Vault: Jason Aldean Broke His Mother’s Heart by Moving to Nashville

What a difference a few years can make. Jason Aldean is one of the biggest stars in country music today, and the tour in support of his current album, 'Night Train,' has been selling out stadiums. But that wasn't always the case.

In this week's edition of From the Vault, we reach back to an interview Aldean gave The Boot upon the release of his 'Wide Open' album. In the following interview, the superstar admits that it was hard on his mom when he moved to Nashville to follow his dream of music stardom. He also muses that if music hadn't worked out, he might have ended up working at a supermarket. Fortunately for him and his mom -- and music fans everywhere -- his career in music seems to be working out well.

This interview was originally published on April 7, 2009 by Vernell Hackett.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

We were out on tour with Tim McGraw, and he had this thrust that went out and had a little step on it. At the end of the show, I was waving and walking backwards. I hit that step and turned around and almost put my head through the bass drum on my drummer's set, in front of 20,000 people.

What is the first album you bought?

Cheap Trick, ‘Lap of Luxury.’ I remember buying it with my own money. Madonna was [also] one of the first ones I bought — ‘Like a Virgin,’ when I was in second grade. My mom looked at it and said, ‘What is this?!’

What’s the worst thing you ever put your parents through?

Probably moving to Nashville. Most of the trouble I got into as a kid nobody ever found out about. My mom was a single mom, and she had enough on her plate. I knew when I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to, and I tried to keep her from finding out about it. I did a pretty good job of that. Moving to Nashville was my first time being away from home, and that was the hardest thing for my mom.

If you could put together the world’s greatest rock band, who’d be in it?

Tommy Lee, Slash, Axl Rose, Nikki Sixx and Gregg Allman. It would be a lot of interesting personalities in that band. We’d probably make one album and be done, probably not be able to tour!

What’s the worst vacation you’ve ever been on?

When I was a kid, we went to St. Augustine, Fla., and I was lying on the couch one night with a Q-tip, cleaning my ear out after I’d taken a shower. I hit my arm on something, jabbed the Q-tip through my ear drum, busted my ear drum and couldn’t get back in the water the rest of the time we were there. That sucked! I was at the beach for a week and I couldn’t do anything.

If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose?

Elvis. I don’t think our generation has seen a star of that magnitude. It would be interesting to talk to him and see what it was like to be not only the biggest star in America, but the biggest star in the world. I’d love to sit down with him for an hour and rap about it. That would be cool.

If you hadn’t made it as a singer, what would you likely be doing?

I’d hope to be playing baseball. But hell, I may be working at Kroger [grocery store]. This was my backup plan so I don’t really know.

What is your favorite movie?

‘Field of Dreams.’ I’m a big baseball fan, and I remember going to see that movie when I was 12 years old. Not really knowing the story behind the whole White Sox scandal and all that, but I remember leaving there thinking this is the best thing I’ve ever seen. Whenever it’s on TV, I always watch it. It’s awesome.

Do you have any artists on your iPod that might surprise us?

I’ve been playing a bunch of old stuff — Cinderella and Motley Crue. Actually I just went on iTunes and found a bunch of old songs like that, so I’ve been jammin’ out to some ’80s hair bands lately.

When was the last time you cried?

I had a friend, Melissa, who was 28 years old. She was my best friend’s wife, and she was my wife’s best friend. She died of breast cancer. When she passed away back in 2004 was the last time I cried.

What is your greatest joy?

My greatest joy is probably my two daughters. Getting the chance to watch them grow up, watch them learning things and teaching them things. My oldest daughter started playing softball, so teaching her stuff like that. That’s probably where I’m the happiest, being at home with them.