Jason Aldean Grows Up

Jason Aldean admits he isn't nearly as "green" as he used to be -- but that has nothing to do with caring for the environment. He's referring to the fact that he's gone from being an inexperienced young man to a more mature grown-up artist in a relatively short period of time.

"Over the last five years I've seen myself transition from a kid to an adult," the 28-year-old Jason tells The Boot. "I had been in this town five or six years when I got my record deal, so I wasn't a youngster, but I was still very green. Over the past five years I've become a better singer and a better artist."

While Jason has been learning a little bit about himself, he's also figured out some of the legacy he'd like to leave for his children, daughters Keeley, 6, and Kendyl, 2. And one of those things comes from his own determination to have a career in music.

"I would say the lesson is if you want something bad enough just hang in there, don't give up on it. I can't imagine what I'd be doing right now if I'd moved home five or six years ago, maybe working at Wal-Mart or something. There are a lot of people who come to this town who don't get the opportunity I did."

And Jason knows he had -- and still has -- a responsibility to do his part. When he first met with his record label, Broken Bow, the aspiring artist told them, "'If you guys will make sure people can buy the album, I will go out and tour and I will try to make the rest of it happen.' For the first couple years we played 200 shows a year, everything from bowling alleys to birthday parties. I remember while we were opening for Rascal Flatts, we'd be with them one night in a 10,000-seat arena and the next night we'd be literally in a bowling alley, playing for 150 people."

Jason adds that the assertion he built his fan base from the ground up is "an understatement. But it was fun and I think if you do that and you see success, you work that much harder to keep it -- and you don't take it for granted. That's what I'd like my kids to learn from what I've done."

Seems the only thing "green" about Jason these days is his recent multi-week chart-topper, 'Big Green Tractor.'