Music: An Appreciation 10th

Jason Aldean’s Georgia roots run deep, so much so the country superstar titled his 10th studio album after his Peach State hometown, Macon, citing R.E.M., Trisha Yearwood, James Brown, and Otis Redding as artists whose careers have influenced his. “Between Macon and Atlanta, it was just like this melting pot of all this different kind of music that was coming in there,” Aldean tells Apple Music. “Growing up, you're kind of exposed to all that stuff, and it's just cool. It gives you an appreciation for all these different kinds of music.” Though its title references a musical melting pot, MACON is Aldean’s muscular take on pop-country through and through, with festival-ready party songs and heartfelt ballads cozying up to one another. Carrie Underwood joins Aldean on “If I Didn’t Love You,” Aldean’s 26th No. 1 country hit and one of his fastest-charting singles. Aldean rounds out the project with a handful of live tracks, including performances of his smash hits “My Kinda Party” and “Big Green Tractor.”