Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan Pick Their Country Mount Rushmore
In a candid and often humorous discussion, country music titans Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan sat down to debate the definitive Country Mount Rushmore. The conversation was more than just a list of names; it was an exploration of friendship, the unique camaraderie of the country music industry, and the specific criteria that elevate an artist from a hitmaker to an icon.
While the debate eventually landed on four legendary names, the process revealed a deep respect for the history of the genre and the personal connections these modern stars have to the artists who paved their way.
From Georgia Dive Bars to Stadium Stages
Before they were multi-platinum artists, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan were two musicians navigating the Georgia circuit. Though they didn’t grow up together, their paths crossed constantly in the same bars and college towns. “We probably started at the same time, but he got his career going before me,” Bryan noted, estimating Aldean had about a two-year head start.
The two shared a competitive but supportive history. Aldean recalled hearing Bryan’s name for the first time through a regional hit called “Cowboy Lady,” a song that gained significant traction in Georgia college towns. “I remember I was a little jealous because here was another Georgia guy with kind of an original song that a lot of my fraternity brothers were really listening to,” Aldean admitted.
Despite the natural rivalry of the business, the two formed a lasting bond. Bryan shared a pivotal moment from early in his career when he was opening for Aldean and received an ACM nomination for New Artist of the Year.
“I walked in and I said, ‘Man, I just got nominated for ACM new artist of the year’ and man, he shot five feet out of the chair, starts doing shots… that moment I even think I called some of my people and I was like, Jason Aldine is a badass dude. He’s actually a friend and he’s cheering for me.”
Why Country Music Friendships Are Different
The discussion highlighted a significant cultural difference between country music and other genres like pop. Both artists agreed that the Nashville community is uniquely tight-knit. “I think they’re better,” Bryan said of country music friendships. “This town’s kind of small when you move here… you kind of just kind of come up in the business together.”
Aldean pointed to the American Music Awards as a prime example of this genre divide. While stars from other genres might have high security and isolated dressing rooms, the country artists were always “out in each other’s dressing rooms hanging out.”
This support extends behind the scenes to group chats where artists check on one another during “rough goes” or down periods. Structurally, the industry encourages this; artists frequently cover each other’s records and celebrate shared success. As Bryan put it, “There’s room for everybody. You want to see your friends do well.”
Establishing the Mount Rushmore Criteria
To determine who belongs on the Country Mount Rushmore, the panel established a set of rigorous standards. They agreed that the selection should be based on:
- Impact: The effect the artist had on the era they were making music in.
- Influence: How they shaped the new artists who followed them.
- Longevity: The ability to remain relevant and successful over decades.
- Subjectivity: Removing personal bias to focus on “the four greatest” rather than “four favorites.”
Aldean and Bryan were quick to dismiss traditional awards like the Grammys as a metric for greatness, calling them “very political” and “subjective.” Instead, they prioritized hits, sales, and the ability to “authentically stay themselves.”
The Initial Picks: Strait, Haggard, and the “Technical Fouls”
Jason Aldean was the first to name a definitive number one: George Strait. Aldean cited Strait’s 60 number-one hits and his unwavering authenticity as the primary reasons. “At George’s age, he could literally just go sell stadiums out present day right now. Anytime,” Bryan added.
The debate hit a snag when Aldean tried to name the band Alabama as his second pick. This was ruled a “technical foul,” as the criteria required solo artists. This forced a pivot, leading the group to several other legendary names:
- Merle Haggard: Aldean praised Haggard as one of the best singer-songwriters with one of the greatest voices in country history. Bryan noted that he discovered Haggard on his own in his late teens, finding a sense of “freedom in a truck” while listening to his cuts.
- Dolly Parton: The first artist everyone agreed on. “She just changed the game for females and just in general a great songwriter,” Aldean said.
- Conway Twitty: Bryan advocated for Twitty, noting his 55 number-one hits and his unique ability to connect with “southern ladies” through his lyrics.
- Ronnie Milsap: Bryan pointed to Milsap as a pioneer who challenged the “Nashville system” by bringing R&B and pop influences into country music.
The Debate Over Hank Williams and Johnny Cash
The most heated part of the discussion involved the “George Washington” of the genre. One panelist was stunned that Hank Williams was initially left off. “He’s Shakespeare. He’s George Washington,” he argued. Bryan countered that while Williams is foundational, the Mount Rushmore should perhaps reflect the artists who “shaped our lives” more directly.
Johnny Cash was another non-negotiable for the group. Bryan described Cash as an American icon whose imagery is so powerful that “you can just look at the picture and never hear him sing and go, he’s a badass.” The panel noted that Cash’s “outlaw country” story—including his famous performance for inmates while Merle Haggard was in the audience—is one of the most unbelievable legacies in music.
The Legend of Garth Brooks and Stadium Country
While he didn’t make the final four, Garth Brooks loomed large in the conversation. Aldean credited Brooks with being the “Rushmore of entertainers,” noting that he was the one who brought rock and roll production—lighting, pyro, and high energy—into country music.
“Garth made stadiums,” the panel noted, though they debated whether he or George Strait pioneered the outdoor stadium era. While Strait “pioneered the outdoor stadium day” with multi-act festivals, Brooks was selling out stadiums for seven nights in a row across the globe.
The Final Verdict: The Official Four
After navigating “technical fouls” and personal biases, the group finally settled on the four faces for the Country Mount Rushmore:
- Dolly Parton
- Merle Haggard
- George Strait
- Johnny Cash
The panel acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting that legends like Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, and Keith Whitley could easily have occupied those spots. Bryan also took a moment to honor vocalists like Ronnie Dunn and Randy Owen, expressing regret that artists in duos or bands often get overlooked for “Vocalist of the Year” honors despite their massive influence.
Ultimately, the list serves as a tribute to the “badasses” who bucked the system and stayed interestingly different. As Bryan concluded, “To really make a catch eyeballs and ears, you’ve got to challenge things.”