Jason Aldean on Teaming Up With Luke Bryan for ‘Songs About Us’: It Just ‘Made Sense’

Jason Aldean’s just-released 12th studio album takes its title from the track “Songs About Us,” a duet with his longtime friend and fellow country superstar Luke Bryan. The two Georgia natives performed the song live for the first time during their history-making show in front of 63,000 fans at Sanford Stadium over the weekend, and ahead of the performance, both artists opened up about recording it together and why the collaboration felt like a natural fit.

“’Songs About Us,’ this is a duet I did with Luke, and one I’m really excited about. And this is just, to me, one of those songs, Luke and I are kinda from the same part of the world, grew up with a lot of the same influences of music and playing a lot of the same clubs with these songs that were soundtracks to our lives. You know, we felt like they were singing these songs about us. They were songs that we could relate to,” Aldean explained to his label. “And over the last 20 years, I think Luke and I, our songs have probably been the soundtrack for some other kids’ lives over the years. And so, he was the one that just kind of made sense for me to pull him on and be a part of this one. Really cool song that I think is gonna be one of the highlights of the record, which is why we named the album that.”

Bryan revealed that Aldean sent him the song over a text message, and after sitting with it for a bit, he knew it was the perfect fit for the two of them.

“I lived with it a little bit, and, you know, it just felt like something that was really, really the right thing for he and I to be on. And I was really just honored that he called and asked me,” Bryan shared.

He went on to explain that their shared upbringing and similar life experiences made the collaboration even more meaningful.

“And then when you think about what the song says, you know, it kind of references these topics that he and I have sang about for many, many years. And these are songs about us. Back when he and I grew up in Georgia, we were doing those things, bar stools and cold beer and dancing and cover bands. And so, yeah, it says a lot about us. And that’s why it really works for us to be on it together.”

Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan have shared a friendship that spans nearly two decades, dating back to when they were both rising through the country music ranks around the same time. While their schedules are packed with thriving careers and family life, they still make an effort to spend time together whenever they can, whether that’s out on the golf course, hunting, or fishing. But as Aldean explains, their bond runs much deeper than just those moments. 

“Luke and I both obviously have our careers, and he’s doing American Idol stuff too. So, he’s out of town a lot and it’s sometimes hard for us to catch up. But, you know, we’ll see each other like out on the golf course somewhere or, you know, we like to hunt together, fish together, that kind of stuff, play golf,” he said. “So, I mean, it’s one of those things where, I mean, his family I’ve known, I’ve watched his boys grow up and he’s watched my kids grow up. And watching Bo now, his oldest boy, is a quarterback and he’s starting to get some D1 scholarships to go to college, and like those kinda things. So, it’s cool, like you’re invested more than just a friend. You’re invested in the family, and he and I’ve been friends for almost 20 years at this point, so it’s been a cool friendship cool relationship, and yes we work together and do that kinda stuff, but we also hang out and have business ventures and different things away from music, too.”

“Songs About Us” is one of 20 tracks featured on Aldean’s new album. The project also includes the chart-topping “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” and his latest radio single, “Don’t Tell On Me.”