The Peach State has been mighty kind to country music – especially as of late. Here are a few things you may not have known about these Georgia stars.
Cole Swindell
Bronwood, Ga. (population: 225)
The 32-year-old graduated from Georgia Southern University, where he majored in marketing. Swindell started his career selling tour merchandise for fellow Georgian, Luke Bryan.
Luke Bryan
Leesburg, Ga. (population: 2,800)
After Bryan’s sister Kelly died in 2007 and her husband died in 2014, Bryan and his wife began raising their teenage nephew Tilden (Til).
- Country fans: Watch Nashville Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
Jason Aldean
Macon, Ga.
Aldean is an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan and played the first-ever concert at Sanford Stadium for over 60,000 fans in April 2013. He even owns a bulldog he named “Athens.”
Kip Moore
Tifton, Ga. (population: 16,800)
After college, Moore moved to Hawaii to surf and ended up living in a “little hut” he rented for $50 a month.
Thomas Rhett
Valdosta, Ga.
Rhett was born with country music in his blood. His father is singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, who has produced 14 singles on the Billboard country singles charts.
Sam Hunt
Cedartown, Ga. (population: 9,700)
Hunt played football in high school and college and even attempted a career in the NFL before signing a record deal. He was the starting quarterback for the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2006 and was invited to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs after graduation.
Zac Brown Band
Dahlonega, Ga. (population: 5,200)
Lead singer Zac Brown was raised on Lake Lanier before moving to Dahlonega when he was 17. He is the 11th of 12 children and has five children of his own with wife, Shelly.
Lady Antebellum – Charles Kelley
Augusta, Ga.
Kelly and his wife, Cassie, opened up about their fertility struggles after announcing they are expecting their first child in February. Kelly's older brother, Josh Kelley, is also a musician and married to actress Katherine Heigl.
- Country fans: Watch Nashville Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
Billy Currington
Rincon, Ga.
Currington pleaded no contest to a charge of “abuse of an elder person by inflicting mental anguish” in 2013. The charge stemmed from an incident involving a boat captain. Currington was sentenced to 5 years probation, a $1,000 fine and anger management counseling.
Jennifer Nettles
Douglas, Ga. (population: 11,500)
Nettles studied sociology and anthropology at Agnes Scott College in Decatur and graduated in 1997.
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Alan Jackson
Newnan, Ga.
Jackson was honored with his own stretch of highway in 2004. The five mile stretch of I-85 was renamed Alan Jackson Highway.
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Trisha Yearwood
Monticello, Ga. (population: 2,400)
In April 2008, Yearwood released her first cookbook titled Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen.
Travis Tritt
Marietta, Ga.
Tritt began writing music while he was attending Sprayberry High School. He worked at an air conditioning company while trying to land a record deal.
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