Southern Sound: The Georgia Boys of Summer

Meet the state’s rising country music stars in our new summer series. 

The South is known for generating great musical artists, and Georgia in particular has recently produced a handful of successful country superstars.

Small towns are starting to become the spots where the next big star is created before moving to Nashville. Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Corey Smith and many others all call Georgia home.

From Leesburg, Bryan graduated from Georgia Southern before packing up his truck and moving to Nashville to start a music career. He first gained success as a songwriter but was picked up as an artist with his first hit “All My Friends Say.” He has continued to produce several albums and headline various tours.

Swindell, also a GSU alumnus, first found success as a songwriter, before breaking out as an artist with his self-titled debut album Cole Swindell.

Smith is an artist that has found success outside of the mainstream country music world. Having graduated from the University of Georgia, he continues to play in college towns across the South. He has released seven albums and performs all over the southeast, making sure to always come back home to Athens to perform in his college town.

New, young artists are starting to strut their stuff in college towns with dreams of following in the footsteps of their fellow alums. Artists such as Trea Landon, Matt Weaver, Jon Langston and Bradley Benton Dutcher are all looking to make it big in the country music industry.

Follow their stories in our new “Southern Sound” series throughout the summer and be sure to add a show or two to your calendar.

Jason Aldean in concert photo from jasonaldean.com.