Aaron Tippin, with his wide smile and Southern drawl, considers himself the "luckiest hillbilly to ever live," having survived lightning strikes, plane engine failures, and over three decades in the music industry, still thriving.
He has achieved significant success with six gold and one platinum album, releasing over 30 singles including hits like “You’ve Got to Stand for Something.” While luck plays a role in entertainment success, Tippin’s dedication and talent are the main reasons for his achievements.
“This took me by surprise actually,” Tippin says of his music career. “It was the furthest thing from my mind. I wanted to be an airplane pilot.”
He realized his dream of becoming a commercial pilot early on and then followed his passion for music. Born in Pensacola, FL, and raised on a farm in Travelers Rest, SC, he was passionate about aviation from a young age, earning pilot ratings for single and multi-engine aircraft. However, when the energy crunch led to airlines furloughing senior captains, he shifted his focus. He took a job with an excavation company, operating heavy machinery by day and performing with his band at night. The positive reception to his music in his hometown encouraged him to pursue his dreams, leading him to relocate to Nashville.
Aaron Tippin's journey in Music City began as a songwriter, with early support from Charlie Monk, the "Mayor of Music Row." Tippin's talent was recognized while working at Acuff-Rose Publishing, leading to his songs being recorded by notable artists including the Kingsmen, David Ball, and Charley Pride. His distinct demo voice eventually secured him a deal with RCA Records, and his debut single "You've Got to Stand for Something" reached the top ten in 1991.
Over the years, Aaron Tippin has forged a successful career as an artist known for heartfelt songs that resonate with fans through his focus on God, country, and family. Celebrating the everyday, hard-working individual, Tippin has balanced his music career with family life on a Tennessee farm, various entrepreneurial ventures including running an aviation school, and partnering with Stonehaus Winery to create his own line of wines, like the popular Aaron Tippin’s Blue Angel Blueberry Wine, with a new Riesling in development.
Tippin could retire and relax on his farm, but that's not his style. With '90s country music becoming popular again, Tippin is more in demand than ever. So, what keeps him performing after years in the business? “It’s the people I’ve met around the country that I’ve made friends,” he says. “I look so forward to going back out there and seeing them again and hanging out. I adore that. It’s fun for me and as long as it is fun, I’ll keep doing it. That’s what keeps me going is the fact that they still come after 33 years now. I’m so happy they keep coming.”
