The Women Behind Jason Aldean’s Biggest Hits: Female Songwriters Shaping His Sound

They say that behind every successful man is a woman, and nothing could be truer when it comes to Jason Aldean’s biggest hits. It might come as a surprise, but some of his unforgettable songs didn’t come straight from his pen; they came from the creative minds of female songwriters. While he’s the face of the music, women behind the scenes have been writing the words and melodies that shaped his sound. Let’s shine the spotlight their way in this post.  

Female songwriters often have significant but unrecognized contributions to the genre. What made their contributions important is that they bring unique perspectives with unmatched storytelling abilities that enhance male artists’ catalogs, something Aldean recognized.  

In the country music scene, there’s a stark gender disparity; only 16% of country artists are female, and only 12% of songwriters are women. However, despite being underrepresented, female songwriters continue to create chart-topping hits that define, sometimes even dominate, the genre.   

One of the most female songwriters who contributed to Aldean’s catalog is Lydia Vaughan. Vaughan co-wrote Aldean’s “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, which became Aldean’s 26th No. 1 hit. It debuted at no. 20, marking the highest debut for a duet between a solo male and female artist, received a Grammy nomination, and won ACM and CMT Music Awards.  

Bridgette Tatum, another female songwriter, co-wrote “She’s Country,” Aldean’s second number one hit that achieved Platinum certification from the RIAA. The track also reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in May 2009 and peaked at No. 29 on the Hot 100.  

Of Aldean’s 27 No. 1 singles, 22 were written by outside songwriters, emphasizing the important role professional songwriters play in his success.  

Behind the Scenes: The Creative Process  

Female songwriters who worked with Aldean and his team often mix business with pleasure. Hillary Lindsey and The Love Junkies (Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna) typically produce three to four songs in a day during writing sessions, often including wine and casual relaxation (sign us up!)  

Aside from them, the impressive roster of Nashville’s best female songwriters, including Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon, Heather Morgan, Jessi Alexander, Emily Weisband, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Sarah Buxton, has penned hits for major artists including Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, and Dan + Shay. These storytellers have given the tracks the emotional depth and relatability that resonates with listeners.   

These female songwriters played an important role in shaping not only Aldean’s sound, but other renowned country music superstars. With the collaborative nature of the genre, the unique contributions female songwriters bring to male artists' catalogs shine a spotlight on the importance of recognizing songwriters alongside performing artists and how these partnerships benefit both the songwriters and artists.  

So, next time you’re listening or belting out to your favorite country music track, pay attention to songwriting credits and support female songwriters in the industry.