Jason Aldean spotted sitting next to Donald Trump at RNC Thursday

The 2024 Republican National Convention has had its share of music this year, from country band Sixwire covering rock classics and former Florida-Georgia Line member Brian Kelley performing his song “American Spirit” with the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ Choir.

But eagle-eyed fans spotted a familiar face in the audience, sitting next to former President Donald Trump: country music artist Jason Aldean.

Aldean, who dedicated his controversial song “Try That in a Small Town” to Trump during a recent concert following an assassination attempt on Trump at a Saturday rally, is scheduled to perform at a private RNC party after the event ends Thursday night.

Jason Aldine Williams, 47, was born in Macon, Georgia. But he grew up going between Georgia and Florida.

“I grew up in Macon, I was born there and raised there with my mom, my parents divorced when I was three, my mom stayed in Macon and my dad lived in Florida,” Aldean told Music Mayhem in 2022. “So I kind of grew up in both places and anytime it starts getting warm I like to be at the beach somewhere and it’s kind of my happy place. And so I’ll probably always have a house down there somewhere, it’s just kind of my favorite place to be.”

Aldean became a polarizing figure when his first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, “Try That in a Small Town,” outraged some by the implied endorsement of violence. Critics suggested the song and music video, released a year ago, had racist dog whistles, assertions Aldean denied.

Throughout his 25-year career, Aldean has amassed 27 No. 1 hits and has released 11 studio albums. 

Does Jason Aldean live in Florida?

Aldean and his wife, Brittany, have been frequent Florida homeowners.

In 2020, Aldean sold his St. George Island home for $2.4 million. In 2021, he sold his home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Walton County, for $4.1 million. They currently own a $10.2 million mansion on Hutchinson Island. They’ve since sold the Franklin County home.