Aaron Watson takes stage after the bulls stop bucking
More than 18 years and 2,500 shows into his country music career, Aaron Watson has a little trouble remembering if and when he’s played specific places.
Whether he’s been there before or not, though, the Abilene, Texas, denizen said he is looking forward to performing at this year’s Oklahoma State Fair.
“I think they told me that the last three years we’ve played like 40-something states and 11 countries,” Watson said last week, just after returning home from a nine-day tour of Europe and the U.K. accompanied by his wife Kimberly.
“I think of all the events we play, fairs and rodeos are probably at the top of our list, because it’s such a family environment and it’s just a lot of fun. A lot of excitement in the air.”
The independent country music star will take to the stage after the bulls have stopped bucking Saturday night at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Xtreme Bulls Tour & Concerts at Jim Norick Arena. Popular country duo Big & Rich will follow the rodeo action Friday night.
“We’re gonna get up there with a lot of energy, a lot of dynamics. We’re gonna put on a show and give everybody their money’s worth and the show is mama-approved, so they don’t have to worry about their kids seeing or hearing anything that’s inappropriate. We’re just gonna have a lot of fun,” said the father of three.
“Honestly, I played to nobody for a very long time, so now that we do have fans, I treat ‘em like family because they’re important to me. So, I think it’s just keep it sweet and simple. I just try to love on ‘em and let ‘em know how much I appreciate ‘em.”
Indie success
On stage at RodeoHouston 2017, Watson metaphorically dusted off
his song “Fence Post,” a tuneful autobiography about his experiences becoming “an overnight sensation in just over 10 years.” Turned away in Nashville, Tennessee, because he allegedly lacked commercial appeal, the hard-touring Texan has spent the past several years breaking chart records and shattering expectations.
“It’s really all about the music, like everybody says. It should be all about the music. There are opportunities along the way that could possibly make you go a different route, but I always felt like going the more Nashville route meant compromising me and my music, who I am, what I stand for,” Watson said. “I just wasn’t willing to play that game. I don’t want to be like a flavor of the month; I want to do this for the rest of my life as long as God will let me. So, we just always stayed true to ourselves and our brand of music.
Little by little, those things grew and grew, and like that little snowball at the top of the mountain ... as it works its way down that mountain, it gets bigger and bigger and bigger and gains momentum and size. And that’s kind of where we are now.”
In 2015, Watson became the first independent male country artist to debut in the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with his aptly named release “The Underdog.”
His follow-up, last year’s “Vaquero,” bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard country albums list. It was a top 10 country album debut for 2017, outselling big-time artists like Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch and Brett Eldredge.
He wrapped last year notching a top 10 on the national radio charts with his upbeat song “Outta Style.” At 50 weeks, the single shattered another Billboard record, marking the longest trip to the
coveted spot in the history of their Country Airplay Chart.
One of the secrets to his far-from-overnight success has been to just never quit, he said.
“It took me 20 years to get my first top 10 on national radio, so (it takes) hard work, persistence, kindness, honesty, but the biggest thing: you’ve gotta overcome adversity. Sometimes you’re gonna strike out, and when you strike out, you keep your chin up and know that you’re gonna get another chance to swing the bat later on — and you just gotta keep going,” Watson said. “I think in this day and age, people want it and they want it now, and that just never worked out for me. I know it works out for some people, but for me, I’ve really always had to grind it out. But just working hard and staying positive and really just kind of keeping after it led me where I am today, giving all the glory to God.”
Helping hand
Watson achieved a career pinnacle last year when he played live in front of 65,000 fans on opening night of RodeoHouston.
“In London, they asked me about how big it was, and I said, ‘Well, to a Texas boy, it’s kind of like the World Cup.’ It’s a really big deal,” he said.
Last month, he released the album “Live at the World’s Biggest Rodeo Show,” which was recorded at the milestone concert.
“We planned on putting it out six months later, and about that time, that’s when Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas and devastated 41 counties. So, we decided not to put the album out. It seemed like the right thing to do, and I really thought that one would never get put out. Then we started talking about, ‘Let’s put it out on the one-year anniversary and let’s use it as a
way to raise money for some of the people who are still suffering from the destruction that the hurricane caused and raise some awareness that there’s still folks out there that need help.’ I mean, billions of dollars in damage, millions of people affected, you can’t overcome that in 12 months. So, it’s just been a real blessing to be able to give back,” he said, noting that $1.41 from each album sold benefits the Rebuild Texas Fund.
After his recent European tour, Watson said he is looking forward to performing a little closer to home at the Oklahoma State Fair.
“It’s such a blessing. We’re having so much fun, and obviously, Oklahoma’s like home away from home for us. I grew up in Amarillo, just right next door to you guys, and we’ve been coming to see you guys for a long time so we’re excited about it,” he said.