Jason Aldean put his music career together the old-fashioned way. This 31-year-old musician out of Macon, Ga. started playing guitar at a young age, put together a high school band that performed throughout his hometown, moved to Nashville, Tenn., with big dreams and had those dashed a time or two along the way.

But two failed signings and an indie label contract later, Aldean has put out two albums featuring five top 10 country hits including “Hicktown,” “Why,” “Amarillo Sky” and “Johnny Cash.” On Saturday, Aldean will come to Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson as part of the CMT (Country Music Television) Tour. He recently took the time to chat by phone between tour stops to talk about his influences, his struggles and his recent and future triumphs.

Jake Grove: How was it that you got into music in the first place?

Jason Aldean: I always loved music, but really it was because my dad and my uncle played guitar and sang. That made it interesting to me. I wanted to learn guitar so I could play with them when they were just sitting around. Once I learned that, I wanted to get on stage and one thing led to another and I was on the road to Nashville.

JG: Has it always been country music for you?

JA: My earliest memories were of country. Then I got into Southern Rock and ’80s rock and (John) Mellencamp and (Tom) Petty. It ended up my country influence got influenced by these others and ultimately led to my sound. It’s not traditional country, but country with a rock flair.

JG: What was it like when you got to Nashville?

JA: I was there for two months before I got my first record deal. I thought it was the easiest thing in the world and wondered why I hadn’t done it earlier. But that fell through and I got signed again and that fell through. It was frustrating.

JG: Did you ever think about packing it up and heading back to Georgia?

JA: I actually applied for jobs back in Georgia before Broken Bow Records signed me. I had a wife and a 6-month old and I had to think about that. I didn’t want to be one of these guys who didn’t make it in their window and just kept trying for no real reason. If it wasn’t going to happen, I was going to make something else happen. Luckily, it did happen for me.

JG: Could you have predicted the success of the first albums and singles?

JA: It was all about getting on the radio. We felt if we could get on the radio that I could get out there on the road and sell the rest of it. When the first single (“Hicktown”) went to No. 9 on the charts, we knew it was possible.

JG: What is it like on the CMT Tour?

JA: Well, we are just trying to have fun. That is the thing people want when they come to a show. We are edgy and ours is a rockin’ one, man. We run around and just try to keep it interesting.