[TEXAS HIGHWAYS] Country Singer Aaron Watson's Texas Independence Streak

Ever since the 1999 debut of his first album, Singer/Songwriter, country crooner Aaron Watson has been blazing his own trail up the charts with songs that draw from his hometown roots and Texas musical heritage. Watson began writing songs and playing guitar as a teenager in his hometown of Amarillo. After attending Abilene Christian University, he ventured to Nashville to try his luck with the major record labels. But the labels told him that his sound— modern honky-tonk with splashes of rock, gospel, and Tejano—lacked commercial appeal.

Spurred on by this rejection, Watson returned to Texas to make music on his own terms, recording 13 albums that he released independently. These days, Watson lives in Abilene with his wife and three kids when he’s not on the road to support an extensive touring schedule.

Watson’s polished style has attracted a growing fan base that has taken him to new heights as an independent country artist. In 2015, his album The Underdog debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, a first for an independent male country artist. This success led to his Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville in 2015.

In 2017, Watson released his latest album, Vaquero, which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s country chart and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart. Watson says the title Vaquero, as well as the accordion that accompanies some of the songs, is a nod to Tejano culture. With topics ranging from trusty old boots to true love and the Texas-Mexico borderlands, Watson shares with the world his experiences and observations about life in the Lone Star State.

Read the full interview at texashighways.com