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Aaron Tippin

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Aaron Tippin
A waist-up shot of country music singer Aaron Tippin.
Tippin performing in 2015
Background information
Born
Aaron Dupree Tippin

(1958-07-03) July 3, 1958 (age 68)[1]
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsVocals, acoustic guitar
Years active1990–present
LabelsRCA Nashville, Lyric Street, Nippit/Rust, Country Crossing, 8 Track Entertainment
Spouse
Thea Corontzos
​
(m. 1995)​
Websiteaarontippin.com

Aaron Dupree Tippin (born July 3, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter. AllMusic describes his music as a mixture of honky-tonk songs, sentimental ballads and patriotic working-class anthems.[1] Before becoming a recording artist, he was a staff songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, where his compositions were recorded by artists including Charley Pride, Mark Collie and David Ball. He signed with RCA Nashville in 1990, and his debut single, "You've Got to Stand for Something", became a top-ten country hit during the Gulf War.

Tippin has had three number-one singles on the Billboard country chart: "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio" (1992), "That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You" (1995) and "Kiss This" (2000). After five studio albums for RCA, he recorded for Lyric Street Records from 1998 to 2005 and later released music independently. In 2026, he signed with 8 Track Entertainment and released the single "American Sky".

Biography

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Tippin was born in Pensacola, Florida, and grew up on a family farm near Greer, South Carolina. He graduated from Blue Ridge High School near Greer.[2] He began playing guitar at age ten and learned to fly from his father, a former pilot. Tippin received a pilot's license at 15 and was licensed for commercial multi-engine aircraft at 20, after which he worked as a corporate pilot.[1][3]

After leaving aviation, Tippin played banjo in the Dixie Ridge Runners and later fronted Tip and the Darby Hill Boys, which performed in clubs across a four-state region.[4] At age 22, he obtained a commercial driver's license and hauled dry freight for Carolina Western and Cooper Motor Lines.[5] He also worked as a farmhand, pipe welder and heavy-equipment operator.[6][7]

Tippin competed unsuccessfully on TNN's talent series You Can Be a Star.[8] When he began pursuing songwriting in Nashville around 1986, he brought a video of that appearance with him. With songwriter and publisher Charlie Monk's assistance, Tippin secured a songwriting agreement and later a staff position at Acuff-Rose Music.[4] His compositions were recorded by Charley Pride, David Ball, Mark Collie and the gospel group the Kingsmen.[1][4] A demo tape led to his recording contract with RCA in 1990.[1]

Musical career

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1990–1997: RCA Records

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Tippin signed with RCA Records Nashville in 1990 after performing in a Nashville nightclub.[1] His debut single, "You've Got to Stand for Something", was released that October, and the album of the same name followed on January 22, 1991.[9] The song reached number six on the Billboard country chart.[10] It also became associated with the Gulf War, and Tippin performed for troops on a Bob Hope-organized USO tour.[11] Reviews of the album emphasized its traditional country sound and Tippin's working-class perspective.[12][13]

His second album, Read Between the Lines, appeared in 1992. "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio" spent three weeks at number one, while "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" and "My Blue Angel" reached numbers five and seven, respectively.[10] The album sold more than one million copies and became his first top-ten country album.[1][14]

Call of the Wild followed in 1993. Its lead single, "Workin' Man's Ph.D.", reached the country top ten, and the title track reached the top 20.[10] The 1994 album Lookin' Back at Myself was less successful commercially, although "I Got It Honest" peaked at number 15.[1][10]

Tippin returned to number one with "That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You", the first single from 1995's Tool Box; "Without Your Love" later reached number 22.[10] RCA issued Greatest Hits... And Then Some in 1997, after which Tippin and the label parted ways.[1][15]

1998–2005: Lyric Street

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Man wearing a black cowboy hat, singing into a microphone
Tippin performing in 2005

After leaving RCA, Tippin signed with Lyric Street Records. His first album for the label, What This Country Needs, was released in 1998; "For You I Will" reached number six on the country chart.[10] AllMusic reviewer Pemberton Roach regarded the album as Tippin's most consistent work to that point.[16]

People Like Us followed in 2000 and became his first album to reach the top five of the country albums chart.[1] Its lead single, "Kiss This", which Tippin co-wrote with his wife, Thea Tippin, became his third and final number-one country hit. The title track reached number 17.[10][17]

Tippin released A December to Remember, his first Christmas album, in 2001. Later that year, "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" reached number two on the country chart and number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10][1] The song was included on Stars & Stripes, released in 2002.[18]

In 2005, the Lyric Street single "Come Friday" reached number 42 on the country chart.[10]

2006–2009: Independent releases

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In 2006, Tippin established Nippit Records in collaboration with Rust Nashville. The label's first release was his compilation album Now & Then, which included the singles "Ready to Rock (In a Country Kind of Way)" and "He Believed"; the latter reached number 55 on the country chart.[19][10] In 2008, he released "Drill Here, Drill Now", a song associated with Newt Gingrich's political campaign of the same name.[20]

Tippin subsequently signed with Country Crossing Records. The label released In Overdrive, an album of truck-driving songs, on February 3, 2009.[21]

2013–present

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In 2013, Tippin joined Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw for the Roots & Boots tour.[22] The three singers released the collaborative album All in the Same Boat that May.[23]

Tippin marked his 25th year as a recording artist with Aaron Tippin 25, released on March 2, 2015. The two-disc album combined ten previously released hits with ten new songs and five cover songs.[24]

In January 2026, Tippin signed with 8 Track Entertainment.[25] His first single for the label, "American Sky", was written by his son Tom Tippin, produced by Noah Gordon, and released on February 13.[25][26]

Musical style

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AllMusic classifies Tippin as a new traditionalist and honky-tonk artist, describing his repertoire as a mixture of rowdy honky-tonk songs, sentimental ballads and patriotic working-class anthems.[1] His singing voice is a baritone with a pronounced nasal Southern twang.[27] Reviewing his debut album for Entertainment Weekly, Alanna Nash compared his phrasing to Hank Williams, particularly its shifts from a catch in the throat to a sliding moan.[13]

Personal life

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On July 15, 1995, Tippin married Thea Corontzos in a Greek Orthodox ceremony in Nashville.[28] They have two sons.[11] Their son Tom is a singer-songwriter and pilot who has recorded with his father.[24][25]

Tippin obtained a commercial pilot's license at age 17 and is also a multi-engine instrument aviator, helicopter-rated pilot and certified aircraft mechanic.[11] His family established Tennessee Flying Machines at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in Sparta, Tennessee, offering flight instruction, aircraft rides, maintenance and restoration.[29] He was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2026.[25][29]

Discography

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Selected albums
Number-one singles (U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs)

Awards and nominations

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TNN/Music City News Country Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 Aaron Tippin Star of Tomorrow Nominated[30]

Academy of Country Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 "Kiss This" Single Record of the Year Nominated[31]
2002 "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" Video of the Year Nominated[31]

Footnotes

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Huey, Steve. "Aaron Tippin biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Aaron Tippin to sing in new year at annual homecoming". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. December 30, 1994. p. 68. Retrieved July 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Wix, Kimmy (January 19, 1991). "Country Newface: Aaron Tippin" (PDF). Cash Box. pp. 18, 22. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Allen, Bob (September–October 1991). "Aaron Tippin Looks to His Roots" (PDF). Country Music. pp. 46–49. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ Overdrive Staff (November 1, 2001). "The Working Man". Overdrive. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Facts of Life: Aaron Tippin" (PDF). Country Music. November–December 1993. p. 55. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ Allen, Bob (September–October 1995). "Aaron Tippin Rolls Up His Sleeves" (PDF). Country Music. pp. 44–47. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ McCullough, Currey (July 3, 2026). "On the Record: Aaron Tippin's career started after losing a music competition television show". RFD-TV. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (January 22, 2021). "30 Years Ago: Aaron Tippin Releases His Debut Album". The Boot. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 423. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  11. 1 2 3 Lopez, Kathleen A. K. (May 28, 2009). "Aaron Tippin: Country music star at home with Air Force". Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ Mansfield, Brian. "You've Got to Stand for Something Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Nash, Alanna (January 25, 1991). "Aaron Tippin – You've Got to Stand for Something". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  14. ↑ Humphrey, Mark A. "Read Between the Lines Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Greatest Hits...And Then Some – Aaron Tippin". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Roach, Pemberton. "What This Country Needs Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ Dinoia, Maria Konicki. "People Like Us Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ Cohoon, Rick. "Stars & Stripes Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ "True to his spirit, singer starts a label". The Vindicator. October 19, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ Branston, John (September 23, 2008). "Aaron Tippin Says Sarah Palin Wants to Drill Now". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  21. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "In Overdrive Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  22. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (February 26, 2013). "Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie Team For 'Roots & Boots' Tour". MusicRow. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  23. ↑ The Boot Staff (April 12, 2013). "Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin – 'All in the Same Boat' Video". The Boot. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Stefano, Angela (March 29, 2015). "Interview: Aaron Tippin Celebrates 25 Years in Country Music". The Boot. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Hollabaugh, Lorie (January 22, 2026). "Aaron Tippin Signs With 8 Track Entertainment, Celebrates Living Legends Of Aviation Induction". MusicRow. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  26. ↑ "American Sky - Single". Apple Music. February 13, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Aaron Tippin biography". CMT. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Aaron + Thea Tippin -- Country's Greatest Love Stories". The Boot. July 15, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  29. 1 2 "Aaron Tippin". Living Legends of Aviation. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Nominees for 1994 TNN/Music City News Country Awards" (PDF). Billboard. February 12, 1994. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Search Winners: Aaron Tippin". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved July 22, 2026.

References

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  • Oermann, Robert K. (1998). "Aaron Tippin". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 540–1.
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