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Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 2:15 PM UTC

Jason Aldean makes surprise announcement in Boston

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Topics: From the Wires,

BOSTON (AP) — Jason Aldean will be making history at one of baseball’s most historic sites.

Aldean will be the first country music star to play a concert at Fenway Park, the iconic home of the Boston Red Sox. The July 13 appearance will be the initial stop on his first stadium tour. Aldean made the announcement Thursday in the shadow of the Green Monster with an assist from Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino and members of the team who made a celebratory clip for the singer that played on Fenway’s video board.

The Georgia native released his fifth album, “Night Train,” this week. That title is an apt metaphor for his career, which has been steaming along on a steep trajectory. About the only thing he hadn’t attained yet was a stadium tour, and he’s crossing that goal off the list.

Aldean is one of country’s top draws, but the stadium tour will move him into rare company. Currently, only Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney have that kind of drawing power. But the hard-rocking singer has earned the status, selling more than 1.9 million tickets on his yearlong “My Kinda Party” tour that wraps in Dallas on Oct. 27.

Aldean will be joined in Boston next July by Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett. The area has proven to be receptive to country music. Chesney and Swift have sold out Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, several times and Aldean has drawn enthusiastic crowds at smaller venues.

The stadium tour isn’t the only sign Aldean’s career continues to pick up speed. The 35-year-old singer is up for three awards, including top honor entertainer of the year, at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 1. The first single from “Night Train,” ”Take a Little Ride,” had the highest selling digital debut for a solo male country artist and was the fastest rising No. 1 on the country song charts this year.

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Online:

http://jasonaldean.com

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For the latest country music news from the Associated Press: http://twitter.com/AP_Country. Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.

More Chris Talbott.

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