The Art of the Cut: How Luke Combs Helped Jason Aldean Craft a ‘Perfect 10-Song Album’

In an industry where bigger often feels better, two of country music’s biggest stars proved that restraint can be the ultimate mark of mastery. When Jason Aldean found himself torn between 14 potential tracks for his next album, it took the blunt honesty of fellow hitmaker Luke Combs to steer him toward creative clarity—and a lean, “perfect 10-song album.”

The Dilemma: Four Songs Too Many

Jason Aldean, whose decades-long career has made him one of country music’s most enduring chart-toppers, was deep in the final stages of shaping a new record when the problem emerged. Fourteen songs were on the table. Every one, he felt, had potential. But the artist—known for his mix of hard-hitting southern rock and radio-friendly anthems—couldn’t find the courage to cut the list down.

That’s when Luke Combs, one of the genre’s most respected younger voices, entered the picture. Aldean, seeking a trusted outside opinion, played the material for Combs. What he got in return was an unfiltered critique—part mentorship, part reality check.

According to Aldean’s recollection, Combs didn’t hesitate: “You’ve got some strong ones, man,” he told him, “but four of these don’t belong. Cut the weak tracks.”

The Combs Counsel: Less Is More

Combs’ advice was as simple as it was sharp: focus on the 10 strongest songs. His argument was that trimming away the filler would give the album greater cohesion and impact—a philosophy increasingly shared by top producers in the streaming era, where concise, replayable albums often outperform lengthy tracklists.

Aldean took the advice to heart. The result, he said, was “the perfect 10-song album,” a body of work that better reflected his current sound and artistic maturity. While Aldean didn’t specify which record benefited from Combs’ feedback, the timing aligns closely with Highway Desperado (2023), his eleventh studio album and one of the most commercially significant releases of his career.

Data Point: Jason Aldean’s Chart Reign

Aldean’s refined approach paid off in measurable ways. Highway Desperado marked another milestone in his long streak of chart-topping albums, bolstered by the viral success of “Try That in a Small Town.”

That single not only became Aldean’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but also helped mark a watershed moment in country music history. In August 2023, Aldean, Luke Combs (with his emotional “Fast Car” cover), and Morgan Wallen simultaneously held the top three spots on the Hot 100—a feat never before achieved by three country artists in the chart’s 65-year history.

A Modern Country Brotherhood

The Aldean-Combs dynamic highlights a deeper trend within country music: collaboration, not competition, among the genre’s biggest names. Their relationship dates back years, with Combs serving as a special guest on Aldean’s 2018 “High Noon Neon Tour.” Since then, they’ve maintained mutual respect as peers whose careers bridge generations—Aldean’s early-2000s grit meeting Combs’ millennial authenticity.

In this light, Combs’ feedback wasn’t an intrusion—it was an act of creative kinship. By trusting another artist’s instincts, Aldean demonstrated that even veterans can benefit from fresh ears.

The Power of the Edit

For artists at the top of their field, trimming material can be as hard as writing it. Each song represents effort, emotion, and vision. Yet, as Luke Combs reminded his friend, true craftsmanship lies not just in creating but in curating.

Aldean’s willingness to cut four “weaker” tracks in pursuit of a stronger, more unified project is a lesson that transcends country music. It’s a reminder that, sometimes, perfection isn’t found in adding more—but in daring to take away.

In the end, the “perfect 10-song album” wasn’t just a creative win—it was a quiet testament to humility, collaboration, and the enduring power of friendship in a business built on big voices and bigger egos.