3 Country Musicians Who Worked Odd Jobs Before Their Fame

Anyone who is pursuing a career in the arts knows it’s not a straight shot to the top. Instead, it is a journey riddled with roadblocks, obstructions, and forces that are constantly trying to shake one off their intended path. That being so, many country music musicians have taken quite the unexpected journey on their way to the top of Nashville’s music industry.

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Amidst these unique journeys, some of country music’s finest have had to take some odd jobs to make ends meet. With that in mind, here are three country musicians who worked odd jobs before they became household names.

Jason Aldean

Everything Jason Aldean preaches in his songs is that of a blue-collar existence and livelihood. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Jason Aldean did live that life before garnering his fame in 2005. Prior to becoming a famous country star, Aldean worked as a Pepsi delivery driver in Georgia.

For Aldean, the job was a way to support his music career and make ends meet. Clearly, it worked, as Aldean moved to Nashville and became a hit artist thanks to his debut self-titled album. Aldean looks back at those times fondly, as he told iHeartRadio, “It was fun.”

Eric Church

Before Eric Church released his debut album, Sinners Like Me, the man hustled and bustled to keep his life and country music career afloat. Before getting his foot in the door, Church worked as a salesman at the Home Shopping Network. Church worked the graveyard shift and described himself as “the worst salesman in history,” per iHeartRadio.

Luckily, Eric Church was able to quit his day job and make music full-time. Following his salesman job, Church started to write songs alongside Terri Clark and Dean Miller. This then led to him signing a record deal with Capitol Records in Nashville.

Faith Hill

Faith Hill takes the crown for the oddest job ever worked, as the chart-topping country singer used to be a magician’s assistant while trying to get her country music career off the ground. It is unclear what magician she worked for, but regardless, the job helped her get her bearings in show business.

Hill was first recognized in Nashville by a Warner. Bros Record Executive at the infamous Bluebird Cafe. Subsequently, she signed a record deal and released her debut album, Take Me as I Am, in 1993. An album that garnered Hill loads of notoriety as well as the Top New Female Vocalist Award at the 1994 CMA Awards.

Faith Hill onstage at the 52nd Academy Of Country Music Awards per Getty Images