Jason Aldean delivered his biggest hits throughout his career — and joined forces with an artist he hailed “one of the next big stars in our business” — when he closed the 2024 iHeartCountry Festival Presented by Capital One on Saturday night (May 4). The star-studded event returned to Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Aldean introduced the Texas crowd to a special guest, singer-songwriter John Morgan, during his iHeartCountry Festival set. The duo recently teamed up on a revamped version of Morgan’s “Friends Like That,” which arrived last month. Morgan has previously written songs for Aldean, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett and other artists. He said at that time that it’s “extra special” to have Aldean, an artist he’s long been a fan of and who is now a mentor, join him on the collaboration.

“I’ve been in town here in Nashville for 25 years, and John Morgan is one of the most talented guys I’ve ever come across in all aspects — as a singer, as a songwriter and as a performer,” Aldean said in a press release from his record label when the collaboration released. “It’s a really cool thing for me as an artist to sign another artist, so jumping on this song that’s also jumpstarting his career along with going to radio, I’m excited for what’s to come from John Morgan and glad he’s one of ours and on our team.”

Aldean launched his iHeartCountry Festival set with “My Kinda Party,” the anthem that served as the title track of his 2010 album. The Georgia-born country star delivered everything from his debut single to songs that appear on his latest full-length album, Highway Desperado. The high-energy set included “Trouble With A Heartbreak” — from his massive double album that served as a tribute to his hometown — “Let Your Boys Be Country,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” “Try That In A Small Town” and “Hicktown.” Aldean closed the show with his 2009 smash-hit single, “She’s Country.”

Other artists in the lineup throughout the evening included Jelly Roll, Lady A, Riley Green, Old Dominion (with surprise special guest Ashley Cooke), Ashley McBryde, Brothers Osborne, Walker Hayes and Keith Urban. It was all hosted again by iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones. See some of the highlights from Aldean’s performance here:

Todd Matthews