Michael Knox: From 40 Rejected Showcases to Artist of the Decade

Hard work. Heartbreak. Honesty. Michael Knox proves that grit, not gimmicks, builds greatness.

In Episode 52 of the Try That in a Small Town podcast, country music powerhouse Michael Knox — the man behind Jason Aldean’s rise to Artist of the Decade — joins the show to talk about the road less traveled but more earned. The episode offers an intimate look at Knox’s decades-long grind through an industry that tried to say “no” 40 times… until he delivered a sound they couldn’t ignore.

Knox opens up about rejection, resilience, and why real success doesn’t come overnight — it comes through persistence, conviction, and staying grounded in the values that built this country.

This episode is a battle cry for any American who’s been told “you don’t belong” — and kept going anyway. Knox’s story isn’t about fame. It’s about faith in the long game.