Although Aaron Watson has been singing country music for nearly 18 years, he feels like he’s just getting started. “Kris Kristofferson said, ‘Write a thousand songs, then throw them away. Now you’re ready to be a writer,'” Watson tells PEOPLE, recalling a quote from one of his songwriting icons. “I really feel like I’m just getting to that point in my career where I am really starting to hone in on my craft.”

Listen to "Fence Post (Live)" on Whiskey Riff's New Music Friday playlist.

Includes Emotional Acoustic Bonus Track “Higher Ground,” Marking One-Year Anniversary Of Hurricane Harvey. Pre-Order Now and Instantly Receive New Music. $1.41 From Each Album Sold Will Benefit Rebuild Texas Fund In Watson’s Home State.

For years, the Texas-based country singer performed in the city about every six months. Since his 2015 No. 1 album, “The Underdog,” Watson’s profile has risen significantly. In part, so did his touring, and that’s the reason he hasn’t been back in more than a year.

"The Underdog" may have been the album that got Aaron Watson over the hump, but he's not in that role as a musician anymore. Watson, the Abilene Christian University graduate who calls Abilene home, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country music chart with that album in 2015, and followed with the far-ranging, musically and lyrically, "Vaquero," which produced his first national hit.

“Outta Style” Continues Top 12 and Climbing Rise on National Country Radio Charts. Watch the new video here!

une in to Great American Country to catch Aaron Watson on Great American Playlist alongside host, Suzanne Alexander as the episode premieres on Monday, October 30 at Noon and 3:00PM ET. Catch it again on Wednesday, November 8 at Noon and 3:00PM ET as the in-depth interview highlights the hard-earned success of Watson's hit single Outta Style, which is currently in the Top 20 and climbing at both the Billboard and Mediabase airplay charts.

Energetic Crowd of 35,000 Catch His Full-Throttle Set Including Mega-Hit “Outta Style” At Globe Life Park In Arlington Over The Weekend
Historic Grand Ole Opry Circle Makes Texas Debut in Epic Throwdown

Aaron Watson is truly living the American dream. A singing cowboy who rides a �horse named hustle,� as an independent artist, Aaron continues to undeniably impact the country music scene, building an incredible 18-year career.

Ever since the 1999 debut of his first album, Singer/Songwriter, country crooner Aaron Watson has been blazing his own trail up the charts with songs that draw from his hometown roots and Texas musical heritage. Watson began writing songs and playing guitar as a teenager in his hometown of Amarillo.

Texas singer-songwriter Aaron Watson's newest album, Vaquero, is a fitting title for the hard-working cowboy. Living caught up with him just prior to the album's release last month to ask about Vaquero, the follow-up to his indie success story, 2015s The Underdog.

Aaron Watson has had a rather unconventional career in country music. Hailing from Texas and growing up playing in the clubs and bars frequented by the Texas country music community, the singer may have been a big star in the Lone Star state but in Nashville things have been a little bit different.

Aaron Watson does what he wants. The independent Texas singer-songwriter is one of the most successful stars today. He made history in 2015 when his album, "Underdog" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The next year, "Vaquero" debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Each achievement is made even sweeter by the fact Watson is making music on his terms without the input or backing of a major label or mainstream country radio.

Aaron Watson is traveling the country and the globe this summer to bring a good time to a town near you!

Love country music? This country musician likes to call his fans "customers," and he treats them accordingly.

“Pack Light, Love Heavy”... I just returned from speaking to the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching staff and that was the title of my speech. It’s a line from Aaron Watson’s song Blue Bonnets In The Spring. (The song is tribute to his daughter Julia. Sadly she passed away just four hours after her birth.) What I love about this song is that Watson originally didn’t want to release it because it’s personal and vulnerable. He decided that if it touched just one person who went through a similar struggle move forwar

Texas storyteller and musician Aaron Watson is blessed with the gift of gab that attracts congregations of loyal fans every time he speaks. Listening to him talk over the phone during our CMT.com interview, you might think he’s an ordained minister. Ask him one question about the idea behind his latest album Vaquero, and he’ll go on a passionate nine-minute sermon chronicling his two-year journey following the No. 1 success of his previous project, The Underdog.

As country music’s most unlikely, and likable, newly minted star, the only real danger Aaron Watson is likely to face on the road ahead is letting his biography overshadow his material. Luckily for him, both sides of the ledger are pretty compelling: Once rejected by Nashville for his lack of “commercial appeal,” as he told Tuesday’s RodeoHouston crowd in his debut on the revolving stage, Watson retreated to his native Texas, where he played gig after gig until 2015’s The Underdog became the first independe

Vaquero, the new album from independent country artist Aaron Watson debuts in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with his biggest career sales week to date, and #2 on the Top Country Albums chart with 39,000 equivalent album units in total consumption. Vaquero landed at #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart across all genres. The singer-songwriter, with his groundswell of loyal fans, opened at #1 on iTunes Country Albums chart and has continued to stay perched in the top spot consistently for

Independent star behind 'The Underdog' discusses his Marshall Altman-produced project, 'Vaquero'