Jason Aldean draws fans, involves alma mater for Macon music video

Macon native Jason Aldean came home Tuesday to shoot a music video, drawing interested fans downtown.

About 200 people lined up outside the SoChi Gallery on Second Street to audition for a spot as an extra in the video. Ashlyn Estenes, an 18-year-old country music fan from Griffin, said she communicated with the production team via email about the chance to appear in the video for Aldean’s “Gonna Know We Were Here.”

“I can kind of relate to country music,” she said. “It’s just fun and upbeat, and I enjoy it.”

Shellee Kilbride of Reno, Nevada, stopped downtown while visiting Mercer University for work. She didn’t want to miss the chance, both for the music and Aldean himself.

“We were here on business and somebody told us to come down here and see Jason Aldean,” she said.

Aldean, a Windsor Academy grad, also got his alma mater involved. Head football coach Jimmy Watts said he was asked to bring a bus full of football players and cheerleaders to the shoot.

Watts added that it was “awesome” to see Aldean connect with his hometown for a project.

“I think it shows that he stayed true to his roots,” Watts said. “There’s a lot of pride there, and I hope he’s as excited to be here and do the video as we are to welcome him back.”

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter @MTJTimm.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Jason Aldean draws fans, involves alma mater for Macon music video ."