Influenced by such legendary country artists as Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Thompson, and Lefty Frizzell, Aaron Tippin began playing guitar and performing at age 10. ∙ Tippin’s 1986 performance on the amateur-talent TV series You Can Be a Star resulted in a songwriting contract with Nashville publishers Acuff-Rose Music. ∙ He wrote songs for Charley Pride, David Ball, Mark Collie, and Diamond Rio before landing a record deal of his own. ∙ “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” his debut single, reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and established him as a country star. ∙ Released a week after 9/11, “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly” became his biggest crossover hit, peaking at No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.