Aaron Tippin
The Tennessean ~ Feb 1995

'You're not challenging anyone else but yourself.' ~ Aaron Tippin

'Body Building:  Tippin's In Terrific Shape'
The Tennessean, 09 February 1995
Article Credit:  Kim Swint, Sports Writer

Tippin, Aaron
Country music star Aaron Tippin participates in one of his passions -- working out.  Tippin began lifting weights in 1986 and hasn't quit since.
Photo Credit:  Irvin J. Gelb
Country music singer/songwriter Aaron Tippin isn't just busy stacking up gold records, he's also busy piling up plates - as in squatting 365 pounds, bench pressing 250, and dead lifting 425.

And the numbers will keep rising.

"I am going to squat 400 pounds before next year," said Tippin, who lists his former jobs as pig farming, welding, driving a truck and piloting.

Tippin's weight-lifting goals for this year also include bench pressing 300 pounds and increasing his dead lift weight to 500.

"I don't set them if I don't fully intend on achieving them," he said.

Along with his music, body building is Tippin's passion.

Eleven years ago, when his life wasn't as picturesque, Tippin dragged out his old 600-pound concrete weight set that had gone untouched for 10 years.

"I had just gotten a divorce and decided it was time to quit messing up everyone's life, including mine, so I decided to do something positive and get back into shape," Tippin said.

"I moved back into my mother's house, dug the weights out of her basement and started lifting again.  Before I knew it my sister talked me into going to the gym with her and I began training really hard."

His efforts paid off.

In 1986, Tippin entered his first body building competition, The Penny Rile Classic in Hopkinsville, KY, and took home third place in the lightweight division.

"I absolutely loved it.  All I could think about was going back the next year and winning," Tippin said.  "I saw the face of the guy who beat me everyday in my mind."

With a burning desire for first place, Tippin intensified his training, went back the next year a leaner-and-meaner 158 pounds and got what he wanted.

"I won my division that year, but the guy's face who I had pictured all year had gained weight and moved up to a heavier class," Tippin said with a chuckle.

"I can say to any athlete wanting to succeed the key is to go out and train as hard as you can and get whipped -- that's what will eventually make you a winner."

Tippin's days of competing came to an end two years later when he signed a record deal with RCA.

"I told them up front I had to have an hour and a half to myself each day, which is, of course, so I can train."

After Tippin's five Top 10 singles, including the No. 1 hit Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio, from his first three RCA releases, You've Got To Stand For Something, Read Between The Lines, and Call Of The Wild, it looks like the deal is working well for both.

When Tippin is on the road (he is currently touring California) he goes to the gym with tour manager Terry Brown and his bass player Mark Johnson.

"We just recently got Terry to work out with us and now he's got the fever bad," Tippin said.


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