Gary Allan was offered a record deal at at 15.  His dad made him turn it down.  Years later, Gary appreciates his father's words on that decision:

"He used to have this thing, 'You need to play for the people that love you and the people that hate you, and the people that couldn't care less.' I don't think I really realized what that meant, but I do know when I felt like I was ready to have a contract."

When Gary's father said that he was ready, Gary realized how he had changed as a singer.  Gary was singing songs without thinking about it.  Before, Gary says, "I would imitate and try to find something that's cool."

Gary will release his ninth studio album, Set You Free, in early 2013.  He recently debuted the first single from that album, Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain).  He will play Kat Jam on November 19.