Portrait of Jason Isbell

Birthday profile

Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Born
February 1, 1979
Age in 2026
47
Zodiac sign
Aquarius
Birth year
1979

About Jason Isbell

Michael Jason Isbell ( IZ-bəl; born February 1, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter. Considered one of the best contemporary songwriters in his genre, he is known for his honest, emotional lyrics. Isbell began his career as a member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007. His first album with his backing band, the 400 Unit, was released in 2009. In 2013, Isbell released his solo commercial breakthrough, Southeastern, which debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and appeared on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album was later certified gold. Southeastern also featured his signature song, "Cover Me Up", which won Song of the Year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. In 2017 he released The Nashville Sound, which debuted at No. 4 and featured the Grammy-winning song "If We Were Vampires". Isbell has earned praise from artists such as John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, David Crosby, and Zach Bryan. He has won six Grammy Awards out of ten nominations. As an actor, Isbell has appeared in roles in the television series Squidbillies and Billions, as well as the films Deadwood: The Movie and Killers of the Flower Moon. His most recent album with the 400 Unit, Weathervanes, was released in June 2023. His most recent solo album, Foxes in the Snow, was released in March 2025. Isbell has won six Grammy Awards out of seven nominations. The album also featured his signature song, "Cover Me Up", which won Song of the Year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. In September 2023, after discussions with the University of Memphis about his career experience, he was awarded his bachelor's degree in English.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

Jason Isbell timeline

  1. Isbell began his career as a member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007.
  2. His first album with his backing band, the 400 Unit, was released in 2009.
  3. In September 2023, after discussions with the University of Memphis about his career experience, he was awarded his bachelor's degree in English.

The world when Jason Isbell was born

Jason Isbell was born in 1979. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Culture in 1979

  • #1 song"My Sharona" – The Knack
  • Top movieKramer vs. Kramer
  • Top TV showLaverne & Shirley
  • Best-selling bookThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

Headlines and milestones

  • Major sports moment"Miracle on Ice" (1980 — actually)
  • Top headlineIran hostage crisis begins
  • Technology milestoneSony Walkman released — portable music goes mainstream
  • Defining fadSony Walkman — portable music revolution
  • Notable inventionSony Walkman
  • World population4.38 billion

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderJimmy Carter
  • Sports championPittsburgh Pirates (World Series)
  • Also wonSeattle SuperSonics (NBA)
  • U.S. population225.1M

1979 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Jason Isbell's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure19792026
Gas$0.86$3.45/gal
Average home$62,900$435,000
Average income$19,554$67,500
Minimum wage$2.90$7.25/hr (federal)
Movie ticket$2.51$11.95
Postage stamp$0.15$0.73
Population225.1M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, MusicBrainz. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

Read the source biography on Wikipedia. Wikipedia text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.