Before chasing his country music dreams, James Otto served two years in the U.S. Navy. In 1998, he decided he could get a dirty job in his home state of Washington or one in Nashville, where he could begin a career as a musician. With encouragement from his father, he moved and took any job he could. That meant driving a bus for Opryland.

When that gig ended, Otto says he drove an oil truck -- all the while attending songwriter's nights, eventually getting in with the MuzikMafia before signing a publishing deal and recording his first album. Take one look at the 'Just Got Started Loving You' hitmaker and you'll have no trouble imagining him behind the wheel of big rig, but we think he found his calling as a singer and songwriter.

More From Taste of Country