Alan Jackson
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Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American
country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as " neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studio albums, including two Christmas albums, and two gospel albums, as well as three greatest-hits albums. Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide, with 44 million sold in the United States alone. He has had 66 songs appear on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart; of the 66 titles, and six featured singles, 38 have reached the top five and 35 have claimed the number one spot. Out of 15 titles to reach the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart, nine have been certified multi-platinum. He is the recipient of two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards and nominee of multiple other awards. He is a member of the
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...
, and was inducted into the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was a hall of fame to recognize music performers and music industry professionals from or connected to the state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It began with efforts of the state's lieutenant governor Zell Mill ...
in 2001. He was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amass ...
in 2017 by
Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "Hey Loretta", "The Pill (song), The P ...
and into the
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that i ...
in 2018.


Early life

Jackson was born to Joseph Eugene "Daddy Gene" Jackson (1927–2000) and Ruth Musick "Mama Ruth" Jackson (1930–2017) in
Newnan, Georgia Newnan is a city in and the county seat of Coweta County, Georgia, United States, about southwest of Atlanta. Its population was 42,549 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, up from 33,039 in 2010 United States census, 2010. History N ...
, and has four older sisters. He and his immediate family lived in a small home built around his grandfather's old toolshed. The family is primarily of English descent. His mother lived in the home until her death on January 7, 2017. He began writing music in 1983. Growing up, Jackson listened primarily to gospel music, until a friend introduced him to Gene Watson, John Anderson, and Hank Williams Jr. Jackson attended the local Elm Street Elementary and Newnan High School, and joined the band Dixie Steel after graduation. Jackson worked as a construction worker and forklift operator while playing in small clubs across Georgia. When he was 27, Jackson and his wife of six years, Denise, moved from Newnan to
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
, where he hoped to pursue music full-time. In 1987, Jackson cut a pre-debut demo album titled ''New Traditional'' at Doc's Place in
Hendersonville, Tennessee Hendersonville is the most populous city in Sumner County, Tennessee, on Old Hickory Lake. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 61,753. Hendersonville is the fourth-most populous city in the Nashville metropolitan area after Nas ...
, but it is extremely rare and was released only in
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.


Career

In Tennessee, Jackson got his first job in
The Nashville Network The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, game shows, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows. On September ...
's mailroom and would sit in the audience during tapings of TNN’s ''You Can Be a Star,'' a television singing competition featuring celebrity judges. On an episode in 1986, then 27-year-old Jackson was plucked from the audience and asked to sing a song as an outro to a commercial break. Jackson sang
He Stopped Loving Her Today "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Jones. It has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from the album '' I Am ...
by
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...
, earning a round of applause from the audience, and the attention of guest judge and singer-songwriter
Keith Stegall Robert Keith Stegall (born November 1, 1955) is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two major-label studio albums: 1985's ''Keith Stegall'' and 1996's ''Passages'', although he ...
. Stegall would eventually produce 19 of Jackson’s studio albums. Around this time, Jackson’s wife Denise, a flight attendant, encountered
Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...
on a flight, and requested advice for her husband. Campbell handed her the business card of his manager and told her to call, which further helped jumpstart his career.Sanz, C.; J. Sanderson (September 2, 1991), "Honky-tonk hero". ''People''. 36 (8):76. Jackson eventually signed with Arista, and in 1989, he became the first artist signed to the newly formed
Arista Nashville Arista Nashville was an American record label that served as a wholly owned division of Sony Music, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specialized in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks ...
branch of
Arista Records Arista Records ( ) is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously a division of Bertelsmann Music G ...
. Arista released Jackson's debut single, "Blue Blooded Woman", in late 1989. Although the song failed to reach top 40 on
Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...
, he reached number three by early 1990 with " Here in the Real World". This song served as the title track to his debut studio album, '' Here in the Real World'', which also included two more top five hits (" Wanted" and " Chasin' That Neon Rainbow") and his first number one, " I'd Love You All Over Again". '' Don't Rock the Jukebox'' was the title of Jackson's second album. Released in 1991, it included four number-one singles: the title track, " Someday", "
Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
" and " Love's Got a Hold on You", and the number three " Midnight in Montgomery". Jackson also co-wrote several songs on
Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country and gospel music singer and songwriter, as well as a film and television actor. Active since 1979, he has recorded over 20 studio albums and ...
' 1991 album '' High Lonesome''. '' A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)'', his third album, accounted for the number one hits " She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" (which Randy Travis co-wrote) and " Chattahoochee", plus the top five hits " Tonight I Climbed the Wall", " Mercury Blues" and " (Who Says) You Can't Have It All". "Chattahoochee" also won him the 1994
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) is an American trade association with the stated aim of promoting and developing country music throughout the world. Founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, it originally consisted of 233 members and was the f ...
(CMA) awards for Single and Song of the Year. In 1994, Jackson left his management company, Ten Ten Management, which had overseen his career up to that point, and switched to Gary Overton. His fourth album was titled '' Who I Am'', and it contained four number one hits: a cover of the
Eddie Cochran Ray Edward Cochran ( ; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. His songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", " Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desire in ...
rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...
standard " Summertime Blues", followed by " Livin' on Love", " Gone Country" and " I Don't Even Know Your Name". An additional track from the album, a cover of
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
's " Song for the Life", made number six. In late 1994,
Clay Walker Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single " What's It to You", which reached Number One on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Son ...
reached number one with " If I Could Make a Living", which Jackson co-wrote. Jackson also appeared in the 1996 "When Harry Kept Delores" episode of ''Home Improvement'', performing "Mercury Blues".


Mid-to-late 1990s

'' The Greatest Hits Collection'' was released on October 24, 1995. The disc contained 17 hits, two newly recorded songs (" I'll Try" and " Tall, Tall Trees"), and the song "
Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...
" from ''Here in the Real World'' that had never been released as a single. These first two songs both made number one. '' Everything I Love'' followed in 1996. Its first single, the
Tom T. Hall Thomas Hall (May 25, 1936 – August 20, 2021), known professionally as Tom T. Hall and informally nicknamed "The Storyteller," was an American country music singer-songwriter and short-story author. He wrote 12 number-one hit songs, with 26 more ...
-penned " Little Bitty", took Jackson to the top of the charts in late 1996. The album also included the number one hit " There Goes" and a number two cover of Charly McClain's 1980 single " Who's Cheatin' Who". The album's fifth single was " A House with No Curtains", which became his first release since 1989 to miss the top 10. 1998's '' High Mileage'' was led off by the number four " I'll Go On Loving You". After it came the album's only number one hit, " Right on the Money", co-written by
Phil Vassar Phillip George Vassar Jr. (born May 28, 1962) is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw (" For a Little While", ...
and
Charlie Black Charles Frank Black (November 23, 1949 – April 23, 2021) was an American country music songwriter and record producer. Biography Black graduated from University of Maryland in 1970 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee the same year. His first c ...
. With Jackson's release of '' Under the Influence'' in 1999, he took the double risk on an album of covers of country classics while retaining a traditional sound when a
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
- and pop-tinged sound dominated country radio. When the Country Music Association (CMA) asked
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...
to trim his act to 90 seconds for the 1999 CMA awards, Jones decided to boycott the event. In solidarity, Jackson interrupted his own song and launched into Jones's song "Choices" and then walked offstage.


2000s

Due to a shift in the sound of country music towards a more pop sound in the 1990s and 2000s, he and
George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He holds ...
criticized the state of country music in the song " Murder on Music Row". The song sparked debate in the country music community about whether "traditional" country music was actually dead or not. Despite the fact that the song was not officially released as a single, it became the highest-charting nonseasonal album cut (not available in any retail single configuration or released as a promotional single to radio during a chart run) to appear on Hot Country Singles & Tracks in the Broadcast Data Systems era, beating the record previously held by Garth Brooks' "Belleau Wood." The duo were invited to open the 2000 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMAs) with a performance of the tune. ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' commented on Jackson's style remarking, "If Garth and Shania have raised the bar for country concerts with
Kiss A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...
-style production and endless costume changes, then Alan Jackson is doing his best to return the bar to a more human level." After the
September 11, 2001 attacks The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...
, Jackson released " Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" as a tribute to those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The country/soft rock song became a hit single and briefly propelled him into the mainstream spotlight; Jackson had debuted the song at the 2001 CMA Awards and his performance was generally considered the highlight of the show. Jackson's website crashed the next day from server requests. The song came to Jackson suddenly, and had not been scheduled for any official release, but the live performance began receiving radio airplay and was soon released as a single. It was included on his 2002 album ''Drive'', both the live version from his CMA performance, and a radio version. Jackson released his second Christmas album (after '' Honky Tonk Christmas'' in 1993), titled ''Let It Be Christmas'' on October 22, 2002. Jeannie Kendall contacted Jackson to do a duet, and he suggested the song "Timeless and True Love"; the song appeared on her first solo album, released in 2003. In early 2006, Jackson released his first
gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...
album entitled '' Precious Memories''. He put together the album at the request of his mother, who enjoyed religious music. Jackson considered this album a "side project" and nothing too official, but it was ultimately treated as such. More than 1.8 million units were eventually sold. Just a few months later, Jackson released his next album, '' Like Red on a Rose''. Originally intended to be a bluegrass album, ''Like Red on a Rose'' had a different producer and sound.
Keith Stegall Robert Keith Stegall (born November 1, 1955) is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two major-label studio albums: 1985's ''Keith Stegall'' and 1996's ''Passages'', although he ...
was notably absent from this album and, instead,
Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at ...
took over the producing reins. Unlike Jackson's previous albums, the album abandoned Jackson's typical neotraditional country style and instead, went for a
soft rock Soft rock (also known as light rock or mellow rock) is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in the United States and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, mel ...
/
adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
sound. This move proved controversial for his fans, who accused him of abandoning his signature style in order to go for a more commercial pop route. Although critically acclaimed, the album was considered a commercial disappointment for the singer. For his next album, he went back to his country roots. '' Good Time'' was released on March 4, 2008. The album's first single, " Small Town Southern Man", was released to radio on November 19, 2007. " Country Boy", " Good Time", " Sissy's Song" and " I Still Like Bologna", were also released as singles. "Sissy's Song" is dedicated to a longtime friend of the Jackson family (Leslie "Sissy" Fitzgerald) who worked in their house every day. Fitzgerald was killed in a motorcycle accident in mid-2007.


2010s and 2020s

His sixteenth studio album, ''
Freight Train A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad ...
'', was released on March 30, 2010. The first single was " It's Just That Way", which debuted at No. 50 in January 2010. " Hard Hat and a Hammer" is the album's second single, released in May 2010. On November 23, 2010, Jackson released another greatest-hits package, entitled '' 34 Number Ones'', which features a cover of the
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
hit "
Ring of Fire The Ring of Fire (also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Rim of Fire, the Girdle of Fire or the Circum-Pacific belt) is a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes. It is about long and up to about wide, and surrounds most of the Pa ...
", as well as the duet with
Zac Brown Band Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulele, ...
, "
As She's Walking Away "As She's Walking Away" is a song by American country music group Zac Brown Band. Written by lead singer Zac Brown, along with Wyatt Durrette (songwriter), Wyatt Durrette, it features guest vocals from veteran country singer Alan Jackson. The song ...
". On January 20, 2011,
Sony Music Nashville Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music, Sony Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Records#Columbia Nashville, Colu ...
announced that Jackson and his Sony-owned record label,
Arista Nashville Arista Nashville was an American record label that served as a wholly owned division of Sony Music, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specialized in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks ...
, had parted. In March of that year, Jackson announced his new deal with Capitol's EMI Records Nashville. It was a joint venture between ACR (Alan's Country Records) and Capitol. All records were to be released and marketed through Capitol's EMI Records Nashville label. In 2012, Jackson released the album '' Thirty Miles West''. Three singles were released from the album: " Long Way to Go", " So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore" and " You Go Your Way". None of the singles reached the top 20. A tour in 2013 supported the album. Jackson released his second gospel album, '' Precious Memories Volume II'', on March 26, 2013. Later that same year, Jackson released his first (and so far, only) bluegrass album, simply titled '' The Bluegrass Album''. Two singles were released from the album: "Blue Ridge Mountain Song" and "Blacktop". The album eventually peaked at no. 1 on the ''Billboard''
Top Bluegrass Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
chart and no. 3 on the country chart. In 2014, Jackson recorded the opening credits song, "A Million Ways to Die", for the film '' A Million Ways to Die in the West'', co-writing the song with
Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane (; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, comedian, and singer. He is best known as the creator and star of the television series ''Family Guy'' (since 1999) and ''The Orvill ...
and
Joel McNeely Joel McNeely (born March 28, 1959) is an American composer, conductor, arranger, musician, lyricist, and record producer. A protégé of composer Jerry Goldsmith, he is best known for his film and television scores. He won the Primetime Emmy Aw ...
. In August 2014, the Country Music Hall of Fame opened an exhibit celebrating Jackson's 25 years in the music industry. It was also announced that he was an artist in residency as well, performing shows on October 8 and 22. The exhibit highlights the different milestones in his career with memorabilia collected over the years. His twenty-fifth anniversary "Keeping It Country" tour, began on January 8, 2015, in Estero, Florida.Alan Jackson 25th Anniversary Tour
2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
In January 2015, Jackson began his 25th anniversary "Keepin' It Country" tour, followed in April with the announcement of his twentieth studio album, '' Angels and Alcohol'', which was released on July 17. In 2016, Jackson was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "''Forever Country''", a mash-up track of "
Take Me Home, Country Roads "Take Me Home, Country Roads", also known simply as "Country Roads", is a song written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver. It was released as a single performed by Denver on April 12, 1971, peaking at number two on ''Billboard''s U ...
", " On the Road Again" and "
I Will Always Love You "I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career ...
" which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards. In 2016 and 2017, Jackson extended his "Keepin' It Country" tour with American Idol alumna Lauren Alaina. In August 2016,
Legacy Recordings Legacy Recordings is an American record label that is a division of Sony Music. Formed in 1990 after Sony's acquisition of CBS Records, Legacy originally handled the archives of Sony Music-owned labels Columbia Records and Epic Records. In 2 ...
released the collection '' Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story'' digitally and on three CDs with 59 tracks including eight previously unreleased tracks which was dedicated to
Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in country music, he was a central pioneer of the Bakersfield ...
's memory. The collection was initially released as a
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exclusive in November 2015, with a worldwide release in August 2016. In October 2017, Alan Jackson released a new song titled "The Older I Get" for a planned future studio album. The album '' Where Have You Gone'' would be released four years later; the record features an even harder, more traditional country sound than Jackson's usual repertoire, with Jackson noting in interviews that he feared that "country music is gone, and it's not coming back."


Awards, nominations, and Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Jackson was nominated for six CMAs in 1989 and four more in 1994, including one for Entertainer of the Year.Author unknown (Fall 94 Special Issue), "Livin' in the real world". ''People''. 42 (9):20. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and was inducted by Roy Acuff and
Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country and gospel music singer and songwriter, as well as a film and television actor. Active since 1979, he has recorded over 20 studio albums and ...
. Jackson was the most nominated artist at the 29th annual TNN/Music City News Country Awards (at the Grand Ole Opry House) that was broadcast June 5, 1995. His six nominations included best entertainer, male artist, vocal collaboration, album, single, and video (two nominations in this category). At the 2002 CMAs, Jackson set a record for having the most nominations in a single year – ten – many rising from the song "Where Were You". It also brought his career total up to the second number of most nominations ever, after George Strait. "Where Were You" also was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year. At the 2003 Academy of Country Music Awards, Jackson won Album of the Year for ''Drive'' and Video of the Year for the video to "Drive (For Daddy Gene)." In 2004, a five-mile (8 km) stretch of Interstate 85 through Jackson's hometown of Newnan was renamed the "Alan Jackson Highway" in the singer's honor. After learning of the honor, he stated " ewnanwas a great place to grow up. I'm not sure I'm quite qualified for the main highway. Maybe they should've picked a dirt road or something." Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on October 22, 2001, in Atlanta. Alan Jackson was selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010. In 2017, Alan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.


Touring

Jackson headlined the 1995 Fruit of the Loom Comfort Tour, a deal worth $40 million. It began January 20 in New Orleans and ran for a hundred dates. Alan Jackson's 2004 concert tour launched January 23 in Fort Myers, Florida, and was sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts in a deal that included Jackson's endorsement in TV spots. The tour included more than 50 U.S. dates. Martina McBride was the opening for some of the shows. In March 2011, he visited Australia to perform for the CMC Rocks The Hunter music festival where he was the headline act for Saturday night. In 2015, Jackson kicked off his 25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country tour. The tour began with a concert in Estero, Florida, on January 8 at the Germane Arena. Jon Pardi & Brandy Clark are special guests for most concerts of the tour. The tour wrapped with a solo concert in Highland Park, Illinois, at the Ravinia Pavilion on August 31. In March 2022, Jackson announced his farewell tour "One More For The Road Tour."


Band members

Jackson records his studio albums, in most part, with the backing of some of the members of his live band, the Strayhorns. As of 2022, the band consists of: * Mark McClurg – acoustic guitar, harmony vocals * Scott Coney – acoustic and baritone guitars, banjo, occasional fiddle * Rusty Danmyer – steel guitar * Danny Groah – lead guitar * Ryan Joseph – fiddle, mandolin, harmony vocals * Bruce Rutherford – drums * Joey Schmidt – keyboards * Roger Wills – bass guitar


Personal life

Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Jackson, on December 15, 1979. They have three daughters,: Mattie Denise Selecman (born June 19, 1990), Alexandra Jane "Ali" (born August 23, 1993), and Dani Grace (born August 28, 1997). The couple became grandparents in December 2022 when their daughter Ali and her husband Sam Bradshaw welcomed their first child, a son. Although Alan and Denise separated for several months in 1998 due to the strains of Jackson's career, they have since reconciled. Denise Jackson wrote a book that topped ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list about her life with Jackson, their relationship, their brief separation and recommitment to each other, and her commitment to Christianity. The book, ''It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life,'' was published in 2007. In May 2008, she released a gift book titled ''The Road Home''. Jackson's nephew, Adam Wright, is also a country music singer-songwriter. Adam and his wife, Shannon, perform together as a duo called The Wrights. The Wrights co-wrote two songs and sang harmony vocals on Jackson's ''What I Do'' album. Jackson is a cousin of former
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
player Brandon Moss. In June 2009, Jackson listed his estate just outside
Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city in and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020 Uni ...
, for sale, asking $38 million. The property sold in late May 2010 for $28 million, one of the highest prices ever for a home sale in the Nashville area. In 2010, the singer then moved into a home in the same Nashville suburb. The singer and his wife paid $3.675 million for the estate in June 2010, but less than a year later they listed the home for $3.995 million. Jackson maintained a close friendship with fellow country singer
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...
. Jones has been mentioned in songs such as " Don't Rock the Jukebox" (Jones also appeared in the video which accompanied it) and "Murder on Music Row." The song "Just Playin' Possum" is dedicated to Jones and talks of how Alan only wants to lie low and play possum (with "possum" referring to George Jones). Jones can also be seen in the video for "Good Time." In 2008, Jones was a surprise guest at Jackson's "CMT Giants" ceremony, where he thanked Jackson for his friendship. He's also close friends with
George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He holds ...
, who sang "Murder on Music Row" with him. Besides his associations with big stars, Jackson maintains his connections to his roots and old friends.Tyler Moreland, March 8, 2008, ''Times-Herald'', Community Edition, "Highway Renamed" At
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...
' funeral service, on May 2, 2013, Jackson performed one of Jones' classics, "
He Stopped Loving Her Today "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Jones. It has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from the album '' I Am ...
", at the close of the service at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. An avid classic car collector, Jackson's collection includes an Amphicar, a 1968 Shelby GT 500 KR Convertible and a 1970 Chevelle SS 396, among others. In a 2021 appearance on ''The Today Show'', Jackson announced he had
Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is an inherited neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nerves responsible for transmitting signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. This is the most common inherited neuropath ...
(CMT), stating "...it's been affecting me for years. And it's getting more and more obvious. And I know I'm stumbling around on stage. And now I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable."


Selected discography

* ''New Traditional'' (1987) * '' Here in the Real World'' (1990) * '' Don't Rock the Jukebox'' (1991) * '' A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love)'' (1992) * '' Honky Tonk Christmas'' (1993) * '' Who I Am'' (1994) * '' Everything I Love'' (1996) * '' High Mileage'' (1998) * '' Under the Influence'' (1999) * '' When Somebody Loves You'' (2000) * '' Drive'' (2002) * '' Let It Be Christmas'' (2002) * '' What I Do'' (2004) * '' Precious Memories'' (2006) * '' Like Red on a Rose'' (2006) * '' Good Time'' (2008) * ''
Freight Train A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad ...
'' (2010) * '' Thirty Miles West'' (2012) * '' Precious Memories Volume II'' (2013) * '' The Bluegrass Album'' (2013) * '' Angels and Alcohol'' (2015) * '' Where Have You Gone'' (2021)


Awards

American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974. Nominees are selected on commercial performance such as sales and airplay. Winners are determined by a poll of the public and ...
* American Music Award for Favorite Country Single 1993; " Chattahoochee" * 1993 Favorite Country Album – " A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)"
Academy of Country Music Awards The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The academy ...
* 1990 - Top New Male Vocalist * 1991 - Album of the Year (" Don't Rock the Jukebox") * 1991 - Single of the Year (" Don't Rock the Jukebox") * 1993 - Album of the Year (" A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)") * 1993 - Single of the Year (" Chattahoochee") * 1994 - Top Male Vocalist * 1995 - Top Male Vocalist * 2001 - Top Male Vocalist * 2001 - Single of the Year (" Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)") * 2001 - Song of the Year (" Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)") * 2002 - Album of the Year (" Drive") * 2002 - Video of the Year (" Drive (For Daddy Gene)") * 2003 - Single of the Year ("
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" is a song performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, and written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins. It was released in June 2003 as the lead single from Jackson's 2003 compilation album '' Greatest Hits Volume ...
") * 2003 - Vocal Event of the Year ("
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" is a song performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, and written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins. It was released in June 2003 as the lead single from Jackson's 2003 compilation album '' Greatest Hits Volume ...
") * 2018 - Cliffie Stone Icon Award * 2025 - Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award
Billboard Music Awards The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by '' Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of ...
* 2014 Top Christian Album - " Precious Memories Volume II"
CMT Music Awards The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The ceremony launched in 1967 as Music City News Awards; it is the oldest award show currently airing under Paramount Global. The ceremony ...
* 2022 Artist of a Lifetime
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) is an American trade association with the stated aim of promoting and developing country music throughout the world. Founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, it originally consisted of 233 members and was the f ...
* 1992 Music Video of the Year – " Midnight in Montgomery" * 1993 Music Video of the Year – "Chattahoochee" * 1993 Single of the Year – " Chattahoochee" * 1993 Vocal Event of the Year – " I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" * 1994 Song of the Year with Jim McBride – " Chattahoochee" * 1995 Entertainer of the Year * 2000 Vocal Event of the Year – "Murder on Music Row" * 2002 Album of the Year – " Drive" * 2002 Male Vocalist of the Year * 2002 Entertainer of the Year * 2002 Single of the Year – " Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" * 2002 Song of the Year – " Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" * 2003 Entertainer of the Year * 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year * 2003 Vocal Event of the Year with
Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...
 – "
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" is a song performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, and written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins. It was released in June 2003 as the lead single from Jackson's 2003 compilation album '' Greatest Hits Volume ...
" *
2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in 2012 during the 46th Country Music Association Awards, CMA Awards, is given by the Country Music Association. The presentation of the award is intended to "honor an iconic artist who has ...
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
* 2002 Best Country Song – " Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" * 2011 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals- "
As She's Walking Away "As She's Walking Away" is a song by American country music group Zac Brown Band. Written by lead singer Zac Brown, along with Wyatt Durrette (songwriter), Wyatt Durrette, it features guest vocals from veteran country singer Alan Jackson. The song ...
", with
Zac Brown Band Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulele, ...
ASCAP Awards * 2014 Country Music Award for Heritage Award
Golden Boot Awards The Golden Boot Awards were an American acknowledgement of achievement honoring actors, actresses, and crew members who made significant contributions to the genre of Westerns in television and film. The award was sponsored and presented by th ...
* 2014 Album of the Year – " The Bluegrass Album" TNN Music City News Country Awards * 1990 Song of the Year "Here in the Real World" * 1991 Star of Tomorrow * 1991 Album of the Year "Here in the Real World" * 1992 Single of the Year "Don't Rock the Jukebox" * 1992 Album of the Year "Don't Rock the Jukebox" * 1992 Male Artist of the Year * 1993 Video of the Year "Midnight in Montgomery" * 1993 Song of the Year "Chattahoochee" * 1993 Male Artist of the Year * 1993 Entertainer of the Year * 1994 Video of the Year "Chattahoochee" * 1994 Single of the Year "Chattahoochee" * 1994 Album of the Year "A Lot About Livin" * 1994 Male Artist of the Year * 1994 Entertainer of the Year * 1995 Vocal Collaboration of the Year " A Good Year For the Roses" with George Jones * 1995 Single of the Year "Livin' on Love" * 1995 Album of the Year "Who I Am" * 1995 Male Artist of the Year * 1995 Entertainer of the Year * 1996 Male Artist of the Year * 1996 Entertainer of the Year * 1997 Male Artist of the Year * 1997 Entertainer of the Year * 2001 Video of the Year "WWW.Memory" * 2001 Song of the Year "Murder on Music Row" with George Strait * 2001 Single of the Year "Murder on Music Row" with George Strait * 2001 Album of the Year " When Somebody Loves You" * 2001 Collaborative Event of the Year "Murder on Music Row" with George Strait * 2001 Male Artist of the Year CMT Flameworthy Awards * 2002 Love Your Country Video of the Year- "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" Other Honors *2017: Inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amass ...


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Alan 1958 births Living people American country singer-songwriters American bluegrass musicians American gospel musicians American male singer-songwriters American people of English descent Arista Nashville artists Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) Grammy Award winners Grand Ole Opry members People from Newnan, Georgia People from Coweta County, Georgia EMI Records artists American country guitarists Guitarists from Georgia (U.S. state) American acoustic guitarists Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters