Alan Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Jackson
Jackson in April 2010
Background information
Birth name	Alan Eugene Jackson
Born	(1958-10-17) October 17, 1958 (age 66) Newnan, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Neotraditional country bluegrass gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Arista Nashville EMI Nashville Big Machine Alan's Country Records

Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is a famous American country music singer and songwriter. He is known for his "neotraditional country" style, which means he keeps country music sounding classic and traditional. Alan Jackson has written many of his own songs.

He has released 21 studio albums, including two Christmas albums and two gospel albums. He also has three greatest-hits albums. Alan Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists ever. He has sold over 75 million records around the world. In the United States alone, he has sold 44 million records.

Many of his songs have been very popular. He has had 66 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Out of these, 38 songs reached the top five, and 35 became number one hits! Nine of his 15 albums on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart have sold millions of copies. Alan Jackson has won many awards, including two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music show. He was also added to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2017, he joined the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2018, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Alan Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia. His parents were Joseph Eugene Jackson and Ruth Musick Jackson. He grew up with four older sisters in a small home. This home was built around his grandfather's old toolshed. His family mostly has English roots. His mother lived in that home until she passed away in 2017. Alan started writing music in 1983.

When he was young, Alan mostly listened to gospel music. Later, a friend introduced him to country artists like Gene Watson, John Anderson, and Hank Williams Jr.. He went to Elm Street Elementary and Newnan High School. After graduating, he joined a band called Dixie Steel. When he was 27, Alan and his wife, Denise, moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville is known as the home of country music. He hoped to become a full-time musician there. In 1987, he made a demo album called New Traditional. This album is very rare and was only released in Japan.

Alan Jackson's Music Career

When Alan first moved to Nashville, he worked in the mailroom at The Nashville Network. His wife, Denise, was a flight attendant. One day, she met famous singer Glen Campbell on a flight. She asked him for advice for her husband. Campbell gave her his manager's business card. This helped Alan's career get started.

Alan eventually signed with Arista Records. In 1989, he became the first artist to join the new Arista Nashville branch. His first single, "Blue Blooded Woman," came out in late 1989. It didn't reach the top 40. But in early 1990, his song "Here in the Real World" reached number three. This song was the title track for his first album, Here in the Real World. This album also had two more top five hits: "Wanted" and "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow". His first number one hit was "I'd Love You All Over Again".

Hit Songs and Albums in the 1990s

Alan's second album, Don't Rock the Jukebox, came out in 1991. It featured four number-one songs: "Don't Rock the Jukebox", "Someday", "Dallas", and "Love's Got a Hold on You". Another song, "Midnight in Montgomery", reached number three. Alan also helped write songs for Randy Travis's 1991 album, High Lonesome.

His third album, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love), had more number-one hits. These included "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" and "Chattahoochee". "Chattahoochee" won him the 1994 Country Music Association (CMA) awards for Single and Song of the Year. In 1994, Alan changed his management team. His fourth album, Who I Am, had four number-one hits. These were "Summertime Blues", "Livin' on Love", "Gone Country", and "I Don't Even Know Your Name".

In 1995, Alan released The Greatest Hits Collection. It had 17 of his hits and two new songs. These new songs, "I'll Try" and "Tall, Tall Trees", both became number one hits. His album Everything I Love followed in 1996. Its first single, "Little Bitty", also topped the charts.

Alan Jackson in the 2000s

Jackson performing in 2002

In the 1990s and 2000s, country music started to sound more like pop music. Alan Jackson and George Strait spoke out about this in their song "Murder on Music Row". This song started a big discussion in the country music world. People wondered if "traditional" country music was disappearing. Even though the song wasn't officially released as a single, it became very popular on country radio. Alan and George were invited to perform it at the 2000 Academy of Country Music Awards.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Alan Jackson released "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)". This song was a tribute to those who died in the attacks. It became a huge hit and brought him a lot of attention. Alan first performed the song at the 2001 CMA Awards. His performance was a highlight of the show. His website even crashed the next day because so many people tried to visit it. The song was later included on his 2002 album, Drive.

In early 2006, Alan released his first gospel music album, Precious Memories. He made this album because his mother loved religious music. He thought it would be a small project, but it sold over 1.8 million copies.

Jackson performing in 2005

A few months later, he released Like Red on a Rose. This album had a different sound than his usual style. It was more like soft rock. Some fans were not happy, thinking he was changing his style too much. But for his next album, Good Time (2008), he returned to his classic country sound. This album included popular songs like "Small Town Southern Man" and "Country Boy". "Sissy's Song" was dedicated to a family friend who passed away.

Later Career: 2010s and 2020s

Jackson performing in 2012

His sixteenth studio album, Freight Train, came out in 2010. It featured singles like "It's Just That Way" and "Hard Hat and a Hammer". In 2010, Alan also released another greatest-hits collection called 34 Number Ones. This album included a cover of the Johnny Cash hit "Ring of Fire". It also had a duet with Zac Brown Band called "As She's Walking Away".

In 2011, Alan Jackson signed a new record deal with Capitol's EMI Records Nashville. In 2012, he released the album Thirty Miles West. He released his second gospel album, Precious Memories Volume II, in 2013. Later that year, he released his first bluegrass album, The Bluegrass Album. This album reached number one on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart. In 2014, he recorded a song for the movie A Million Ways to Die in the West.

In August 2014, the Country Music Hall of Fame opened an exhibit to celebrate Alan Jackson's 25 years in music. He also performed special shows there. In January 2015, he started his "Keeping It Country" tour to celebrate his 25th anniversary. In 2016, Alan was part of "Forever Country", a mash-up song celebrating 50 years of the CMA Awards. In October 2017, he released a new song called "The Older I Get". His album Where Have You Gone was released four years later. This album had a very traditional country sound. Alan has said he worries that "country music is gone, and it's not coming back."

Awards and Honors

Alan Jackson has received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was nominated for six CMAs in 1989. In 1991, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This is a very special honor in country music.

At the 2002 CMAs, Alan Jackson set a record. He received ten nominations in one year, many for his song "Where Were You". This brought his total nominations to the second highest ever, after George Strait. "Where Were You" was also nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year. In 2003, he won Album of the Year for Drive at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He also won Video of the Year for "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."

In 2004, a five-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in his hometown of Newnan was renamed the "Alan Jackson Highway." He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2010, Alan Jackson was chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Touring and Performances

Alan Jackson has toured extensively throughout his career. In 1995, he headlined the Fruit of the Loom Comfort Tour. This tour included one hundred shows. His 2004 concert tour began in January and had over 50 dates across the U.S. Martina McBride opened for some of these shows. In March 2011, he performed in Australia at the CMC Rocks The Hunter music festival.

In 2015, Alan Jackson started his 25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country tour. This tour began in Estero, Florida. Special guests like Jon Pardi and Brandy Clark joined him for many concerts. The tour ended in Highland Park, Illinois, in August. In March 2022, Alan Jackson announced his "One More For The Road Tour."

Alan Jackson's Band: The Strayhorns

Alan Jackson records his albums and performs live with his band, called The Strayhorns. As of 2022, the band members are:

• Mark McClurg – plays acoustic guitar and sings harmony.
• Scott Coney – plays acoustic and baritone guitars, banjo, and sometimes fiddle.
• Rusty Danmyer – plays steel guitar.
• Danny Groah – plays lead guitar.
• Ryan Joseph – plays fiddle, mandolin, and sings harmony.
• Bruce Rutherford – plays drums.
• Joey Schmidt – plays keyboards.
• Roger Wills – plays bass guitar.

Personal Life and Family

Jackson with his family at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2010

Alan Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Jackson, on December 15, 1979. They have three daughters: Mattie Denise Selecman (born 1990), Alexandra Jane "Ali" (born 1993), and Dani Grace (born 1997). In December 2022, Alan and Denise became grandparents when their daughter Ali and her husband welcomed their first child, a son.

Alan and Denise briefly separated in 1998 due to the stress of Alan's career. However, they worked things out and got back together. Denise Jackson wrote a book about her life with Alan. It was called It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life and became a best-seller. In 2008, she released another book called The Road Home.

Alan Jackson's nephew, Adam Wright, is also a country music singer and songwriter. Adam and his wife, Shannon, perform as a duo called The Wrights. Alan Jackson is also a cousin of former Major League Baseball player Brandon Moss.

Alan Jackson was good friends with fellow country singer George Jones. George Jones was mentioned in Alan's songs like "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "Murder on Music Row." In 2008, George Jones surprised Alan at a "CMT Giants" ceremony. At George Jones' funeral in 2013, Alan Jackson performed one of Jones' classic songs, "He Stopped Loving Her Today". Alan is also close friends with George Strait, who sang "Murder on Music Row" with him.

Alan Jackson loves collecting classic cars. His collection includes an Amphicar, a 1968 Shelby GT 500 KR Convertible, and a 1970 Chevelle SS 396.

In 2021, Alan Jackson shared on The Today Show that he has Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT). This is a nerve disease that affects his balance. He said it has been affecting him for years and is becoming more noticeable.

Selected Discography

Awards and Recognitions

American Music Awards

• 1993 Favorite Country Single: "Chattahoochee"
• 1993 Favorite Country Album: "A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)"

Academy of Country Music

• 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 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)"
• 2001 Top Male Vocalist
• 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"
• 2003 Vocal Event of the Year with Jimmy Buffett: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
• 2018 Cliffie Stone Icon Award

Billboard Music Awards

• 2014 Top Christian Album: "Precious Memories Volume II"

CMT Music Awards

• 2022 Artist of a Lifetime

Country Music Association

• 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: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
• 2022 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award

Grammy Awards

• 2002 Best Country Song: "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"
• 2011 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals: "As She's Walking Away", with Zac Brown Band

ASCAP Awards

• 2014 Country Music Award for Heritage Award

Golden Boot Awards

• 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

See also

In Spanish: Alan Jackson para niños