Today, October 17, 2025, marks the 67th birthday of Alan Eugene Jackson — one of country music’s enduring legends, whose voice and songwriting have kept the spirit of traditional country alive across generations.
Alan Jackson was born on October 17, 1958, in Newnan, Georgia, USA. He was the youngest of five children, growing up in humble circumstances. In his youth, he listened primarily to gospel music in church, and later branched into country music after friends introduced him to the sounds of Gene Watson, Hank Williams Jr., and John Anderson.
When he was 16, his parents gifted him a $50 guitar to nurture his musical interest. At 17, he made his first public appearance in a school production of Oklahoma. After high school, Jackson held jobs such as forklift operator, construction worker, and car salesman to sustain himself while pursuing music.
Initially playing in small clubs around Georgia, Jackson and his high school sweetheart Denise (whom he later married) relocated to Nashville in 1979 to further his musical ambitions.
Jackson’s major career began in the 1980s, ultimately signing with Arista Nashville. His early single “Blue Blooded Woman” did not chart high, but he broke through with Here in the Real World (1990), whose track “I’d Love You All Over Again” became his first No. 1 country hit.
Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Jackson championed the neotraditional country style, resisting pressure to drift into more pop-influenced territory. He has released over 21 studio albums, as well as Christmas, gospel, and greatest-hits compilations. Among his best-known songs are “Chattahoochee”, “Livin’ On Love”, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”, “Remember When”, and “Drive”.
The magnitude of Jackson’s success is remarkable: he has sold over 75 million records globally (44 million in the U.S.). He charted 66 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, 35 of which reached No. 1. He has earned 2 Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards, and many additional accolades.
As a songwriter, Jackson penned many of his own hits. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and later into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
In recent years, Jackson publicly revealed that he has been living with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT), a degenerative nerve disorder affecting his mobility and balance. Because of this, he has decided to retire from regular touring, and he is planning a farewell concert titled Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale on June 27, 2026, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Despite his health challenges, Jackson remains grateful and clear with his fans. He emphasized that if he appears unsteady on stage, it is not due to intoxication but a symptom of CMT — a condition that is not fatal but may lead to greater impairment over time.
Over four decades, Alan Jackson has been a bulwark for traditional country, inspiring countless artists who came afterward. His voice—simple yet deeply emotional—and his storytelling about life, love, and family resonate with listeners deeply.
Today, as we celebrate his 67th birthday, we send our warmest wishes to Alan Jackson — may he enjoy continued health, preserve his musical legacy, and remain beloved by fans, even as he gradually steps back from the stage. And above all, thank you for the songs that have accompanied us through so many years.