Alan Jackson, CMHoF To Celebrate 25 Years of Hits

Alan Jackson performs during a secret show at Nashville’s The Stage on June 4. Photo: Chris Hollo.

More than 60 charted singles, 35 No. 1 hits, 55 music videos, 16 CMA Awards, 18 ACM awards, three CMA Entertainer of the Year awards.

These are just a sampling of the accolades Alan Jackson has amassed during his 25 years in the spotlight since the release of his first single, “Blue Blooded Woman,” in 1989, and his first No. 1 song, “Here In The Real World,” in 1990.

On Thursday, June 5, radio personality Gerry House hosted Jackson’s performance, along with Universal Music Nashville CEO Mike Dungan, CAA booking agent John Huie, and Country Music Hall of Fame’s Kyle Young at the CMHoF’s Ford Theater to announce a string of events commemorating Jackson’s 25-year career. Dungan credited “Here In The Real World” with bringing him into the world of Country music. “I could not stop playing this song. I was working around these pop music people, and I’m playing ‘Here In The Real World’ over and over. It was that song that made me feel like I want a career in Country music and in Nashville. I attribute that song to the reason I came here.”

In 2015, Jackson will launch a 25-year anniversary tour, with dates to be announced soon. On Aug. 29, 2014, the Country Music Hall of Fame will open an exhibit dedicated to Jackson’s illustrious career as a singer, songwriter and entertainer. Among the memorabilia will be the Harley Davidson bike featured on the cover of his 1992 album, A Lot About Livin’ (And A Little ‘Bout Love), as well as the red leather jacket featured in his “Mercury Blues” video.

Jackson has made his 1955 Thunderbird available for display during the exhibition’s opening weekend.

In addition, Jackson will become the Country Music Hall of Fame’s 12th Artist-in-Residence for two concerts on Oct. 8, 2014 and Oct. 22, 2014. The artist-in-residence program will take place in the 800-seat CMA Theater.

“To have all this happen and get to where I am today, it’s the American dream,” Jackson said. “People don’t realize that we had nothing and I didn’t know anything about music when I started. Some guy said, ‘You sound as good as those people on the radio, you should move to Nashville.’ So I did. So much has happened.

Jackson said, of opening his collection of memorabilia to the museum, “It’s so many awards from so many places—radio stations give me things, mayors give me keys to the city, it’s crazy. I can’t believe it when we walk through our house, it makes my head spin. I always try to take it back to the music. I came here to sing Country music, and if you keep having a song every now and then that means something, it will keep your career going for a while. I’m still a fan. I hope it all goes back to the music, ‘cause all the other stuff in the spotlight doesn’t mean anything without the music. Thanks Country Music Hall of Fame for all of this attention.”

He was quick to confirm that he doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon. “A lot of people were asking if this was a retirement announcement. I tell people, ‘I don’t know what I will retire from, I don’t work that much now,” he quipped. “A lot of my heroes just kept working. I’ll probably do the same thing as long as I’m enjoying it and the fans enjoy it.”