Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Alan Jackson

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Alan Jackson made an impact.

Alan Jackson is a highly successful American country music singer-songwriter, celebrated for his "neotraditional country" sound. He distinguishes himself by writing a significant portion of his own material. His extensive discography includes 21 studio albums, encompassing Christmas and gospel genres, alongside several greatest hits compilations. Jackson remains a prominent figure in the country music landscape.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1989: CMA Nominations

In 1989, Alan Jackson was nominated for six CMAs.

1991: Membership in the Grand Ole Opry

In 1991, Alan Jackson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted by Roy Acuff and Randy Travis.

1994: Additional CMA Nominations

In 1994, Alan Jackson received four more CMA nominations, including one for Entertainer of the Year.

June 5, 1995: TNN/Music City News Country Awards Nominations

On June 5, 1995, Alan Jackson was the most nominated artist at the 29th annual TNN/Music City News Country Awards, broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House. He received six nominations, including best entertainer, male artist, vocal collaboration, album, single, and video (two nominations in this category).

1995: Fruit of the Loom Comfort Tour

Alan 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.

October 22, 2001: Induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

On October 22, 2001, Alan Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

2002: Record-Breaking CMA Nominations

At the 2002 CMAs, Alan Jackson set a record for the most nominations in a single year with ten, many stemming from the song "Where Were You". This also brought his career total to the second-highest number of nominations ever, after George Strait. "Where Were You" was also nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year.

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2003: Academy of Country Music Awards

At the 2003 Academy of Country Music Awards, Alan Jackson won Album of the Year for Drive and Video of the Year for the video to "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."

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2004: NAPA Auto Parts Sponsored Tour

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, with Martina McBride opening for some shows.

2008: George Jones at CMT Giants Ceremony

In 2008, George Jones was a surprise guest at Alan Jackson's "CMT Giants" ceremony, where he thanked Jackson for his friendship.

March 2011: CMC Rocks The Hunter Music Festival

In March 2011, Alan Jackson visited Australia to perform at the CMC Rocks The Hunter music festival, where he was the headline act on Saturday night.

August 2014: Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit

In August 2014, the Country Music Hall of Fame opened an exhibit celebrating Alan Jackson's 25 years in the music industry. It was also announced that he would be an artist in residency, performing shows on October 8 and 22. The exhibit highlighted milestones in his career with memorabilia collected over the years.

January 8, 2015: Keeping It Country Tour Began

On January 8, 2015, Alan Jackson's twenty-fifth anniversary "Keeping It Country" tour began in Estero, Florida.

January 2015: 25th Anniversary Tour and New Album Announcement

In January 2015, Alan Jackson began his 25th anniversary "Keepin' It Country" tour, and in April, his twentieth studio album, Angels and Alcohol, was announced for release on July 17.

November 2015: Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story Released as Walmart Exclusive

In November 2015, Legacy Recordings initially released the collection 'Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story' as a Walmart exclusive.

2015: 25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country Tour

In 2015, Alan Jackson kicked off his 25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country tour, beginning with a concert in Estero, Florida, on January 8 at the Germane Arena. Jon Pardi & Brandy Clark were special guests for most concerts of the tour, which wrapped with a solo concert in Highland Park, Illinois, at the Ravinia Pavilion on August 31.

August 2016: Worldwide Release of Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story

In August 2016, Legacy Recordings released the collection 'Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story' digitally and on three CDs with 59 tracks, including eight previously unreleased tracks dedicated to Merle Haggard's memory. The collection had a worldwide release after initially being a Walmart exclusive in November 2015.