Alan Jackson Receives Major, Unexpected Honor at ACM Awards
We knew that Keith Urban was going to be honored during the 2025 ACM Awards on Thursday, May 8th. And we knew that Alan Jackson might be performing. But what the Academy of Country Music kept closely guarded is that Alan Jackson would be a big honoree on the night too, and with a Lifetime Achievement Award that henceforth will carry his name.
Alan Jackson was the inaugural recipient of the ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 60th Annual ACM Awards in Dallas (Frisco), TX. Announced right before he took the stage at about 8:30 Central, Alan first took the opportunity to perform his reflective song “Remember When,” with images and video of moments in his life and career beaming on the big screens behind him.
At one point, the staunch traditionalist called out, “Play that steel guitar. That’s real country music.” The whole performance became an emotional moment for all involved, with the cameras specifically finding performer Kaitlin Butts, who had tears streaming down her cheeks.
Afterwards, the man himself accepted the award that henceforth will be named after him.
“Thank everybody so much. It’s quite an honor,” Alan Jackson said. “A few years ago, one of my fans named their dog after me. I thought that was something. This is really… it’s amazing. Being serious now, I came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs, and a crazy dream. And all these years later I’m standing here receiving such an honor like this. It’s just mind-blowing.”
The award is similar to the one the CMA Awards give out most years called the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Awardafter Willie was the inaugural recipient in 2012.
“I thank God all the time, for all the people that have been part of my life and career that helped me get here and maintain this all this time,” Alan Jackson continued. “But I especially want to thank my fans all over this country, and all over the world … and I do want to especially thank one person who’s been my best friend since I was 17 years old. It’s my wife Denise.”
Due to a neurological disease, Alan Jackson has said his days of touring and performing are limited. He’s currently on his “Last Call: One for the Road” tour, with no official ending planned just yet.
But good to see the ACM Awards give Alan Jackson his flowers while he’s still around to experience it in person, and able to perform for appreciative fans.
May 8, 2025 @ 9:37 pm
Well deserved.
May 8, 2025 @ 9:52 pm
Nobody more deserving, he often feels out of place (in the best way) and the only legitimate and worthy act at these kind of events. It does make me feel sad though, I may never see him as an elder statesman and definitely don’t consider him ready to be put out to pasture. I hope he’s doing well with the disease and can hopefully have a touring career at his leisure, a la Jr & Strait where he could potentially play a dozen or half shows a year, even if he’s seated. His voice is still 👌🏼 May God Bless and Long Live that Man
May 8, 2025 @ 10:22 pm
I was bawling during his whole performance and speech. Listening to Blue Blooded Woman is one of my first memories in life and it instilled in me the pure joy that music can bring. I was listening to George Jones earlier today and thought that out of all the artists that came after him, Alan was the one to fill his shoes.
May 9, 2025 @ 3:33 am
Can anyone tell me the difference between the ACM lifetime achievement award and all the other icon, pioneer, spirit, etc awards they’ve given through the years?
May 9, 2025 @ 7:27 am
I’d have to look for specific definitions, but the CMAs also have a suite of “Lifetime Achievement” honors that don’t get given out each year, that honor people for different, though slightly similar achievements. Some are for humanitarian work, some are for foundational influence, some are for international impact. I’ll see if I can run them down. Often, they give these awards out as a way to justify appearances and performances, and lure artists to the presentation. All awards to this, even Americana and Ameripolitan.
May 9, 2025 @ 10:46 am
appreciate that, i only ask b/c Jackson won the cliffie stone pioneer icon award and the milestone award at the ACMs. he’s totally deserving of any career achievement award, just wondered if there is a difference in all these career awards.
May 9, 2025 @ 4:30 pm
You’re overthinking this. They needed to recognize Alan Jackson and give him an award in his farewell year. Apparently he’d already won all the awards–so they created a new one.
May 9, 2025 @ 4:34 pm
That’s probably right, and all awards shows do this. I have it on good authority that the CMT Awards created an award for Beyonce so she would show up on the 2024 presentation. When she declined, she didn’t get the award, because the award was just a mechanism for a performance.
I don’t say this to discount the honor to Alan Jackson. But this is how these things work.
May 11, 2025 @ 10:28 am
Really good question. Ask your phone it will answer you with good detail. I love that feature
May 9, 2025 @ 4:48 am
Totally deserved and about the only reason to watch the show last night. I loved his little dig at todays music with the steel guitar remark. I was thinking about the song murderers row with george strait. I saw where george said that waa kind of a lark. And with george andhis connections with nashville and the process, i could see that. Alan might have originally went along with it as such but i think he actually feels strongly about it. Alan has always seemed to be more humble and reverent to those that came before than george. Not a dig at george, just my personal thoughts.
May 9, 2025 @ 11:41 am
#Only if you’re referring to the fact that George Strait is not a member of the Grand Ole Opry (GOO)while Alan Jackson is makes it a dig at the King of Country Music:George Strait. Especially. since your post mentions nothing about the GOO but you implied so sadly. Musically, Alan Jackson is not on the same level as George Strait no matter how you spin it.
May 9, 2025 @ 4:00 pm
Id say he’s past it considering he wrote the majority if not all of his stuff.
May 9, 2025 @ 6:01 pm
Alan Jackson needs to concentrate on his illness and what seems to be his fate and leave George Strait alone. Thank God for George Strait. May God bless George Strait and his home state of Texas, amen.
May 10, 2025 @ 6:29 am
I dont even really know whaf you are rambling about. I didnt say anything about alan making a dig at george. I implied my statement could be deemed a dig but it wasnt. I just consider them two different people, one will go along with the process, the other will rock the boat a little if it isnt heading where they think it should. Nothing to do with the grand old opry and esp God. Also alan doesnt have any issue with george far as i know so i dont even know where you come up with that. Far as george being given the title king of country music, i have zero problem with that being he has 60 number ones. I listen to both both though i prefer alan. Largely because of his style but also because im the kind of person thats rocks the boat a bit. But this wasnt about any of that but to each their own.
May 9, 2025 @ 4:56 pm
Love George Strait, but I would never say that. They both are vital and titans but totally different. Somedays I wanna hear Strait and others AJ. I will say I think, in a very classy but clear way, Alan has been more outspoken against fake “Country”. The remark last night, the legendary Pop A Top/Choices moment, walking off stage, various interviews through the years etc, he’s made a stand. I’ve often wished others would be more outspoken, but George isn’t one of them. Strait walks the walk, and I appreciate it. I don’t expect him to say anything or think less of him because he doesn’t. But I do think a bit more of Alan because he does. David brought up a good point that gives Alan another edge, he seems to adhere to “honor thy legends” more. He’s made it clear in the past he adores the legends. I first became a fan because of Don’t Rock The Jukebox and his relationship with The Possum (I will never get over Alan at his funeral…I was moved). One gripe I do have is that Strait covered a Faron song yet I’ve never heard him acknowledge The Sheriff or that he had any kind of interaction or relationship with him (that might have been significant to Faron, being acknowledged and appreciated). Nonetheless, I would never put one down for the other musically, no matter how it’s spun. (Also, out of respect, The King of Country Music is traditionally bestowed on Acuff 😉).
May 10, 2025 @ 1:01 am
If George Strait ever ‘cover a Faron song’ as you have asserted, then it must have been a business arrangement and Faron Young was well compensated for the deal. For a while George Strait was not writing songs for personal reasons in the late eighties. Thank God he got his groove back and has come along way with 60 number one singles of all time in 2024 more than I can say for Alan Jackson on his best days.
May 10, 2025 @ 3:21 pm
I find this comment hilarious. I guess we need conedy instead of serious discussion. I usually let stuff like this go but i figure some education is due here. Alan jackson has written or cowritten 26 of his 35 number ones. George strait has written exactly 0 of his 60 number ones. Apparently without someone else, george wouldnt have done anything in music. I dont have issue with guys who rely on others to write their hits but dont try to confuse which takes more talent. But have a nice day.
May 10, 2025 @ 4:49 pm
Where legacy is concerned, there is no time for comedy. It is sickening that Alan Jackson and his cronies still think they hold the “secret” to George Strait’s career success. Well, kudos to Alan Jackson for graduating high school and had time to write his own songs. Comparatively at Alan Jackson’s age, George Strait was already happily and faithfully married to Norma(my best friend) and was a sergeant in the United States Army serving our country overseas. Mr. Strait was honorably discharged from the Army and earned a degree in agriculture from South West Texas University and playing music in honky tonks until the tragic death of his beloved daughter Jenifer Lyn Strait in 1987 and established a foundation in her name to keep her memory alive. Before his break from writing and the music scene, he had written several songs like: “I Can’t See Texas From Here” and “That Does Not Change The Way I Feel About You” to name a few. With only a high school diploma and the kind of life Alan Jackson lived,The deceased Alan Jackson will find it very difficult to pass any advanced exams to make it to college let alone graduate from any accredited colleges in the world. You are damed right Alan Jackson does not have a problem with George Strait so you know!
May 10, 2025 @ 5:58 pm
The song in question was “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (Then You Ain’t Livin’). Written by Tommy Collins. It’s doubtful Faron made any money on the deal.
May 9, 2025 @ 6:35 pm
Sylvia: I respect your opinion, but mine is quite different. AJ is much more enjoyable to listen to than GS, by a mile.
May 10, 2025 @ 12:11 am
At the Grand Ole Opry yes, Alan Jackson(AJ) might sound better than George Strait on their worst days, but not outside of the cult like music institution. and industry of: “Will the circle be broken” of Nashville, Tennessee where hometown Jelly Roll musician is even excluded from membership.
May 11, 2025 @ 8:26 pm
@SNP–Lemme take a guess here and say that you’re on psych meds.
May 9, 2025 @ 7:26 am
Am I the only one that felt like this felt the same as Toby’s last performance on a big stage?
May 9, 2025 @ 9:35 am
Could be, it def feels like it may be his last time in front of cameras.
May 9, 2025 @ 10:32 am
Toby had stomach cancer.
Jackson’s “CMT” illness reportedly can linger for many years, but either way, it’s a terrible. I’ll hate to see him needing a wheelchair, if it comes to that.
The other country star “stud” from their era–Tim McGraw–has also been on hiatus, due to medical issues recently, though in his case, reports were that it was things like bad knees, which can be fixed/replaced, and a bad back.
May 11, 2025 @ 6:19 pm
Sad that we’ve gotten to a point that fans of Strait and Jackson are feuding.
May 12, 2025 @ 10:20 pm
So I watched the clips and it was touching but I never noticed how many people had out their phones. Is this a thing at awards shows now it’s seem kinda off putting to me. But time change I guess.
May 13, 2025 @ 10:16 am
An ‘Award Show’ clip would be more likened to the conspiracy theorists floating around a God fearing artist who has been richly blessed, amen.