Alan Jackson Receives Rare Award for Preserving Country’s Roots
True country music fans don’t need to be told just what a staunch supporter of the traditions of country music that Hall of Famer Alan Jackson has been throughout his career. It’s not just his musical resume, but moments like during the 1994 ACM Awards when he took off his tux to reveal a Hank Williams T-shirt, and directed his drummer to not hold sticks as he shadow played after the producers insisted Jackson sing to a backing track for the telecast.
Then there was the time at the 1999 CMA Awards when Jackson walked out on stage to perform his current single “Pop A Top,” and halfway through broke into “Choices” by his mentor George Jones, who the producers refused to let perform a full version. Alan Jackson also recorded the country music protest song “Murder on Music Row” with George Strait.
The list of times Alan Jackson stood up for country can go on of course, including many instances that are much less sensational and documented, but now all those efforts have been recognized in a unique and very rarely handed-out award by the Country Music Association called the “Joe Talbot Award.” First commissioned in 2001, it is meant to recognize individuals who show “outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of country music’s values and traditions.” Alan Jackson would certainly qualify.
Only seven other people have received the award, and Alan Jackson is only the fourth artist. George Jones won the award in 2015 posthumously, as did Merle Haggard in 2016. Marty Stuart also won the award in 2007.
“That’s pretty good company there with two of my heroes of all time, George and Merle,” Alan Jackson said when he was presented with the award on January 17th during a performance at the Ryman Auditorium. “I wish I could say something special about what I’m doing, but I just did what I liked, and I loved country music.”
Kitty Moon Emery, Louise Scruggs, and Janette Carter are the other Joe Talbot Award recipients, as well as Joe Talbot himself, who was a steel guitar player and lifetime member of the CMA Board of Directors who passed away in 2000. The award was christened the following year in honor of Talbot.
Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern said, “Alan Jackson has always stayed true to his roots. That’s why fans love him and it’s how he’s made such a considerable impact on our genre.”
There’s nothing flashy about the Joe Talbot Award. It’s is not televised and not many know about it. But it puts Alan Jackson in a very exclusive class of performers and individuals who devoted their lives to preserving country music, just like Alan Jackson has done.
January 26, 2020 @ 12:11 pm
Love that guy.
January 27, 2020 @ 8:46 am
Alan is the best. A down to earth man who loves his country music. He is true to the music he sings from his heart. I have a fb group I do by myself and he is loved by all.
January 27, 2020 @ 10:19 pm
I stood by Alan Jackson George Jones George straight always have always will I doubt if there will ever be anymore like them if there is I will be buying..Marty Stuart is right there and has been went to see him in Wheeling put on a fantastic show
January 26, 2020 @ 12:28 pm
in a just world any of AJ’s last few singles would be and should be considered country standards . STANDARDS….remember those ? instead they have been completely ignored in favour of wannabe’s and pop/southern pop .
thank God he keeps recording these terrific writes and brings whatever attention he can to the best COUNTRY writers .
January 26, 2020 @ 1:13 pm
Caught the set he and the Strayhorns did on the seventeenth on WSM’s Friday Night Opry while driving through LA – Lower Alabama – but static and carrier waves got in the way of hearing this part of the show.
Not surprising… tho…
January 26, 2020 @ 2:01 pm
Small Town Southern Man, Terry Haynes , by Alan Jackson!!!
January 26, 2020 @ 2:59 pm
Alan Jackson is a hero to country music musicians, especially guitar players. I think it’s because he actually likes them to play. And lets them.
January 26, 2020 @ 3:15 pm
Alan Jackson troll in 3…2…
No, seriously my first real experience with his music was when my brother and I picked watermelons for someone at our church when we were kids and were paid $10 each for our work. Our parents took us to Walmart that evening and he bought “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” on cassette, and I’ve been a fan ever since. And if that ain’t country, well, you know the rest.
January 26, 2020 @ 3:40 pm
He is so caring and highly respected singer.
Love his music and concerts.
January 26, 2020 @ 4:25 pm
I’m surprised George Strait hasn’t received this award yet. He’s just as staunch a traditionalist.
January 27, 2020 @ 5:43 am
I don’t think he is. Strait does a few traditional songs, but most of it is mid-tempo ballad stuff, like Glen Campbell without the strings, which is harder to define.
Jackson has certainly never recorded anything as pop as ‘It Was Love’, ‘Nobody In His Right Mind’, ‘It Ain’t Cool’, ‘Check Yes or No’, ‘Blue Clear Sky’, ‘True’, ‘It Just Comes Natura’, ‘Run’, ‘You Look So Good In Love’ and ‘Love Without End, Amen’.
They’re still good songs, of course, and I say all this as a listener of both artists.
January 27, 2020 @ 7:32 pm
A lot of Strait’s stuff that you call pop is actually Western Swing-influenced music. ‘Nobody In His Right Mind’, ‘It Ain’t Cool’, et al.
Anyway, this is kind of a manufactured award–designed to bring a veteran artist out on stage to receive an award. I doubt George Strait would care one way or the other about receiving it.
January 28, 2020 @ 6:06 am
I’m sorry, but no way is ‘Nobody in His Right Mind’, ‘It Ain’t Cool’ etc western swing. Strait’s done western swing too, but that would be ‘Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song’, ‘West Texas Town’, ‘Ace in the Hole’ and ‘Texas Cookin” etc.
January 26, 2020 @ 5:01 pm
He is so cute and loving
January 26, 2020 @ 5:50 pm
Alan Jackson is the real deal ! He’s a good guy from Grorgia and knows that People make a huge difference in Life and in Music !
He is a kind and respectable person ; he likes animals, trucks, cars, the feeling of being in a fishing or ski boat .. that’s as Real as it gets !
Love your music, Alan. Peace, Love, and Country Music !
January 26, 2020 @ 5:51 pm
Alan Jackson is the real deal ! He’s a good guy from Georgia and knows that People make a huge difference in Life and in Music !
He is a kind and respectable person ; he likes animals, trucks, cars, the feeling of being in a fishing or ski boat .. that’s as Real as it gets !
Love your music, Alan. Peace, Love, and Country Music !
January 26, 2020 @ 8:54 pm
At some point in the future, his “Like Red on a Rose” album is going to be recognized as one of the all-time classic CDs ever.
January 27, 2020 @ 7:00 am
I agree completely. I bought that CD on release day and played it diring a two-hour drive. From the first drum sounds, I realized he was doing something different with this album. Absolutely my favorite from him.
January 27, 2020 @ 5:26 pm
I agree also . I believe Alison Krause produced it and it is a masterpiece.
January 26, 2020 @ 9:00 pm
Speaking of Alan Jackson unique awards: a few years ago, he received the ASCAP Heritage Award, and for this particular presentation, they presented him not with a trophy but a large leather award. Now, here’s the unexpected twist: the leather award was designed by Elliott Park, writer of a #1 hit from around 2006 called “I Loved Her First”. Park is a graphic artist who has had a few songs recorded. If I can post a link, here’s a photo: https://www.umgnashville.com/news/alan-jackson-receives-ascap-heritage-award-at-52nd-annual-ascap-country-music-awards/
January 27, 2020 @ 2:30 am
Alan Jackson is a true country singer what they sing today is not country music
January 27, 2020 @ 8:08 am
Country is more then a song. A way of life. When the bases of all people an truth of life an God become the bases of a man then it’s country.thank you Alan for being true to his an man.We Love You!!see you in September. ( I’m so excited.)
January 27, 2020 @ 8:40 am
Alan has more heart than any other country singer out there and I’m glad he shares his music with us love me some Alan Jackson
January 27, 2020 @ 9:32 am
Alan Jackson brought me back to country in 1989…and made me leave it later in the late 2000s????. Other than some of the artists Trig lists (who I wouldn’t even have heard of without this page) I don’t listen to new country. Loss of tradition and sensitivity, loss of the artistry, “pop princess country,” and “bro country” just killed it for me.
When I was younger, the first album that really got to me was Lynn Anderson’s Rose Garden. Before you smirk or criticize listen to it and read the credits…the best song writers of the time, backing vocals by the Jordanaires etc. A cover of “For the Good Times” which will melt the speakers. That was 1970. Joke if you will about “Nash Vegas” later, under all the glitter was pretty music. Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle in the 80s just beautiful. This is where my tastes were developed.
Then the new players, Garth, Clint, Travis, KT, Pam etc and of course AJ came along. The 90s were a rare time. I can’t click with today. (BTW booze, sex, heartache, cheating and anguish have been subject matter since way back…but today especially bro country these subjects are treated so gratuitously,so purile and juvenile, that’s my opinion).
What I’m trying to say is that based on my past exposure to classic country and what it is now is shocking. The period AJ was most active was a brief respite, reaching back to this traditions I grew up on but in a very contemporary point if view.Even novelty tinged sings from AJ contain a certain depth that elevates. Congratulations AJ, your achievements go beyond the studio, singer for sure ???? but it is an honor to be called a historian as well…
February 5, 2020 @ 8:55 pm
“When I was younger, the first album that really got to me was Lynn Anderson’s Rose Garden.”
WHOA!!! You just took me back to when I was about 5 years old!!!! Now I gotta find this album, listen to it and stay there for a an hour or so!! Thanks for posting!!!!!!
January 27, 2020 @ 9:43 am
G.O.A.T.
January 28, 2020 @ 11:53 am
Great Alan deserves this. Love him so much. I am a true country fan. Saw him twice in concert. Wish he would come to la california again so I can see him. Live country
February 14, 2020 @ 9:49 am
I just LOVE Alan Jackson. He is a true country music star. I have a full sized
cardboard cutout of HIm in my bedroom given to me when I retired in 1970. My co-workers
signed and kidded me about him all the time.
I wish these “so called” country stations in northern Minnesota would play
more of the older country star’s music. I don’t much care for any of the new ones.
Keep the accoladed coming for AJ.