Alan Jackson to be Honored with Hall of Fame Exhibit
Alan Jackson may not officially be a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame just yet, but that isn’t stopping the museum from giving Jackson a special exhibit, scheduled to be opened on August 29th and run until March of 2015. The exhibit is called Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, and will coincide with Jackson’s 25-year commemorative tour, and a Hall of Fame Artist-in-Residence stint that will see Jackson give numerous performances at the Hall of Fame to intimate audiences.
“This exhibit will be a rare treat for museum visitors,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Fans will recognize artifacts from milestone moments in Alan’s career, as well as items from his life away from the stage that are as personal as many of the songs he has penned over the years. This exhibit and his Artist-in-Residence shows this fall are not to be missed.”
Over his 25-year career, 55-year-old Alan Jackson has accumulated 35 #1 hits, and has sold over 80 million records. He’s been awarded the CMA Entertainer of the Year three times, won 13 more CMA Awards, was awarded two Grammy Awards, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Hall of Fame exhibit is set to include:
- The guitar he played on the CMA Awards when he debuted “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” just two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks and the nation’s response that inspired the song.
- The front of an old, red Ford pickup truck that served as Jackson’s first Fan Fair booth, before his sister and brother-in-law had it made into a desk.
- Items from Jackson’s collection of “Mayberry” memorabilia a jacket, jersey and autographed picture from Don Knotts from one of his favorite television shows, The Andy Griffith Show.
- Jackson’s first tricycle, childhood bike and scooter, evidence that his love of vehicles started early.
- Harley-Davidson motorcycle from the cover of the seminal album A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love).
- The water ski Jackson rode, while wearing his trademark white cowboy hat, in the “Chattahoochee” music video.
- A collection of belt buckles from the Houston Rodeo which Jackson has played more than 20 times.
- Handwritten manuscripts of classics like “Drive,” “First Love” (about his ’55 T-bird), “Livin’ on Love” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”
- Numerous music awards, a sailfish caught by Jackson and much more.
Alan Jackson has recently become eligible for Country Music Hall of Fame induction, and is thought to be a front-runner to eventually be bestowed with the distinction.
July 23, 2014 @ 5:23 pm
I was never an AJ fan, but lately I’ve been coming around. As I grow older, there’s something nice about hearing an old, familiar voice. Good for him, he deserves it.
July 23, 2014 @ 10:04 pm
I don’t own every single album of his the way I do with George Strait, but I still love Alan Jackson. I just wish he’d get more airplay, but it seems he’s being shoved aside to make way for a new crop of singers who don’t even have a tenth of his talent.
July 24, 2014 @ 8:58 am
Same with me.
He certainly deserves this honor.
I instinctively discount most country artists who are ubiquitous on mainstream pop country stations.
But Alan is the real deal.
July 23, 2014 @ 5:26 pm
never heard of the guy…
July 23, 2014 @ 5:30 pm
Alan Jackson is my all-time favorite singer. In my eyes, he’s the most underrated country artist ever, but that’s not to see he isn’t a legend. He knows how to sing timeless songs in a true country fashion. Long live AJ!
July 24, 2014 @ 6:39 am
I am a big fan of Alan, having seen him live many times and owning most of his cd’s.
But he is not underrated at all. He has a very firm place in country music history and according to Wikipedia has soldover 80 million records, 16 CMA, 17 ACM and 2 Grammy awards and coast to coast sell out concerts. Not underrated but greatly respected as he should be.
July 23, 2014 @ 6:52 pm
So much love for AJ and his music! 25 years of honest country sung by a voice so warm and genuine it sounds effortless, like he was born to sing country music. He’s humble and never tried to be anything he isn’t. We need him back in the mainstream.
July 23, 2014 @ 7:14 pm
My 25 year old bass playing/guitar playing/rock drummer son steeped in everything from classic Zep and Queen to pretty much every contemporary rock/metal/shredder band tuning guitars down to low C and cranking amps up to 11 can hardly listen to George Jones’ ” He Stopped Lovin Her Today ” or Alan Jackson’s ” Small Town Southern Man” without tearing up . I’m enormously grateful that he ‘gets it’ . ( He listened to 30 seconds of Aldean’s new one and walked away laughing)
Although I’ve always been an AJ fan , I think the defining moment of his respect for the music and the people who gave so much to it was the awards show where George Jones was asked NOT to sing his entire hit CHOICES in order to keep the show moving . George decided not to perform it at all . AJ went on stage , sang half of his current hit , stopped his band and sang George’s CHOICES ( the video is on YOUTUBE) . The audience knew what was going on and stood to honor BOTH of these greats. Alan was also part of the duet performance of MURDER ON MUSIC ROW with George Strait . Those two statements say it all for me . Alan Jackson deserves all the kudos the Country world wants to shower upon him , in my opinion
July 23, 2014 @ 8:22 pm
July 24, 2014 @ 12:36 am
Look like Alan Jackson is another country music badass, I feel a list coming on. Though really he just seems like a sweet guy doing his country thing no matter what way the wind blows. I like more every time I he come up.
July 23, 2014 @ 8:50 pm
It’s amazing that Alan Jackson is being honored and it sucks that I don’t hear half of his songs on the radio anymore the last song I heard on the radio was you go your own way and it suck that he has not released a song from the Bluegrass album except he did release a music video for The blue moon Kentucky and his middle daughter in the video is gorgeous 🙂
July 24, 2014 @ 6:45 am
Bluegrass radio has been playing some of his bluegrass songs.
July 24, 2014 @ 8:51 am
I have the Bluegrass Album and I love every song on it. Alan doesnt have one bad song on any of his albums in my opinion. He is a living legend.
July 24, 2014 @ 4:15 pm
Alan is a living legend and hands down my favorite singer. While it’s a shame to not hear his stuff on the radio much any more, it’s great to see him get this honor
July 25, 2014 @ 9:26 am
Alan’s 90’s albums are the best. Good to know he’s honored.