Alan Jackson Announced As Newest Inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame
Alan Jackson is the new “Modern Era” inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The announcement came Wednesday morning (4-5) at a press conference in the Hall of Fame rotunda in Nashville hosted by Hall of Famer Vince Gill. Alan Jackson chuckled at having his career characterized as “modern,” since his time in country has been marked as one of the mainstream’s staunchest traditionalists.
“My whole career has just been a fairytale, all the stuff that’s happened to me,” Jackson said from the podium in the rotunda. “I came to Nashville with nothing and ignorant about the music business and had no experience and then to go through all of this, this is the ultimate piece of the puzzle. I don’t even know how to describe it.”
One of the biggest superstars in country music history, and one of the genre’s most uncompromising supporters of the traditional roots of the music, Alan Jackson deserves the Country Music Hall of Fame distinction as much as anyone from the modern era. With an astounding 60 million records sold worldwide, thirty-five #1 hits, fifty Top 10 hits, two Grammy Awards, and 16 Country Music Association Awards including Entertainer of the Year in 1995, 2002 and 2003, his career could be couched as Hall of Fame worthy, and then some.
The 57-year-old Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia, and grew up on Gospel and the music of artists such as Gene Watson and John Anderson. At the age of 27, he moved with his wife to Nashville to pursue music as a career. In a classic story of climbing the country music ladder, Jackson’s career started as a mail boy in the offices of TNN. Glen Campbell helped get Jackson’s singing career started, and by 1989 he was signed to Arista Nashville. Albums like Don’t Rock The Jukebox and A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love) awarded Jackson many hits and massive commercial success, but unlike many of his early and mid 90’s contemporaries, Jackson mostly stayed true to his roots and kept it country, earning acclaim both from the industry, critics, and older artists.
Jackson settled into his career into the 2000’s, and became know as a staunch, outspoken opponent of the abandoning of country’s roots present in the genre at the time. Jackson launched a famous protest in 1999 when the CMA Awards asked George Jones to perform an abbreviated version of his song “Choices,” and along with George Strait, he cut the country protest song “Murder On Music Row” in 2000.
Today, Alan Jackson has settled in nicely as a legacy act that still has great respect and clout with younger artists. His 2013 offering The Bluegrass Album ushered in an era where Jackson is reconnecting with his roots, while still remaining a commercial force in country music, and his 2015 album Angels & Alcohol gave him yet another #1 record. Though it took a few years of eligibility for Jackson to make it, he was considered a shoe-in for the distinction. One of the reasons his induction might have been held up is Jackson’s high-profile moments of protest at the CMA’s over the years, including walking out during Beyonce’s performance at the 50th Annual CMA Awards.
The other 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees were Jerry Reed in the Veteran’s Era, and Don Schlitz in the Songwriting category. All the newest members will be formally inducted in a medallion ceremony later this year.
Jackie
April 5, 2017 @ 8:39 am
This makes my day!!! Congratulations, Alan Jackson!
Sir Adam the Great
April 5, 2017 @ 8:41 am
“Here In the Real World” was one of my first cassettes, so I’ve been a fan for quite a while. He is very deserving of this honor.
caj
April 5, 2017 @ 8:43 am
This is wonderful news – such a deserving honor to a great singer, songwriter, and man.
It still makes me wonder how long it will take for acts like Crystal Gayle, Tanya Tucker, Dottie West, and others to get in, but I have no complaints about Jackson taking his rightful place in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
Justin
April 5, 2017 @ 8:43 am
Alan Jackson is my favorite. He probably should have been in ten years ago, but maybe they had to make sure his career was officially over first. He had a comeback in 2001 and really one in 2008. Staring out he asked in an interview, “You know that song ‘who’s gonna fill their shoes?’ Well I don’t know if I can ever fill ’em but I’d sure like to try ’em on.” Well he not only filled them he surpassed most of his contemporaries. The question is who will fill his shoes. The answer is No one. No one.
Greatest country singers of all-time:
1. George Strait
2. Hank Williams
3. Alan Jackson
Honky
April 5, 2017 @ 9:12 am
I’m a big fan of all three of the folks you’ve named here. But if we’re talking strictly in terms of vocal ability, these are three of the most overrated singers in Country music history.
Wyatt
April 5, 2017 @ 6:54 pm
Well that’s subjective haha. I would only agree with Hank Sr. personally. Willie Nelson I would add.
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 9:16 am
Good point on Alan Jackson’s songwriting, often overlooked in his career.
He has only been eligible in the Modern category for a few years, and like all three categories, competition is fierce.
the pistolero
April 5, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
Staring out he asked in an interview, “You know that song ‘who’s gonna fill their shoes?’ Well I don’t know if I can ever fill ’em but I’d sure like to try ’em on.”
I remember that quote, and I remember after seeing him live on the George Strait festival tour in 2001 thinking that by that point that those shoes fit like they were tailor-made for him.
Alan absolutely deserves this. Good for him.
Donny
April 6, 2017 @ 4:33 am
Totally agree. Alan is one of the greatest of all time. I doubt we will ever see another singer like him.
Smokey J
April 5, 2017 @ 8:47 am
Well deserved. Still really wish they’d loosen up and put more in at once. If so, he’d have been first-ballot, easily. The backlog has to be huge. Alan made a nice joke about still being considered “modern era”. Lol.
Amanda
April 5, 2017 @ 8:49 am
This is amazing news!! He really deserves this.
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 12:30 pm
No he does not. Alan Jackson is the man who destroyed country music, by living up to negative stereotypes and dumbing the genre down (like when he said he couldn’t tell the difference between Iraq and Iran in his stupid 9/11-exploiting song). Not to mention he covered rappers Wiz Khalifa and Young Joc at one of his concerts. He’s definitely not country. #AlanJacksonKilledCountry
Tom
April 5, 2017 @ 1:05 pm
Forget to take your medication?
Dp
April 5, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
Wrong, so wrong.
Andrew
April 5, 2017 @ 2:12 pm
You’re totally wrong. Sorry. I’m sure almost no one will back you on this.
Bob Bowman
April 6, 2017 @ 1:55 pm
Horse manure; you don’t know much about country; Alan Jackson one of the few keeping classic country alive, now that George Jones & Merle Haggard have passed.
Andrew
April 5, 2017 @ 8:58 am
That’s one hell of a Hall of Fame class.
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 9:17 am
I agree. Of course there are folks that are still left out and need to get in. But hard to argue with this class all the way around.
Doug
April 5, 2017 @ 9:56 am
Agreed. Can’t feel bad about any of these inductees. To the contrary, congrats to all, well deserved. And thanks to Vince Gill for once again not taking himself or the silly parts of the occasion too seriously. Like other commenters here, I had “Here In the Real World” on cassette. Had my doubts at the time about Jackson’s singing, but his songwriting made up for it, and over the years he has earned tremendous respect for his dedication to true country music (especially George Jones).
albert
April 5, 2017 @ 8:59 am
yup……..for a minute there i thought Rhett might leap frog everyone …….I mean …”Vacation ..”…??
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 10:27 am
Hopefully the Bro-Country era ends up being like the steroid era in baseball, and those guys get annually passed over when their time comes and we go right to Stapleton and Sturgill.
Tom
April 5, 2017 @ 10:34 am
I’m thinking that when those guys become eligible they should suspend the modern category for a few years and add a second pick to the veteran category, since that’s where the current modern era backlog will be by that time.
Scotty J
April 5, 2017 @ 10:50 am
Many will get in I would almost guarantee. Aldean and Bryan are probably locks in the 2030s I would bet.
Gabe
April 5, 2017 @ 11:16 am
Sad but true
Garrett Roe
April 5, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Hot damn! This is awesome!
Tubb
April 5, 2017 @ 9:34 am
Great class this year. They nailed it
musicfan
April 5, 2017 @ 9:38 am
Excellent news…very happy to hear this.
The Senator
April 5, 2017 @ 9:59 am
What a well deserving inductee. Alan Jackson’s a tremendous performer, has always had solid songs, and the Bluegrass Album is one of my favorite country albums of all time. Great to see that the voters are making some picks we can get behind.
dave
April 5, 2017 @ 10:07 am
Alan defintley deserves it I’m a fan of his glad he got in….. with that being said I’m sick of Hank Jr, being fucked over year after year after year!!
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 10:25 am
You’ve got to think with these two heavyweights now out of the way, Hank Jr. is in the drivers seat to be inducted in the next two years. I’d say he’s now sitting there as one of the most obvious choices beside Jerry Lee Lewis and Ricky Skaggs.
Rosetta
April 5, 2017 @ 10:16 am
He deserves it and so much more! He is truly what country music is all about. The best in my book. Great singer!
Dan Morris
April 5, 2017 @ 1:12 pm
I was pulling for Ricky Skaggs myself though AJ isn’t a bad choice either. I noticed someone commented that maybe they waited until they knew Alan was retired for sure before bestowing this honor. I wonder if that does come into play when they are debating. Could be why Skaggs and Hank Jr and so many other deserving musicians are still waiting. They need put down their instruments long enough to be considered.
Luckyoldsun
April 5, 2017 @ 2:04 pm
This is not the Baseball Hall of Fame. Artists do not need to retire in order to be elected to the H-o-F. Most of the great ones have kept right on playing until they were dead–or close to it. George Strait was still making #1 hits after he got inducted. But Jones, Haggard, Willie, Cash, Price, Loretta, Dolly, etc. all kept performing and making records for decades after they got into the H-o-F.
Dan Morris
April 5, 2017 @ 3:08 pm
You are right about that of course. I was just wondering if, when the powers that be are making a decision and are faced with a difficult choice, that would come into play. If it isn’t an obvious choice like Haggard, Jones, etc. maybe the musician who is retired or maybe sick or just getting older might have an edge. The H-of-F committee could figure a still active musician will have lots of opportunity in the future to be inducted. I suppose we will never know what criteria informs the final decisions.
Bob Bowman
April 6, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
Alan Jackson is still performing; will be seeing him Saturday night 4/8/2017 in Saint Augustine, Florida. He is a long way from retiring.
Biscuit
April 5, 2017 @ 10:20 am
Great news with Alan and Jerry being inducted!
Scotty J
April 5, 2017 @ 10:52 am
This is a good class and the fact that they didn’t go too far off the beaten path may be a good sign that they are getting serious about taking care of the backup of nominees.
Hank Jr is now the by far no brainer left.
WestTexasRain
April 5, 2017 @ 12:05 pm
ABOUT DAMN TIME SHOULD OF HAPPENED TEN YEARS AGO. IM A HUGE AJ FAN HE DESERVED IT WAY BEFORE NOW BUT GLAD THEY FINALLY DID IT! Probably took so long because of his standing up to the ACM’s twice.
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 12:17 pm
Nice try, but Alan Jackson killed country music by dumbing it down and living up to stereotypes. Also, he covered Wiz Khalifa and Young Joc at a concert.
Nate
April 5, 2017 @ 3:22 pm
And Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nails. Who gives a fuck.
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 12:22 pm
Alan Jackson at the Country Music Hall of Fame? Are you kidding me? This makes a much sense as hearing Nicki Minaj on a heavy metal station! Alan Jackson is what destroyed country music. This is the guy who dumbed down country music and made it look ignorant (i.e., that 9/11-exploiting song where he couldn’t tell the difference between Iraq and Iran) and lived up to negative stereotypes of the genre (Country Boy, It’s Alright to be a Redneck). Not to mention he helped invent bro-country (Chattahoochee, which has various bro-country buzzwords like beer, trucks, and moonlight. Oh, and did I forget to mention Alan covered Wiz Khalifa’s “We Dem Boyz” and Young Joc’s “It’s Goin’ Down” at one of his concerts. He’s truly the Nickelback of country music. #AlanJacksonKilledCountry
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
This better be sarcasm.
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 12:55 pm
It probably is but one can never be sure with all of the bro-country fans running around.
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 1:03 pm
This isn’t sarcasm at all. This man is part of the reason why so many people nowadays hate country music, and he did it by dumbing the genre down and boosting country music’s stereotypes in many of his songs. Hank Sr. would dropkick him.
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 2:35 pm
LOL.
I would bet that Hank Sr. would like Alan. I cannot say for certainly but Alan seems like the type of country singer that Hank Sr. would respect.
And honestly, you could say the same slander about George Jones. He sings about a few country stereotypes as well. The thing is, unlike the bro-country peeps, they sang with style and intelligence about those stereotypes.
dave
April 5, 2017 @ 4:50 pm
Hank sr. would most ceartaily not drop kick him remember alans tribute to him midnight in Montgomery and Hank Jr and Hank 3 both like alans music. Hank srs old band members were all fans of alans also. The only thing dumb downed here is your stupid fucking comeants
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 12:56 pm
About darn time!
The man is a legend. He is a master of emotion and fun. His Gospel albums are excellent and many of his album cuts are among my favorites of his.
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 1:04 pm
He ain’t a legend when he destroyed the genre and covered Wiz Khalifa’s “We Dem Boyz” and Akon’s “Don’t Matter” at several of his concerts.
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 2:33 pm
What?
I have a hard time believing that.
Bertox
April 5, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
I composed a rap song for Alan to perform at his induction ceremony:
“Sup y’all, it’s A.J. in the Hall Of Fame
How it took so f#@$n long is a @%#damn shame
But at least I’m in now, so I ain’t finding no faults
Except for Cora over there smokin’ all dem bath salts!!”
Cora
April 5, 2017 @ 1:51 pm
Not surprised considering Alan Jackson once covered rappers Wiz Khalifa and Young Joc at a concert. Alan Jackson is a disgrace to country music and he makes Johnny Cash and Tupac both roll over in their graves.
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 2:06 pm
Dude, you keep saying the same thing.
You seem like you’d be real fun at parties. What, you pay for an Alan Jackson meet and greet once and got kicked out for trying to lick his face, and now he’s your mortal enemy?
You made your point. Now make another, or move on.
Honky
April 5, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
Trigger,
I think you may have all been duped by Cora. It sounds like he/she is trying to troll us all by pretending to be an extremist version of you; a Country music traditionalist so extreme that even Alan Jackson isn’t country enough.
Andrew
April 5, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
You have said the same thing like 10 times on this reply thread. Nobody here will agree with you. You’ve obviously been smoking something pretty strong. Move on man…
albert
April 5, 2017 @ 6:15 pm
Hey Cora ….fess up . You’re Studs or L’il Dale …..right ???
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 2:32 pm
One of the Home Improvement episodes today has Alan playing “Mercury Blues.”
Scotty J
April 5, 2017 @ 2:38 pm
Is that a Wiz Khalifa song? Or is that by Yung Joc? Asking for a friend.
CountryKnight
April 5, 2017 @ 2:39 pm
I never heard of those singers until the troll mentioned them.
It is actually a Two Chains classic.
Farmer Brian
April 5, 2017 @ 3:27 pm
Great song. One of my favorites as a kid, and still is to his day.
Defend Austin sound
April 5, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
What’s up with the trolls lately Trigger.. congrats to Alan Jackson, Schlitz, and Jerry Reed. I am pulling for Ricky Skaggs to get in next year.
Karen kinserlow
April 5, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
I. Have been watching. His lifetime in country music for a long time now he’s most deseving for this. He’s ‘ a greatcountry music singer. Very great man
Acca Dacca
April 5, 2017 @ 3:26 pm
Very happy to see Alan Jackson get in the Hall as well. It was never gonna happen, but I think he should have gotten in before Garth Brooks did. His legacy is so much more consistent and favorable to country music, both of the past and present, that he deserves it more than most of his contemporaries. And it might be a low blow, but it’s also worth pointing out he didn’t put on a wig, brand himself with a different name and start making boy band songs, either. All of his albums are at least decent to great, he writes a handy amount of his own material, and he has a healthy regard for the past. Great choice.
mary massett
April 5, 2017 @ 4:22 pm
Why hasn’t Dottie West been inducted yet!!!!!! she so deserves it way past due!!!
MS3
April 5, 2017 @ 4:45 pm
There wouldn’t have been a “new traditionalist” movement without Ricky Skaggs. To me, it’s a huge injustice that he’s not in the Hall.
Trigger
April 5, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
Now that Jackson is in, I would put Ricky Skaggs in the #1 seat for induction in the Modern Era in the coming years.
MS3
April 6, 2017 @ 12:52 pm
Skaggs came along at a time when the country charts were dominated by overproduced, pop-oriented Urban Cowboy fare (think Sylvia, think Razzy Bailey, think Alabma, think Barbara Mandrell…the list goes on and on…). He modernized classic bluegrass and honky tonk styles in a way that elevated rather than compromised the music’s essence. As a kid who’d abandoned the classic country I grew up on in the 1970s for Kiss and Led Zeppelin records, “Waitin’ for the Sun to Shine” was one of a handful of records that turned it completely around for me. I recall at the time my delight at the fact that Rolling Stone magazine reviewed “Waitin’ for the Sun to Shine” and likened its significance for the genre to Gram Parsons’ “Grievous Angel”. Here some 35 years later, that comparison holds up just fine as far as I’m concerned. One of the great keepers of the country flame – who should be in the Hall.
Corncaster
April 5, 2017 @ 5:30 pm
Richly deserved. Universal appeal. Plus, this guy is a hero to guitarists. So, so well-deserved!
Jackie Treehorn
April 5, 2017 @ 9:08 pm
Alan Jackson a hero to guitarists? Pardon my ignorance, but if you could do me the courtesy of explaining this comment a bit further I’d appreciate it. Thanks caster.
Corncaster
April 6, 2017 @ 3:15 am
He hired Brent Mason and other great players and let them stretch out and really play. His songs have featured them to a larger degree than other artists’ songs.
the pistolero
April 6, 2017 @ 4:07 am
That instrumental jam at the end of “I Don’t Even Know Your Name” has always been a favorite.
Tammy Clark
April 5, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
Congrats Alan you deserve it you are the best..it made my day…
BlackHawgDown
April 5, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
Well deserved, too many great songs to pick a favorite. Always loved “Home” as it was a great story of his parents and childhood. He didn’t try to prove a point of being more country than the next guy with self affirmation of driving a particular vehicle, or drinking some kind of beverage, or wearing some specific apparel, just told what they used and what they had and worked hard for everything just to have a place for their children to call home. Not a fancy 2 story furnished house with latest appliances. Just an old tool shed they built walls around with two loving parents is what made it their Home sweet Home.
Benny Lee
April 10, 2017 @ 5:44 am
My favorite of his as well.
Honest. Authentic. Alan Jackson.
hoptowntiger94
April 5, 2017 @ 8:33 pm
Don’t Rock the Jukebox was the first song I learned to play on guitar when I was 13. The Tennessean used to publish the sheet music to a song in it’s Sunday paper. Does anyone know if they still do that? I haven’t lived in Hopkinsville Kentucky in 24 years (or read The Tennessean).
I, like many stated today, also owned Here in the Real World on cassette.
When I was in college, a friend looked the CD cover of an Alan Jackson album and said, “he just looks country.” That always stuck with me. Especially, when you look at the clowns at the ACMs this week.
He’s authentic through and through. A part of my fabric. The country music hall of fame is more achieved today with the inclusion of Mr. Jackson.
Donny
April 6, 2017 @ 4:41 am
Best country singer of all time. Tied with George I would say. Alan is an absolute legend. If someone were to ask me what my favourite Alan song is, I would have to name about 5-10 of them. Guy was traditional country music to the fullest extent. The fact that he didn’t put up with any bullshit either, I can’t say enough about him.
Congrats Alan.
albert
April 6, 2017 @ 7:37 am
Small Town Southern Man, Where Were You , Drive , So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore, Monday Morning Church….five songs more honest than some of today’s artists’ ENTIRE output .
AJ has always maintained the right balance ( Strait ) between the fun and the profoundly moving when it comes to choosing/writing material to record and his live show demonstrates that beautifully even including a sit down acoustic set . He has always appreciated and given his accompanying musicians plenty of room to pick on his records and on stage and if there’s a more recognizable voice in the genre right now I’m not sure who that might be …next to Willie , of course . His inclusion in the Hall is an absolute no-brainer and is not only deserved but highly necessary for the genre .
K
April 7, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
Very well deserved! Love Alan.
Michael Reddy
April 7, 2017 @ 3:20 pm
Legend AJ is.?
Greg
April 7, 2017 @ 4:24 pm
Alan continues to keep real country music alive,and I disagree with Cora,Alan has NOT hurt real country music,he has HELPED it! Alan’s music is REAL COUNTRY!
I don’t understand why Cora thinks this,but if you listen to Alan’s music,you can tell his music,99.9 percent of it,is as real country as they come.Unlike many of the so called new comers out there,who don’t even come close to sounding like,or being real Country.
Thank God for Alan Jackson! Congrats Alan on your Hall Of Fame induction! Keep up the great work!
Woogeroo
April 28, 2017 @ 3:55 am
I heard Alan Jackson play live around 1996… great show… he sounds like himself live and keeps a great band around him. Also, he’s written or co-written a lot of his hit songs as well. I think he’s done very well at being country, but in a modern way.
Congrats to Mr. Jackson.