Alan Jackson wearing his hat
Alan Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer, and songwriter, originally from Newman, Georgia. He has become one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s, in spite of almost-universal critical panning in the latter, and most successful, half of his career.

Jackson's wife, Denise, got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstart his career. His first album, 1990's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 release, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little About Love) was a smash success, spawning five major singles with "Chattahoochee" being the most enduring and successful. After a few more hit albums, Jackson again rocketed to fame with "Where Were You", a song about the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, which became a hit single despite much criticism for jingoism and hollow patriotism; including an unflattering portrayal in an episode of South Park.

Although Jackson has been characterised as a "hat act", his influences go deep into the roots of country music and his songs have been recorded by some of the greats like Charley Pride, who recorded "Here In The Real World". He has sung with George Jones on the award winning "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair". His sense of humour comes through on the satirical description of the wannabees who cynically jumped on the country music bandwagon in the 1990s, "Everybody's gone country/Yeah we've gone country/The whole world's gone country." ("Gone Country").

Alan Jackson Career Awards

ASCAP
  • Country Song of the Year, "Don't Rock The Jukebox" 1992
  • Country Songwriter of the Year 1993
Academy of Country Music
  • Top New Male Vocalist 1990
  • Single Record of the Year, "Don't Rock The Jukebox" 1991
  • Album of the Year, Don't Rock The Jukebox 1991
  • Single Record of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993
  • Album of the Year, A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love) 1993
  • Male Vocalist of the Year 1994 and 1995

Country Music Association
  • Triple Play Award 1990, 1991, 1992
  • Music Video of the Year, Midnight In Montgomery (about Hank Williams 1992
  • Single of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993
  • Music Video of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993
  • Vocal Event of the Year, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" (with George Jones) 1993
  • Song of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1994
  • Album of the Year, Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles 1994
  • Entertainer of the Year 1995