Alan Jackson And Wife Denise Reveal Major Family News

Alan Jackson had a very exciting family update to share with his fans this weekend! The country legend penned a message via Instagram announcing his daughter, Mattie Jackson, and her husband Connor Smith are pregnant with their first child, meaning Jackson and his wife, Denise, will soon be grandparents of two. 

The post included a photo of the parents-to-be standing behind Jackson and his wife, who both held up a small notecard that read, “grandbaby #2.” 

His caption read, “Blessings are overflowing in our growing family! Denise and I are thrilled for our second grandson to arrive in June! We’re so happy for proud parents @mattiejackson and Connor Smith and can’t wait to meet the next addition to our family.”

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Baby Boy Coming This Summer

The image on the next slide was taken from Mattie’s official pregnancy announcement, which was made on Friday (Feb. 12). The post features a slideshow of seven photos of the couple celebrating the news in various ways. Mattie and Connor look as happy as can be as they pose for the first photo with Conner’s hands holding her baby bump at 20 weeks while Mattie shows off three images from their ultrasound. The final image reveals a blue-themed celebration to signify that they will welcome a baby boy this summer.  

“I feel like I said so many times last year that 2023 topped the charts with more joy and celebration and and redemption than any yet. Well, I have a feeling 2024 may give it a run for it’s money,” Mattie wrote. “We are absolutely thrilled to share BABY BOY SMITH coming this June!!! 💙 🥹 👶🏻 🤰🏻 💙

An Honest Look Into Mattie’s “Years of Grief”

The following day, Mattie celebrated the pregnancy with another post that took a more serious note as she opened up about her “years of grief” that she experienced following the tragic death of her first husband, Ben Selecman, in 2018. 

Within the post, she touched on three main topics – Waiting, Hope and Celebration. She first recognized the difficulty surrounding waiting to share such exciting news as she was equally as fearful of the fact that her good news could be taken away at any moment.  

“To be honest, there’s part of me that’s always hesitant to share good news here, to post about these miraculous things in my life that are literal answers to years of tearful prayers. Because I know many of you are just there – in the tearful, waiting, wondering prayer place. I talk often on the podcast and when I speak about the secondary losses of grief, and for me, the constant wondering (worrying?) if I’d ever get to be a mom was at the top of that list.”

Mattie continued to reflect on hopefulness, and her fight to maintain that over the past few years with the pain she felt of suddenly losing her first husband and not knowing if motherhood was in her future. “It’s been a daily choice,” she explained. 

“Hope, as my friend @drleewarren says, is a verb. It is a thing we can choose to do, or not. When we do it regularly, acting in hope of future joy and redemption and life, we start to live with a little more confidence that those things can happen. I learned from him that “faith is believing God can do something; hope is believing he can do it for me.” Fight in hope, my friends. It, too, is a much freer and fuller way to live.”

Wait, Hope & Celebrate

Finally, she talks about the importance of being in the present and not being afraid to celebrate even the smallest moments in life, such as, in her case, going to her 20-week ultrasound and allowing herself to be emotional. 

“A great blessing of grief to me was being forced to be slow, to be present,” Mattie explained. “And there is no present more worth slowing down in than the ones when those years of waiting and hoping arrive! REJOICE my friends – make the little things big and the big things a celebration. Don’t blow past the yeses God gives or the dreams that finally come true. Pop some bottles, call some friends, have a party!”

She concluded her powerful, faith-filled message with a few words of positivity and advice as she said, “So wherever you are…WAIT well, with the goodness and kindness and sovereignty of God as your fuel. HOPE defiantly. Fight every day in anticipation for the abundant life Jesus says he has for us.  CELEBRATE everything. Because isn’t that a much better way to live??”

Jackson Welcomed His First Grandchild In 2022

On December 13, 2022, Alan Jackson’s youngest daughter, Alexandra “Ali” Jane Jackson Bradshaw welcomed his first grandchild, Jackson Alvie Bradshaw. The little boy’s birth also happened to coincide with the “Chattahoochee” singer’s 43rd wedding anniversary.

“Denise and I are celebrating our 43rd wedding anniversary with our new grandson Jackson Alvie Bradshaw. Ali and Sam welcomed Jack into the world on Dec 13, 2022,” the proud new grandfather shared at the time. “So happy that this little guy has made us grandparents!” 

Alan Jackson has built an incredibly successful career as a country artist with projects that showcase his Georgia roots and authentic storytelling. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, has racked up 35 No. 1 hits, and has earned two GRAMMY Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards. 

At this point in his career, Jackson has closed the book on touring, and only makes appearances in rare occasions, giving him ample time to spend with his growing family.