Alan Jackson Awarded With Prestigious Award from the Country Music Association

Alan Jackson is the latest recipient of the Joe Talbot Award, the Country Music Association announced on Tuesday (Jan. 21)….

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

January 21, 2020

2:57 pm

Alan Jackson; ©Grand Ole Opry, photo by Chris Hollo

Alan Jackson is the latest recipient of the Joe Talbot Award, the Country Music Association announced on Tuesday (Jan. 21).

The superstar was surprised with the honor Friday (Jan. 17) while performing on the Opry at the Ryman. According to the CMA, the Joe Talbot Award “recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of country Music’s values and traditions.”

“Alan Jackson has always stayed true to his roots,” CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern shared in a statement. “That’s why fans love him and it’s how he’s made such a considerable impact on our genre.”

Previous recipients of the award include Merle Haggard, George Jones and Marty Stuart.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member is currently in the midst of his 2020 Tour, which runs through October 3. The nearly 20-date run includes a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on August 7.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.