Alan Jackson Enjoys ‘Magical Night’ With Wife, Denise, and Their Three Daughters At CMA Awards
Alan Jackson had a “magical night” at the 56th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 9), where he was presented…
Alan Jackson with Wife and Daughters; Photo via Instagram
Alan Jackson had a “magical night” at the 56th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 9), where he was presented with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award and honored with a star-studded tribute performance.
The country music icon took to social media on Thursday (Nov. 10) to share a photo with his family, which included his wife, Denise, and their three daughters, Mattie, Alexandra and Dani, on his tour bus backstage at the coveted awards show.
“What a magical night at the @CMA Awards with family, friends, and fans. #CMAAwards,” Jackson captioned a series of images.
Jackson’s oldest daughter, Mattie Jackson Selecman, also shared a series of photos to recap the evening on social media alongside a heartfelt congratulatory message to her father.
“I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve watched Dad perform. 32 years of award shows, a couple White House visits, backstages and sound booths, you name it,” Selecman began. ”But these last couple years, I’ve started watching other people – all the fans and, hell, other hugely successful artists – watch him too.”
Mattie went on to explain how much it meant to her to see the way her father’s music and career has impacted others.
”The awe and admiration and pure joy in their eyes as they watch Dad is just the way he always watched George and Hank and Loretta. Whether he’ll admit it or not, the lanky blond cowboy from Georgia is now a legend to all who follow,” Mattie added. ”You made ripped jeans and mustaches cool. You’ve always asked our opinions and included us in your music. You’ve given away what you’ve earned more generously than most people will ever know. You’ve given hope to the world in times of crisis, reminded us what real livin’ and real love is, and given a voice to the little man everywhere. Congratulations on the @cma Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. We love you so much Dado! Much deserved! 🤠🤠🤠”
Jackson follows in the footsteps of artists such as Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), and Loretta Lynn (2021) to receive the prestigious honor.
During the show, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson also honored the country music icon with a special tribute performance that included a number of Jackson’s biggest hits.
Underwood delivered a tender rendition of Jackson’s “Remember When,” Bentley then performed the classic ‘90s country hit “Chattahoochee,” before Pardi sang “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” and Wilson closed out the tribute with a rousing version of “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”
Fans were treated to a performance from the country music icon himself when he surprised viewers with a performance of “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” before accepting the prestigious award.
“Country music’s been real good to me. And I fell in love with it when I was a young man. I really love the instruments, the steel guitars and the fiddles and things like that that gave it such a unique character to me and made it its own. And I love the lyrics and the songs and the artists and the melodies and the harmonies, and it’s just real American music to me,” Jackson shared during his acceptance speech.
He added, “One night watching television and this movie came on about the life of Hank Williams. And it just really inspired me.”
He continued to reflect on his journey as an artist and shared gratitude to those who have supported him along the way, including his wife.
“I can’t thank everybody that’s been in my life all these years, but I do have to say thanks to my wife Denise over there somewhere. And we started out as teenagers and she’s hung in there on the road, this rollercoaster ride with me for 40 something years now. And I’m probably not always the easiest person to love, but she’s hung in there and helped me through hard times and we shared great times. The good and the bad, the happy, the sad. We’ve survived a lot. And I just want to thank her cause she’s held me up all these years and she’s my best friend and she gave me a wonderful family over there.”
He concluded his speech with a nod to his 1990 hit, “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”
“So thanks again to the CMA and all the wonderful fans I’ve had all over the world. Appreciate y’all. Radio and all the parts of country music that have been so good to me all these years. I’ve definitely lived the American dream.” He paused to ask Underwood for the award, then said, “And I’m still living that honky tonk dream, y’all.”
Alan Jackson recently wrapped his highly anticipated One More For The Road 2022 Tour.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
