Y101

As the first artist signed to Arista Records' country division, Alan Jackson's first single, "Blue Blooded Woman," peaked at a dismal No. 45 on the country charts in 1989. Clearly, things improved substantially with the next single -- the title track from his debut album, Here in the Real World -- and the hits haven't stopped yet. Nineteen years into his career, the superstar has sold more than 40 million albums and scored more than 30 No. 1 singles -- 21 of which he either wrote or co-wrote.

Alan was born Oct. 17, 1958, in Newnan, Ga., to a blue-collar family. His father was an automobile mechanic. Caring for a household of seven, his mother helped instill a sense of integrity and small town values. While in high school, Alan met his future wife, Denise, at a Dairy Queen, and their lasting marriage has produced three daughters.

Playing in country bands in Georgia, Alan worked as a mechanic, used car salesman and forklift operator to pay the bills while writing songs. He and Denise moved to Nashville in 1985, but his first impressions of Music City were a tiny basement apartment. That same year, Denise met Glen Campbell in an airport when she was working as a flight attendant. She told Campbell about her husband and gave him a tape. Campbell gave her his business card and suggested that Alan should call his publishing company. Soon after, Jackson became a staff songwriter at Campbell's music publishing company.

Jackson hit No. 1 three times in 1991, with "I'd Love You All Over Again," "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "Someday." In 1992, he released the spooky video for "Midnight in Montgomery," which won a CMA Award. That same year, he returned to No. 1 with "Love's Got a Hold on You" and "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)." In 1993, he spent four weeks at the top with "Chattahoochee," which propelled the corresponding album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) to sales of more than 6 million copies. "Chattahoochee" won a CMA award for single of the year in 1993 and song of the year in 1994. Jackson took his first CMA entertainer trophy in 1995, coinciding almost exactly with The Greatest Hits Collection.

Although Alan's albums emphasize his original material, he frequently tips his hat to the sounds that molded his music. Prime examples include "Summertime Blues" (a country version of Eddie Cochran's 1958 rockabilly smash) and "Who's Cheatin' Who" (a remake of Charly McClain's 1981 hit). He took an additional step with the 1991 album, Under the Influence, offering his versions of songs made famous by Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, Don Williams, Gene Watson, Mel McDaniel and others. The album netted Jackson another Top 10 single with "Pop a Top," a Nat Stuckey song that was a major hit for Jim Ed Brown in 1967.

Already one of country's most respected songwriters, Alan ascended to yet a higher level at the 2001 CMA Awards show when he debuted "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)." His song about the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City stunned the awards show audience and ultimately proved to be the most honest, heartfelt song written about the tragedy.

In 2002, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" won Alan his first Grammy, as best country song. At the 2002 CMA Awards, the song netted him song and single of the year honors. That same year, Jackson received the CMA's album of the year award for Drive while being named male vocalist and entertainer of the year. He tied Johnny Cash for the most CMA wins in a year.

Alan remains a favorite of the Nashville business community, but he has occasionally commented on the country music industry in songs such as the No. 1 hit "Gone Country" (co-written with Bob McDill), "Three Minute Positive Not Too Country Up-Tempo Love Song" and his CMA award-winning collaboration with George Strait on "Murder on Music Row."

By 2003, Jackson had achieved enough chart success to warrant the release of another retrospective of his recording career. It was released in two versions -- the two-CD Greatest Hits Volume II and Some Other Stuff and the single disc Greatest Hits Volume II. The album's first single, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," was a duet with Jimmy Buffett. The No. 1 hit was named vocal event of the year at the 2003 CMA Awards and gave Buffett his first chart-topping single -- and his first major music award. That same year, Jackson won his second male vocalist CMA award and his third CMA entertainer trophy.

In 2004, he hit No. 1 with "Remember When" (from the album What I Do and toured arenas with Martina McBride. He offered Precious Memories, a gospel album originally recorded as a gift to his mother and mother-in-law, in early 2006. Later that year, he offered the critically acclaimed Like Red on a Rose, produced by Alison Krauss.

In 2006, Alan changed producers, asking Alison Krauss to produce his next album, which would be Like Red on a Rose. This came on the tails of an album of Gospel hits that he had originally written for his mother as a Christmas gift, called Precious Memories. None of the songs from Precious Memories charted, and the album Like Red on a Rose was just so different, without the traditional honky tonk sound fans were used to, that the singles released from that album didn't add to his list of Number One songs.

In 2007, the first song ("Small Town Southern Man") off his latest album Good Time was released. Fans were once again hearing the honky tonk sound, and the song went straight to the top. So did his follow up the title track, Good Time, the title track of his latest work. Alan's new single, Country Boy, made it's debut in early September.

Alan Jackson celebrated 50 million in sales in 2008. Quite a feat, as many of the stars that had been around back in 1989 didn't fare as well. Alan continues to tour and record, and claims he'll do so as long as the fans want to hear his music.

DISCOGRAPHY: get iTunes for free HERE
1989: Here in the real World
1991: Don't Rock the Jukebox
1992: A Lot About Livin'
1993: Honky Tonk Christmas
1994: Who I Am
1996: Everything I Love
1998: High Mileage
1999: Under the Influence
2000: When Somebody Loves You
2002: Drive
2002: Let It Be Christmas
2004: What I Do
2006: Precious Memories
2006: Like Red on a Rose
2008: Good Time
16 Biggest Hits
Greatest Hits Volume 2