The time has come country music superstar Alan Jackson to hang up his signature Stetson hat.
The genre traditionalist from Newnan, Georgia, whose career began in the 1980s and shortly thereafter exploded in the oft-cited ’90s country wave of heartfelt songs for the working man who’d rather drink or fish, or ideally both, has sold over 60 million records throughout his long career.
And on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, he ended his touring career.
Titled “Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale,” the event was a triumphant swansong for the artist, a celebration of his life and career with a little help from the artists he directly inspired.
Nashville’s all-stars came out in droves
It was a concert in two movements.
The first two hours consisted of a marathon of Jackson covers from some of the biggest names in modern country.
And each artist had a personal story to share.
Carrie Underwood sang “Everything I Love” after revealing that Jackson was her first concert ever, in 1994 at the Tulsa State Fair.
Thomas Rhett warmed up the crowd with “Small Town Southern Man,” a fitting choice for a singer who currently lives by the song’s lyrics — he’s the father of four girls.
Texas born and bred Miranda Lambert performed “Dallas.” Lainey Wilson got the crowd moving with “Tall, Tall Trees.”
“It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite Alan Jackson song … but I had to try,” Luke Combs said before launching into “Hard Hat and a Hammer.”
Each performer played with Jackson’s backing band, except for Eric Church, who chose to cover “Someday” with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.
It was an All-Star night for one of country music’s most colossal voices. Other guest artists included Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Lee Ann Womack and a number of super talented members of Jackson’s own family: Adam Wright, Big City Brian Wright and Carlisle Wright.
Five years ago, the 67-year-old music giant told Jackson that he has a degenerative nerve disease that affects his balance, called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which he was first diagnosed with a decade previous.
He said it was a genetic condition and its impact on his ability to walk and perform had become more noticeable.
One dollar from every ticket sold Saturday night, the CMT Research Foundation, an organization that funds research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
When it was time for Jackson to take the stage after 9.35pm – after a storm delay of about an hour – he was met with ear-splitting cheers.
The singer appeared stiff as he walked to his microphone, but when he picked up his guitar for opener “Gone Country,” he was immediately back in action with the smoky baritone and timeless songs, though the strumming was kept to a minimum.
“It’s overwhelming,” he told the crowd, before assuring them he wouldn’t spend too much time on “the last show thing … I’m not dead!”
An evening to remember
The Country Music Hall of Famer ran through his best-known hits with genuine ferocity: “I Don’t Even Know Your Name” arrived quickly, as did “Livin’ on Love,” “Summertime Blues” and the moody “Midnight in Montgomery,” as the music videos for each played on a giant screen behind them.
He made it a point to walk from side to side of the stage greeting each section while championing his band and the power of “real country music.”
“If anyone has lived the American dream,” he later said, sitting on a stool, “it’s me.”
Anecdotes flowed from there. He talked about writing “I’d Love You All Over Again” to his wife on their 10th wedding anniversary and how the radio from “Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow” is currently in the Country Music Hall of Fame museum. And he mentioned that “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” was written after his father’s death.
An hour into his set, Jackson teased the crowd by saying he needed help with the next song. Out appeared George Strait for their collaborations “Designated Drink” and “Murder on Music Row.”
Then came an incredible string of hits: “Little Bitty,” “Country Boy,” “Good Time” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” among them, the latter written and recorded after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Blockbuster singles followed: “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” “Remember When” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” the latter recording made famous with the late “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett.
Fireworks were shot into the sky for “Chattahoochee.”
Alan Jackson’s story continues
Just because this is the end of Jackson’s touring career doesn’t mean it’s the end of his music career. On Thursday, two days before the final concert blowout, Jackson released a country cover of Orleans’ “Still the One,” to celebrate his 50-year relationship with his wife and high school sweetheart Denise Jackson.
She was a cheerleader practicing a dance routine to the soft rock classic; he was instantly smitten.
For those who missed Jackson’s final bow, the show will be released later this year as an NBC concert special.
But for those who were in the stadium – in the middle of a huge storm – it was an irrevocable and unmistakable night.
