Country music legend Alan Jackson has released a new song just two days before what is billed as the final full-length concert of his career.
On Thursday, the Country Music Hall of Famer unveiled his version of "Still The One," a cover of the 1976 Orleans hit, as a tribute to his wife, Denise, ahead of his farewell performance at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Jackson shared the personal story behind the recording in a video announcing the release, revealing that the song has been tied to one of the earliest memories of their relationship.
“Fifty years ago in 1976, in Newnan, Georgia, I started dating this young girl. She was a cheerleader for Newnan High School,” Jackson said.
Alan Jackson performs at Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 30, 2012Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
“One day, she went over to a friend’s house, a girlfriend’s house, and I went over there and hung out a while, and she was practicing her dance routine for the cheerleeding squad and the football game to a hit song that was a hit that summer called ‘Still The One,’ I think by a group called Orleans.”
Jackson continued by explaining why he chose to record the song now.
View this post on Instagram“I sat there and watched her, and three years later, I ended up marrying that young girl. She’s my wife today Denise. So in honor of 50 years ago, this has always been one of our old fond memories of our starting out days. Any time we hear that song, it brings back these memories. So in honor of the 50 years, I went into the studio and recorded that little pop song with some country seasoning, and I gave it to her for her birthday, ’cause she’s still the one.”
The release comes as Jackson prepares to close out a career that has lasted more than four decades. His farewell concert, titled Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale, is scheduled for Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Alan Jackson's Final Concert
The timing of "Still The One" gives added meaning to Jackson's final performance. While the new release celebrates his relationship with Denise, it also arrives as he prepares to take the stage for the last full-length concert of his touring career.
Jackson first revealed in 2021 that he had been living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a degenerative nerve disorder that affects coordination and balance. Although the condition is not life-threatening, it has made performing increasingly difficult and led to his decision to retire from touring.
His farewell show is expected to feature appearances by several country music stars, including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Cody Johnson, Riley Green, Jon Pardi and Lee Ann Womack. The concert will later air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with a premiere date to be announced.
Jackson has previously said that retiring from touring does not mean he is retiring from music.
In a 2023 interview, he expressed hope that he would continue writing and recording songs, saying the creative process still inspires him.
Originally released by Orleans in 1976, "Still The One" reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became part of Alan and Denise Jackson's story long before they married on Dec. 15, 1979.
The couple has now spent more than four decades together and raised three daughters: Mattie, Ali and Dani. Their relationship has also inspired several of Jackson's best-known songs, including "Remember When" and "I'd Love You All Over Again."
Although Jackson is widely recognized for writing many of his own hits, he has also found success recording cover songs throughout his career. His versions of "Mercury Blues," "Summertime Blues" and "Pop a Top" all became major country hits.
As Jackson prepares to perform one final full-length show, "Still The One" serves as both a tribute to the woman who has stood beside him since the beginning and a reminder that his creative journey may not be over.
Related: Country Music Legend's New Album Announced 24 Years After His Death
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