NASHVILLE, TN (May 8, 2025) — At the 60th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, the ACM will present its first-ever Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award to one of the genre’s most enduring icons. After more than three decades of chart-topping hits, sold-out tours, and37 No. 1 singles, Alan Jackson stands as a touchstone of traditional country music—and a fitting choice to inaugurate this new honor.
“Alan Jackson’s impact on country music is immeasurable,” said ACM CEO Sarah Trahern. “By establishing the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, we celebrate not only his extraordinary catalogue of songs but his unwavering commitment to the values at country music’s heart: honesty, faith, and everyday storytelling.”
A Career Built on Authenticity
Born and raised in Newnan, Georgia, Jackson’s rise began with his 1990 debut album Here in the Real World. Over the next 35 years, he amassed more than 60 million album sales, multiple Grammy Awards, and induction into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. From the rollicking “Chattahoochee” to the poignant “Remember When,” his songs have resonated with fans across generations.
Defining Moments
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Early Breakthrough (1990–1995): Hits like “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” and “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” cemented Jackson’s neotraditional sound amid a rapidly changing country landscape.
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Chart Dominance (1996–2005): With singles such as “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” he combined personal reflection with social consciousness, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success.
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Enduring Legacy (2006–Present): Despite health challenges including Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, Jackson continues to write, record, and tour—demonstrating a resilience that inspires both peers and newcomers.
What It Means
This inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award not only recognizes Jackson’s storied past but affirms his ongoing influence. As Reba McEntire—herself an ACM legend—will note during her hosting duties, “Alan reminds us why we fell in love with country music: he sings the truth he lives.”
Looking Ahead
The tribute will feature performances of Jackson’s greatest hits by a lineup of stars he inspired. Fans can tune in live on Prime Video (8 PM ET/7 PM CT) or stream via the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
Join us as we honor a class act and country music’s steadfast storyteller—Alan Jackson—whose songs continue to feel like home wherever they’re played.