ALAN JACKSON RECEIVES INAUGURAL
“ALAN JACKSON LIFETIME ACHIVEMENT AWARD” AT ACM AWARDS
Newly Created Honor Presented at the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards
Nashville, Tenn. (May 9, 2025) - Country superstar Alan Jackson – the recipient of 21 prior ACM Awards in his storied career – became part of Academy of Country Music history Thursday evening as the first person to be honored with a new award that will carry his name moving forward. Jackson is the inaugural recipient of the Academy’s new Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Presented by show host Reba McEntire, the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award is – and will in the future be – awarded to an iconic artist, duo, or group that has achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, philanthropy, record sales, streaming numbers, and public representation. The artist receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the genre's growth over the years, which has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on fans and industry nationally and internationally.
“I came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream, and all these years later [to be] standing here receiving such an honor like this is just mind-blowing,” he said to a deafening swell of cheers and applause. “Thank you all so much for this honor and for all the years!!”
Jackson was chosen as the first recipient – and future namesake of the honor – “in recognition of his outstanding achievements and enduring legacy in country music,” the Academy says, noting that his career “has become a cornerstone of the genre.” His “heartfelt lyrics,” “humble demeanor,” “devotion to songwriting,” “relatability and timeless sound” were also cited in naming the award for Jackson,” who the Academy applauded for his “unmatched ability to preserve and celebrate the traditional yet iconic essence of country music.”
Accepting the award immediately following an emotional performance of his 2003 ballad “Remember When” (against a backdrop of images from his own life story mirroring the song’s passage of time), Jackson initially lightened the moment by noting, “A few years ago, one of my fans named their dog after me, and I thought that was something! But this is really amazing.”
The significance of the moment was not lost on Jackson by any means. “I thank God all the time for all the people that helped me get here and maintain this. I can’t even begin to thank everybody…but I especially want to thank my fans all over this country – and all over the world – that have appreciated my music so much,” he continued before singling out his wife, Denise – “my best friend since I was 17 years old” – in the front row. “She’s loved me through the good and the bad and the happy and the sad and has influenced me, given me three beautiful daughters, and helped me keep my feet on the ground all these years, and I wouldn’t be here without her.”
The ACM Awards have played a substantial role in Jackson’s career. He’s the recipient of 17 competitive trophies, along with five special awards (including this new one bearing his name), starting with 1991’s Top New Male Vocalist. He’s a four-time recipient of the Single of the Year award…and a three-time Album of the Year and Top Male Vocalist winner. Most recently, he was honored with the ACM’s Poet’s Award for the impact of his songwriting. He co-hosted the 1994 ceremony with McEntire…and at this year’s 60th anniversary celebration received a standing ovation not only for his performance, but early in the show when McEntire simply pointed him out seated in the front row.
The Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award – like other special merit honors the ACM periodically bestows – will be awarded in the years to come as deemed appropriate by the organization’s Special Awards Committee.
Jackson’s fans will get to celebrate – and enjoy – a lifetime of hits next weekend when he takes the stage for the last currently scheduled concert on his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour at Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Fiserv Forum. The Lifetime Achievement Award winner’s more than 30 years of hits have been thrilling capacity and sellout crowds from coast-to-coast as he makes one final visit to each city and state he plays.
