The long tradition of Southern country music and modern-day Internet technology are converging in the latest career move for Newnan native Alan Jackson.
Jackson's new album, "Like Red On A Rose," will not be released in music stores until Sept. 26. The country superstar's Web site, however, offers fans an opportunity to order the album online with a promise to "have it in your mailbox on Sept. 26" when other folks are heading to the store to look for a copy.
People who order the album online will be entered into a drawing for prizes — including an iPod Video. It is also promised on the Web site that every 10th CD will be autographed by Jackson himself. In addition, the video of the title song is available online at cmt.com.
Jackson and his wife, Denise, both grew up in Newnan. Their mothers and several siblings still live in Coweta County.
The new album comes at a time when Jackson's celebrity is growing. He performed three songs — including the title tack from "Like Red On A Rose" — on the NBC "Today Show" on Friday.
His most recent CD, "Precious Memories," is a collection of hymns and gospel sings. Jackson made the CD at the urging of his mother, Ruth, and it has been certified platinum.
Ruth Jackson joined Alan and Denise Jackson and the couple's daughters Mattie, Ali and Dani for the celebration of the million seller mark for "Precious Memories." Denise Jackson's mother, Nell Jackson, also enjoyed the gathering in the historic chapel area of the Nashville building of SONY BMG. Both Ruth Jackson and Nell Jackson still live in Newnan.
BMG Chairman Joe Galante was host for the event which included multiple presentations, including two from Jackson himself, who presented $100,000 checks to Ruth Jackson and Nell Jackson, with each woman donating her check to the charity of her choice. Both women had offered inspiration toward the original recording of the album.
Hailed as "a masterpiece" by Billboard, "Precious Memories" is the only Platinum-certified country gospel disc by a solo artist in SoundScan history.
"Precious Memories" is the only gospel recording in history to debut at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Jackson also became the first country artist ever to debut an album of all-gospel material at #1 on the Top Christian Albums and Top Christian and Gospel Albums charts, and the first artist to ever top all three charts at once.
The platinum accomplishment was saluted on the Sept. 2 episode of "CMT Insider."
Jackson has been nominated for Album of the Year for "Precious Memories" and as Male Vocalist of the Year for the the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The awards program will be held Nov. 6 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. and broadcast live starting at 8 p.m.
Videos by Jackson were among those televised on the seven-hour "CMT Music Binge" on Labor Day. Videos featuring Jackson, Faith Hill, Jimmy Buffet, Little Big Town and Toby Keith, who filmed a movie in Coweta County a few months back, were featured.
Jackson will perform on "The Tonight Show" on Sept. 26 and "Late Show With David Letterman" on Oct. 12. He will make a second appearance on "The Today Show" on Oct. 13.
Jackson was featured in the premiere episode of "Country Music Across America" on GAC on Aug. 17. He also presented a free concert recently for the Jerrod Hawkins family, fans of Jackson from Hendersonville, Tenn. Hawkins's wife was paralyzed when a massive tornado struck the area several months ago.
Jackson gave a concert for 1,200 volunteers and donors at the Opry House in Nashville. The concert was free, but donations were accepted to raise money for the Hawkins family's medical bills and other expenses.
"Like Red On A Rose" is Jackson's first album of all country music in two years and explores a variety of emotions which Newsweek said, "will ...get you weak in the knees." Jackson has had 14 albums that have sold Platinum and multi-Platinum. In total, he has sold more than 45 million albums and has 31 #1 records.
Jackson is the most nominated artist in CMA history. The Los Angeles Times has written of Jackson, "...within him rests the heart and conscience of modern country music."
