Before Alan Jackson became a country music icon, he was just a small-town Georgia resident with big dreams and a wife determined to help him chase them. Looking back on the days when no one knew his name, Glen Campbell took a chance on the aspiring act when he offered him a $100-a-week writing gig that got his foot in the door.
In a way, Jackson has his wife Denise Jackson to thank for getting his career started as she was the one who put his name in front of Campbell. Back in 1985, the Jackson’s moved to Nashville where Alan worked in a mailroom and performed anywhere and everywhere that would allow him time on stage. Just before making their big move, he got connected to Campbell through Denise who had a chance encounter with the six-time GRAMMY winner at the Atlanta airport.
Denise spotted Campbell while working as a flight attendant. She introduced herself, told him about her husband’s talent and aspirations and to her surprise, Campbell didn’t brush her off. Instead, he handed her a business card, which Jackson said he carried in his wallet for good luck.
Opening Up About The Fateful Moment
Jackson opened up about this fateful moment during an episode of the “Crook & Chase” that aired back in the early 90s. The show was hosted by legendary personalities Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase and that particular episode had Bill Anderson filling in as a guest host for Charlie Chase.
“Glen was waiting on a flight, I think with his band, and she just went over and introduced herself and said, ‘Hey, my husband’s wanting to move to Nashville and be a singer and a songwriter. If it could help us in any way,’” Alan Jackson recalled. “And so he gave her a business card and I meant to bring that in here. Believe it or not, that same business card has been my billfold ever since that day. I still carry it to this day for good luck and it’s still in my billfold out on the bus.”
Jackson Scored His First Publishing Deal
That one small gesture led to a life-changing opportunity. Once the pair got connected, Jackson made his way to Music City where he met Glen Campbell’s publishing and management company president of about two decades, Marty Gamblin. With their help, Jackson signed his first publishing deal.
“He helped me get my feet on the ground in Nashville and they signed me as a writer,” Jackson said of Marty.
He also noted that Campbell was “real generous” to him and paid him $100 a week. Jackson’s comment earned a laugh from those watching and prompted to Campbell to share his reasoning behind the low pay.
“Just like the ball players, they don’t play as well. They say if you pay ’em too much money, I wanted him to go through some hard times so he know how to write a hard time song.”
Campbell’s Side Of The Story
He then went on to share how he remembers meeting Denise and why he felt compelled to reach out about Jackson’s potential that she raved so much about.
“Denise, she’s a great gal. Alan’s lucky…I looked her right in the eye and I said, ‘is he any good?’ And she said, ‘Glen, he’s a real good singer and a real good songwriter.’ I said, okay. And that’s why I had to get in touch with him.”
Their professional relationship grew from there. Campbell gave Jackson a publishing deal that allowed him to retain ownership of half of his songs, which was a rare arrangement at the time.
“When I started the publishing company down here, I made it a precedent not to own all of the singer’s songs. I imagine you might’ve went through that, Bill, but I told the guys after they paid everything back and everything, half of the publishing was theirs because I think they deserved to own their song. But I still have a half of Alan’s songs and he has half of ’em. But I think probably the time will come when Alan will want all of his songs,” Campbell explained.
“He’s A Very Generous Man”
When one of the hosts asked Campbell if he got “really rich” every time Jackson earned another hit, he jokingly stated, “Not anymore. He gets all of it now. See how grateful he is. He is taking all of it.”
Jackson chimed in to say, “Well, we both did real good together. We did until last year. I think my deal ran out with him last year. So all my songs from now on, I own a hundred percent, but they were very generous to letting me participate in owning half the songs all those years. They didn’t have to. And really, he’s a very generous man and they helped me all through the years.”
When he wasn’t writing music or recording songs, Campbell recalled Jackson hanging around the studio during recording sessions, sometimes running errands, like picking up his cigarettes.
“I remember hanging around the studios when he was recording his album. Every now and then would come to Nashville and I’d go hang around and run down the store and buy him cigarettes or something. That’s my big job,” Jackson added.
The “Chattahoochee” singer then acknowledged the fact that if his wife had never ran into Campbell that say, he might have still been driving a forklift for a living instead of becoming a country music success.
Alan Jackson’s Rise To Fame
Alan Jackson’s massive rise to fame is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one small moment to change everything. With nearly 75 million albums sold worldwide, over 60 singles, 35 of which became No. 1 hits, and more than 150 major awards to his name, he’s created a legacy built on authenticity and heart.
In 2019, Jackson revealed he’s been living with a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Even as he continued to tour, he used his platform to raise awareness and funds, helping raise over $2.25 million through his concerts and personal donations.
It’s safe to say that to this day, Alan Jackson has had an incredible run in the business, but he’s ready to hang his hat on his touring career. Earlier this year, the legendary singer/songwriter played his final road show at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, where he confirmed to a sold-out crowd of 14,000 fans that the night marked his last tour stop.
“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last road show of my career,” he said from the stage, and the audience roared with applause.
“Y’all are gonna make me tear up up here,” Jackson added.
Jackson To Perform One Final Show In Nashville
But Jackson isn’t saying goodbye without one final show. He revealed that he’s planning a farewell concert in Nashville next summer, to mark a full-circle moment in the city where his journey truly began.
“We just felt like we had to end it all where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City – where country music lives. I gotta do the last one there,” he said, later adding, “This is the last one out on the road for me.”
From a hopeful Georgia songwriter to a Hall of Fame legend with a career that defined a generation, Alan Jackson told fans he’s had “a long, sweet ride” and he’s “really lived the American dream for sure – so blessed.”
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