Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Jackson reaches milestone with 50 million album sales

The Times-Herald

Newnan native Alan Jackson has sold a lot of albums -- more than 50 million.

That's a "5" with seven zeros behind it. The milestone was announced on Jackson's official Web site -- www.alanjackson.com -- on Tuesday.

Jackson's recording of "Good Time" has reached the No. 1 spot on the charts -- his 33rd No. 1 hit.

Jackson and his wife, Denise, both grew up in Newnan and graduated from Newnan High School. Their mothers and several siblings still live in Coweta County.

Jackson was the first singer signed to the then-new Arista Nashville record label in 1989. His first album, "Here in the Real World," was released the following year -- resulting in four top hits.

"It's a short drive from Georgia to Tennessee, but it's a long way to 50 million albums sold," said Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville. "Alan's songs and shows have propelled him to this incredible level of success. He has never lost touch with the fans, and they've shown their appreciation year after year with No. 1 singles and Platinum sales."

Jackson's Web site also noted that "Good Time" was ranked in the No. 1 position on the "Country Aircheck" singles chart for the week of Aug. 18. The "Good Time" album is the fourth by Jackson to debut at the top spot on Billboard's Top Country Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 sales charts.

Jackson has won more than 100 awards for his work. This spring he, his wife and Coweta-born novelist Erskine Caldwell received the first Richard Brooks Visionary Awards of Distinction from the Coweta County School System's Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

Alan Jackson is a three-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and is the most-nominated artist in CMA history. He has also been nominated for the 14th annual Inspirational Country Music Awards' Mainstream Country Artist of the Year. "Small Town Southern Man" was nominated for both Mainstream Inspirational Song and Video of the Year in the ICM competition.

The ICM awards show will be held on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. EST at the Trinity Music City USA Auditorium located in Hendersonville, Tenn.