Alan Jackson contemplates empty nest

Published by Cindy Watts on September 11, 2010 in Features/The Tennessean

For more than 20 years, Alan Jackson has worked to balance his wildly successful recording career and his home life with wife Denise and their three daughters.

Like any parent of teenagers — Mattie is 20, Alexandra is 17 and Dani recently turned 13 — Jackson is grappling with what his life looks like when they’re grown. He sold the family’s sprawling 19,000-square-foot estate several months ago for about $28 million.

It’s a far cry from the days when he worried about selling CDs. With more than 50 million albums sold, he’s now established himself as a modern-day country music icon. On Tuesday, Sept. 14, Jackson will be honored with ASCAP’s Founder’s Award during the performing rights organization’s 48th annual Country Music Awards.

The accolade is considered one of ASCAP’s most prestigious and is issued to those the organization feels are musical pioneers and innovators. Past recipients include Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, James Taylor and Garth Brooks.

“When you get (honored) as a writer, you feel like you’re getting honored for the most important part of the music,” Jackson said. “I really appreciate any kind of musical award that pays tribute to the songs, and that’s what this ASCAP thing is, songwriting.”

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