Alan Jackson’s HOF Exhibit Opens

Photo by Rick Diamond

Alan Jackson and his family, as well as members of his road band and many of his co-writers were on hand as the superstar’s exhibit, 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, was unveiled. Included in the exhibit are the guitar he played on the CMA Awards when he debuted “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” just two months after the September 11th terrorist attacks and the nation’s response that inspired the song; the front of an old, red Ford pickup truck that served as Jackson’s first Fan Fair booth, before his sister and brother-in-law had it made into a desk; The water ski Jackson rode, while wearing his trademark white cowboy hat, in the “Chattahoochee” music video; a collection of belt buckles from the Houston Rodeo — which Jackson has played more than 20 times. Alan’s “first love,” a used 1955 Ford Thunderbird, will be on display in the conservatory of the Hall of Fame.

“It’s just hard to believe that I’m included in this great building with so many legends of great American music and to be a part of it is just unreal, this whole thing’s unreal,” says Alan. “We’re glad to share it and I hope that all of my fans especially will enjoy seeing what they helped build.”

Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country opens to the public on Friday (August 29th).

A little tidbit — the reason the exhibit is called Keepin’ It Country — other than the obvious — is that with every correspondence the legendary George Jones would send to Alan, he’d sign it ‘Keep It Country.’

Alan will also take the stage in the museum’s new 800-seat CMA Theater as its 2014 Artist-in-Residence on October 8th and 22nd.

Both Wednesday night concerts start at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale at Noon on Monday, September 8th.