Alan Jackson Shines in Grand Ole Opry’s 100th Anniversary Celebration

Tonight (March 19), the Grand Ole Opry marks its centennial with a spectacular night featuring some of the biggest stars in country music. Among the artists who have shaped the genre’s recent history, Alan Jackson stands out. To honor his significant impact, Jackson took to the stage to perform “Chattahoochee,” a song that perfectly encapsulates 90s country nostalgia.

“Chattahoochee,” co-written by Jackson and Jim McBride, was released in 1993 as the third single from the album A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ‘bout Love). The track quickly became a huge success, climbing to the top of the Hot Country Songs chart and reaching No. 46 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. It was Billboard’s top country song of the year and won both Single and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards. Even more than 30 years later, it remains an iconic song for Jackson.

With his honky tonk flair and keen songwriting, Alan Jackson has been a pivotal figure in country music ever since his debut with Here in the Real World. Despite his influence, Jackson remains modest about his legacy. In a conversation with the Opry, he shared his aspirations, noting, “If I was gonna say somebody I wanted to be like, the two singer/songwriters in country music that stick out to me are Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. I don’t know that there’s two any better that have written songs. I just don’t put myself in that category,” he humbly concluded.

Jackson’s relationship with the Grand Ole Opry is nearly as long-standing as his career. He launched his major label debut, Here in the Real World, in February 1990, and a month later, performed for the first time at the Opry in March 1990. Just over a year later, on June 7, 1991, he was inducted into the Opry by Roy Acuff and Randy Travis.

Alan Jackson continues to champion traditional country music, making him an ideal performer for the Opry 100: A Live Celebration event.