Alan Jackson Has "Small Town" Party

Alan Jackson photo courtesy of SonyBMG.

April 29, 2008 - Alan Jackson recently topped the country charts with "Small Town Southern Man," the first time he's hit No. 1 in more than three years, and that accomplishment certainly deserves a party.

Alan got one yesterday at the Music Row offices of ASCAP, a songwriter agency that presented plaques to Alan and his longtime record producer Keith Stegall. Alan, in fact, received enough mementos to fill up his backseat, including one from the Country Music Association that's several years past due: The organization gave him a Triple Play Award for having three No. 1 singles in a one-year period. Those chart-toppers came in 2001 and 2002, with "Where I Come From," "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" and "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."

ASCAP chief Connie Bradley, calling Alan a "modern-day Hank Williams," noted that Alan has amassed 32 No. 1 singles, 22 of which he wrote. He is still a bit behind George Strait, who last week reached the summit for the 56th time with "I Saw God Today." Alan remains grateful, but keeps his latest accomplishment in perspective.

"I don't think it'll ever be as exciting as the first song," Alan said. "The first single, it's totally different — the first No. 1 especially. But I think people like George and myself have been around so long, it's a privilege for us to still be on the charts at this point in our careers, so it's even more meaningful than some of the No. 1s from the past."

Showing some of the same dignity as the character he wrote about in "Small Town Southern Man," Alan isn't getting greedy about those honors either.

"If I never had another No. 1, it'd be fine," he told the guests. "I wouldn't be bitter about it or dissatisfied."

Meanwhile, Alan and wife Denise Jackson will be in their hometown of Newnan, Ga., today to accept the first-ever Richard Brooks Visionary Award of Artistic Achievement.