Music Icon Joins the Likes of Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn & Willie Nelson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 22, 2024) – “I’ve always put songwriting at the top of my list when it comes to making music,” Alan Jackson said as he stood tall at the podium Wednesday night in Nashville, accepting the Academy of Country Music’s coveted Poet’s Award as part of the 17th ACM Honors celebration, calling it a “high honor.”
Given frequently – but not annually – since 2007, the ACM’s Poet’s Award is presented to country music songwriters for “outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career, with special consideration given to…impact on the culture of country music.” In a genre known for songwriting of legendary quality, Alan is now one of just 30 recipients.
“I realized a long time ago life gives you a lot of ingredients for songwriting,” the Country Music Hall of Fame member told the standing-room-only audience at the historic Ryman Auditorium. “It typically makes the best songs. And I’ve been fortunate to pull a lot of stuff out of my life and turn it into music over the years,” he added. “My biggest pride as an artist is to write a song, have people enjoy it and be touched by it or moved by it…[to] help them through a hard time or [to] enjoy a good time.”
“I just appreciate the opportunity to share my music,” he concluded.
“Alan Jackson is an institution,” Eric Church said as he presented the award after serving up a one-of-a-kind take on “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” “I was thinking about the Poet’s Award…thinking about Alan…thinking about what he’s meant to not just me, but to music,” he shared, before quoting “one of my favorite poets of all time,” Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Frost. “He said, ‘Poetry is when emotion finds its thought…and then that thought finds its words.’” Presenting the award, he noted, “Alan Jackson has always found my words.”
Jackson applauded Church’s performance, too, admitting, “Hearing that song tonight, I began to tear up back there.” Citing Eric’s “soulful rendition,” Jackson told him, “It brought back a lot of memories.” Dedicating his Poet’s Award to his late father and the radio mentioned in the lyrics of “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” he proclaimed, “I definitely lived that honky-tonk dream, y’all!”
With his Poet’s Award, Jackson not only earns the 21st ACM Award of his career – he also joins a list of prior honorees that includes Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, and Kris Kristofferson. And his poetry will be on display again as his “Last Call: One More for the Road” Tour continues this Saturday (August 24) in Grand Rapids, Michigan and at every subsequent stop on the tour.