Alan Jackson and Denise Jackson are a true testament to strength and enduring love in the spotlight. Their decades-long union is a classic country music love story infused with unwavering support, forgiveness, and the resilience to triumph over life’s many challenges.
Their High School Romance
Alan and Denise first crossed paths while attending Newnan High School in their hometown of Newnan, Georgia. The Christian Broadcasting Network reported that she was out for ice cream after church when they met in 1976.
The two began dating when he was 18, and she was 16, according to Today. Throughout high school, Denise was a top student and an athlete, playing tennis and cheerleading.
Meanwhile, he sang in a barbershop quartet, as his sisters shared in the 2018 documentary Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man.
Kickstarting His Country Music Career
During their first few years of marriage, Denise worked as a flight attendant while Alan held odd jobs, including selling cars, building houses, and waiting tables. At the same time, he was still pursuing his music career and joined the band Dixie Steel as the lead singer after one of the members spotted him singing at a wedding.
In the early 1980s, Denise pitched Alan to country singer Glen Campbell while working at the airport.
In Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man, she revealed that Glen gave her the card of “the guy that ran his publishing company in Nashville” and advised Alan to start writing songs.
Their Family Life
Alan and Denise are parents to three daughters: Mattie Denise Jackson, Alexandra “Ali” Jane Jackson, and Dani Grace Jackson. The couple raised their kids in Tennessee as Alan started in the music industry.
The musician became a father for the first time when Denise gave birth to their daughter Mattie in 1990; followed by Ali in 1993 and Dani in 1997. Today, Mattie hosts the inspirational podcast In Joy Life and releases weekly episodes.
She’s also a published author, writing Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through My Greatest Heartbreak in honor of her late husband, Ben Selecman, who died after an accident in 2018.
Their Brief Separation
Following the birth of their youngest daughter, Alan told Denise he was unhappy, and the couple separated after Christmas in 1997. She explained to the Christian Broadcasting Network that it wasn’t completely out of the blue because they had had ongoing discussions about feeling disconnected in their relationship.
“I think Alan got to a point after 18 years where he thought, ‘We both deserve so much more than this, and we haven’t been able to fix it yet, and I don’t think it’s fixable,'” Denise said. “So that was really the turning point where he said, ‘Enough is enough. I’m leaving.'”
Her Memoir and Forgiveness
Almost three decades into their marriage, Denise wrote It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life in 2007, a memoir about her relationship with Alan, in which she opened up about their ups and downs.
Denise admitted to PEOPLE that Alan was “nervous” about the book initially, especially because she planned to write about his infidelities. Ultimately, though, he understood that the project was about rebuilding and forgiveness.
Her Cancer Diagnosis
Denise was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010. She told Coping magazine that she and Alan were celebrating their anniversary in Florida when she got the call.
“When I found out it was squamous cell carcinoma, to say that it was the shock of my life is an understatement,” she said. “I eat a healthy diet. I exercise. I never dreamed that a doctor would tell me that I had cancer.”
Alan added that he was also “in disbelief,” but “as her husband,” he wanted to “reassure and encourage her.” Their shared experience inspired him to write the ballad “When I Saw You Leaving” about being a caregiver.
Her Support for Alan’s Health Struggles
In 2021, Alan revealed that he has Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects the muscles in the arms and legs.
The country legend explained on the Today show that he was diagnosed 10 years prior but had decided to share his health diagnosis because, in recent years, it had become more apparent during performances.
Denise has been supportive of Alan throughout his health struggles, and they have been managing together. “When I’m down, he lifts me up. When he’s down, I try to lift him up,” she said.
FAQs
When did Alan Jackson and Denise Jackson get married?
Denise and Alan got married on December 15, 1979.
How many daughters do Alan and Denise have?
They have three daughters: Mattie Denise Jackson, Alexandra “Ali” Jane Jackson, and Dani Grace Jackson.
How long have Alan and Denise been married?
As of 2024, Alan and Denise have been married for over 45 years.
