Iconic Finale: Alan Jackson Bids Farewell to the Stage with a Grand Celebration

On Saturday night, June 27, Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was filled with devoted fans for what was billed as “Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale,” marking the end of Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson’s illustrious touring career. The sold-out event served as a grand celebration of Jackson’s more than three decades of touring and his profound musical legacy. For those unable to secure tickets to the stadium, downtown Broadway in Music City was alive with fans watching a live stream of the memorable performance.

Alan Jackson’s journey in country music began in 1985 when he moved from Newnan, Georgia, to Nashville, pursuing his dream, a pursuit he famously chronicled in his 1990 hit, “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” As part of the revered “Class of ’89,” he launched his debut album, Here in the Real World, the following year. In the nearly four decades since, the tall, lanky singer-songwriter, known for his humble demeanor, towering songwriting skills, and unwavering dedication to classic country music, has amassed an impressive list of achievements. These include 26 Billboard No. 1 Country Airplay chart-toppers, two Grammy wins, and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame (2017), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2018), and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2011). He is also a three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, earning the accolade in 1995, 2002, and 2003. Beyond writing or co-writing the majority of his own hits, Jackson has also penned songs for other prominent artists like Randy Travis, Faith Hill, and Clay Walker.

Jackson forged a career through an accessible brand of vivid musical storytelling, painting small-town vignettes of life, love, loss, and family. His success is largely attributed to his steadfast commitment to his traditional-leaning country roots, even as the genre’s sound has evolved. This dedication has cemented his status as a standard-bearer for generations of country music artists and listeners alike. In 2021, Jackson bravely revealed his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition affecting the peripheral nervous system and causing balance issues. His final tour over the past year culminated in this Saturday night celebration, which drew numerous fellow country artists, former Entertainer of the Year winners, and even a fellow Country Music Hall of Famer, all gathering to honor his enduring career.

The first half of the concert featured a star-studded parade of artists taking the stage to pay tribute to Jackson by performing their favorite songs from his extensive catalog. Performers included Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Eric Church, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Jon Pardi, Jake Owen, and Little Big Town. Members of Jackson’s family, such as Adam Wright, “Big City” Brian Wright, and Carlisle Wright, also participated. Despite an early rain drenching the audience during Jake Owen’s set, the crowd’s enthusiasm remained undiminished. Jon Pardi acknowledged the fans’ resilience, saying, “Everyone is a trooper for being out in this rain, supporting a legend like Alan Jackson,” before performing “She’s Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues).” Little Big Town delivered an illustrious rendition of “It Must Be Love,” with Kimberly Schlapman expressing, “You are part of our romances, our tailgates, our heartbreaks… you are forever woven into our lives.” Riley Green performed Jackson’s 1998 hit “Little Man,” while Lee Ann Womack sang “Between the Devil and Me.” Texan Miranda Lambert offered her take on Jackson’s hit “Dallas.” Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Cody Johnson performed “Job Description,” a song Jackson wrote solo, recalling how it inspired his own dreams of a touring career and later resonated with the hardships of being away from home. Luke Bryan spoke of Jackson as an inspiration for Georgians moving to Nashville with dreams of stardom, performing “Love’s Got a Hold on You.” Thomas Rhett performed “Small Town Southern Man,” noting its personal relevance as a father of four girls and a boy. Lainey Wilson exclaimed, “Y’all showed up to party with Mr. Alan Jackson!” before singing “Tall, Tall Trees.” Carrie Underwood, whose first concert as a child was an Alan Jackson show, honored him with a rendition of “Everything I Love.” Luke Combs performed “Hard Hat and a Hammer,” one of his favorite songs, while Eric Church delivered a riveting version of the heartbreaking “Someday.” Portions of this tribute segment were taped for an upcoming NBC special.

Near the middle of the show, many artists including Bryan, Underwood, Church, Green, Womack, and Wilson gathered at center stage for a collective performance of Jackson’s rendition of Jim Ed Brown’s 1967 hit, “Pop a Top.” Underwood declared, “We are all here tonight to celebrate a country music giant, Mr. Alan Jackson.” Throughout the show, video tributes from other artists such as Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown were showcased, alongside footage of Jackson’s various performances and awards show moments.

A second downpour and a nearly hour-long delay forced fans to seek shelter mid-show. However, the concert resumed with thunderous applause as Alan Jackson himself took the stage, launching into his 1994 hit “Gone Country.” He continued with a string of hits, demonstrating both the commercial strength and artistic depth of his music. Visibly moved, Jackson admitted, “These performances, all these nice things people’ve said, it makes me want to tear up a little bit, I’ll be honest with you.” His headlining set featured comedic tracks like “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” the haunting tribute to Hank Williams Sr. in “Midnight in Montgomery,” the tender “Livin’ on Love,” and the somber “The Blues Man,” alongside uptempo favorites such as “Summertime Blues” and “Who’s Cheatin’ Who.” He reminisced about nearly abandoning his dream after his first radio single failed, before finding breakthrough success with “Here in the Real World.” He played this pivotal hit and led fans on a musical journey through more hit songs and their inspirations, offering snippets of “Wanted,” and “I’d Love You All Over Again” (which he wrote for his wife Denise’s 10-year wedding anniversary). He also shared how the radio mentioned in “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” is now displayed in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Pausing to absorb the crowd’s love, he called it “overwhelming,” but quickly added that he was determined not to dwell on “that last show stuff… I’m not dead!” Jackson confirmed he is still releasing music, having just released his rendition of “Still the One,” a cover of Orleans’ 1976 hit.

Acknowledging the sweltering Tennessee summer heat, he quipped, “It’s hotter than a hoochie coochie up here,” before praising his band, The Strayhorns, some of whom have been with him since his early days in tiny clubs. “If anybody’s living a really good dream… I’m living it,” Jackson shared, expressing gratitude to his fans for their decades of support, respect, and kindness. The crowd roared as he welcomed George Strait to the stage for joint performances of “Designated Drinker” and “Murder on Music Row.” After sharing cheers and celebratory beverages, Strait thanked Jackson for doing the same for him on his “Cowboy Rides Away Tour,” adding, “I just wanna say, this cowboy rode back in, so we got some hope for Alan… to ride back in.” More hits followed, with Jackson performing “Little Bitty,” “Country Boy,” and “Good Time” as fans held up signs. He gracefully performed “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” ending with a loving message in memory of his father, who passed away in 2000. He also performed “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning),” his powerful song written in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, prompting the audience to light up the stadium with cell phone lights. The song concluded with American flag images displayed on massive screens, leading some in the crowd to chant “U.S.A.”

The party atmosphere then resurged with “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” before Jackson transitioned to the ballad “Remember When,” as personal photos and videos of his family flashed on the main screen, evoking one of the evening’s biggest crowd responses. More hits continued, including “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” (originally recorded with the late Jimmy Buffett) and his summer anthem “Chattahoochee,” accompanied by fireworks illuminating the sky. After thanking the audience and a brief exit, the crowd’s cheers quickly drew him back for an encore. Returning in a vivid red button-down shirt with gold fringe, he performed “Mercury Blues” and closed the show with “Where I Come From” (affectionately known as “Cornbread and Chicken” by many fans), as even more fireworks shot into the sky. True to his soft-spoken, everyman persona, Jackson concluded the show by simply waving to the roaring crowd and saying, “Thank you, we love you,” before exiting the stage for the final time.