Alan Jackson's Wife (Denise Jackson) first met him when they were teens in a small town in Georgia...get to know more about Denise Jackson here.
Alan Jackson’s wife (Denise Jackson) also shared her maiden name of “Jackson” in a rare marriage of the same last names. The couple met in the summer of 1976 while they were teens with Alan getting Denise’s attention in a very eyebrow-raising way— he threw a penny down her blouse and asked if he could retrieve it. That move didn’t get Alan the result he wanted so he decided to hide in the backseat of Denise’s car while it was parked at a Dairy Queen. Oddly enough, the second attempt actually worked and the couple has been married now for over 40 years.
Watch the video to discover more about Alan Jackson’s wife and family and see more photos and details below.
Alan Jackson’s Wife (Denise Jackson)
When the couple met, Denise Jackson was 16 years old and Alan was 17. Alan proposed marriage (Christmas Eve of 1978) when Denise was just 18 years old and a freshman in College. The pair married on December 15, 1979 at Newnan Baptist Church in their hometown of Newnan, Georgia. Alan Jackson is now 61 years old (born October 17, 1958) and Denise Jackson is 60 years old (born January 7, 1960 in Newman, Georgia).
After the couple relocated to Nashville, it was Denise who helped snag Jackson his first recording contract. While working as a flight attendant, she met “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell and told him about her musically gifted husband. Intrigued, Campbell then took Alan under his wing and helped the promising singer-songwriter score a contract with Arista Records. If you’re curious about Denise Jackson and her relationship with her famous husband— she penned a The New York Times Best Seller titled It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life which digs deeper into her personal life, relationship woes, healing a marriage, and her strong Christian faith.
Besides the obvious role as a supportive spouse, Denise also helped Alan perfect his signature look. In an interview with Parade magazine, Jackson revealed why he opts for white cowboy hats, “I’ve tried to wear black a couple of times. But I’m kinda fair and blonde-headed, and it just don’t look good. My wife says, “You know what? You’re not dark-complexion enough to wear that dark hat.” You gotta have somebody to tell you the truth, you know?” The popular crooner also shared this piece of marital wisdom with The Boot, “I don’t care if it’s somebody that seems compatible or your soul mate … you have to work at it all the time,” Alan stated. “I always find that most times you treat strangers nicer than you do somebody that’s close to you, and if you learn to do that, that makes a big difference.”
The longtime couple has three adult daughters: Mattie, Alexandra, and Dani. In 1998, the pair temporarily separated for four months due to Alan Jackson’s infidelity and the pressures of his country music career.
Alan and Denise Jackson’s Daughters (Mattie, Ali, and Dani)
“We were just kids when we started out,” Alan Jackson shared with PEOPLE about their temporary split. “We didn’t ever have the chance to fall in love as adults and to learn who you are before making a commitment. I think we lost some of that original feeling. I did anyway.”Denise added, “We learned that if a relationship’s going to be good, you have to make it a priority. Even if it’s just getting up 30 minutes before the children do in the morning, having our coffee and being together uninterrupted. Or sitting on the porch in the afternoon for 10 minutes to catch up on our day.”
Alan and Denise’s love story is the cornerstone of Jackson’s songs “She Likes It Too” and “Remember When”. Denise and their three daughters appear in the “Remember When” music video.
Best wishes to the Jackson family as they start the next chapter. Remember to share Alan Jackson’s Wife video update with other Country Music fans!