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Alan Jackson Declares ‘Country Music Is Gone,’ Explains How New Album Is ‘Harder Country’

Alan Jackson has new music available for his fans. And, the popular country music singer and songwriter’s latest venture is getting back to the roots of the genre.

Jackson talked about this during a recent interview with HitsDailyDouble.com. Writer Holly Gleason prompted a discussion about the current status of country music by praising Jackson’s latest album. It is titled “Where Have You Gone.” She describes it as “a real live, hardcore, genuine honest-to-God country record.”

Unsurprisingly, Jackson appreciated the compliment about his current work.

“Yeah, all the players kept coming up between takes, saying, ‘I can’t tell you how good it feels to play on a real country song.’ So many said, ‘I don’t get to play on songs like this anymore.’ They knocked me over, they were all playing so good,” Jackson said. “The fiddle and steel stuff just about killed me, it was so strong.”

The conversation then turned to the status of country music during 2021. And, according to Alan Jackson, the genre is not what it once was. However, he hopes that his latest album will remind those who listen to it of what country music once was.

“Country music is gone—and it’s not coming back. It’s like the 1980s again. I’m 62 years old; I’m not some 30-year-old stud,” Jackson said. “It’s not the same, but somebody has to bring it back, because it’s not just people in their 50s, it’s people in their 20s, too. All the kids and young people around my house? The older they’ve got, the more hardcore and traditional what they’ve leaned into has become.”

Alan Jackson Says His New Album Represents ‘Real School’ of Country Music

It’s clear that Alan Jackson’s new album is influenced by the country music of days gone by. And, this is a fact that he is very proud of. In fact, he is very pleased that this album is “harder country” than many people listen to these days. He described the album as coming from the “real school.”

“It’s not old-school, it’s the real school. And I’m kinda pissed off like you are about what’s happened to the format, or whatever they wanna call it. I know I don’t have to make my records for country radio, so I decided to really…” Jackson said. “It’s even a little harder country than what I’ve done, but it’s what I’ve always dreamed about doing. I was driving out here in the country, where I live, listening to the mixes, and it’s so real. I actually teared up.”

If you haven’t already, now is the time to give Alan Jackson’s new album a listen. Enjoy!