Seven years after releasing his debut album, country music singer-songwriter Alan Jackson was among peers at the American Music Awards.
It was during the awards show in 1997 that Jackson performed “Everything I Love,” which is the title track to Jackson’s sixth studio album. Other tracks include “Little Bitty,” “Buicks To The Moon,” “Between The Devil And Me,” “House With No Curtains,” and “It’s Time You Learned About Good-Bye.”
Written by Harley Allen and Carson Chamberlain, the lyrics describe numerous things (besides, of course, love lost) that are hurting this person.
“Coffee keeps me up and I can’t sleep
And when I drink too much then I can\’t eat
Losing you has led me to believe
Everything I love is killin’ me
Everything I love is killing me
Cigarettes, Jack Daniels and caffeine
And that’s the way you’re turning out to be
Everything I love, gonna have to give up
‘Cause everything I love is killin’ me
I guess I made a big mistake
Thinkin’ you’re a habit I can break
Well, I’m addicted to you now I see
Everything I love is killin’ me
Chorus
Oh everything I love gonna have to give up
‘Cause everything I love is killin’ me”
Here’s Jackson singing his hit song in front of the AMA fans.
Alan Jackson Stays True To His Country Music Roots
Throughout the years, Jackson has stayed true to country music. It’s the type of music that people he’s looked up to in his life perform.
Jackson said one time that “Hank Williams or Merle Haggard, they liked to play a lot of different styles of music, but it was all country. I wanted to mix it up but stay true to country, too.”
It’s a bit odd that Jackson did not own a musical instrument growing up. He made up for that and has gone far beyond what he dreamed up for himself after starting his career in 1983.
His wife Denise, a flight attendant, happened to meet country music legend Glen Campbell while on a flight.
She took time out to talk with Campbell about her husband’s aspirations. Campbell offered a referral to a Nashville publishing company. He also told them to move to Nashville.
They did in 1985 and, as they say, the rest is history.
Jackson Honors George Jones At His Funeral In 2013
Jackson always had respect for those who came before him. It didn’t matter who it was as long as he could, in some way, connect to them through the music.
When George Jones died in 2013, Jackson was one of the musicians asked to sing at the service. He performed one of Jones’ signature hits, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and left an indelible mark on those in attendance.
Jackson and Jones developed a mutual friendship and camaraderie. When asked about Jones, Jackson said he considered him a hero of his.
Now it’s Jackson who is looked up to by those up-and-coming country music singers and songwriters. They can look at him and his career, knowing that if he can make it then they can, too.
