If not for one Alan Jackson song, he might not have become a household name. The Country Music Hall of Fame member recalls his first single, "Blue Blooded Woman," not even cracking the Top 40. Jackson knew that he needed a hit at radio, and soon, or his career could be over before it began.
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Fortunately, Jackson delivered with his second single, "Here in the Real World." The song, which was also the title track of his debut album, is what Jackson says saved his career from being over before it truly even began.
"I was just writing songs," Jackson recalls (via Whiskey Riff). "'Real World' was really ... not necessarily something out of my life or anything. It was just a story song ... a love song, really. Wrote that with Mark Irwin, and turned out to be the first hit and the second single. The first one died, so that was my big hit that came after and saved me."
The success of "Here in the Real World" released in January of 1990, couldn't have come at a better time either, welcoming his first child six months later.
"Denise was pregnant with our daughter. [It] was kind of scary," he admits.. "You never know, get one or two singles and then the label drops you, you know? So I didn't know what was going to happen, but 'Here In The Real World' kind of got it all going."
Alan Jackson's Retirement
Jackson's legendary 35-year career is sadly coming to an end. The 66-year-old only has a few more dates on his Last Call: One More For The Road Tour, before he will officially retire from life on the road, due to his health. Jackson is battling Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative neurological condition that affects his mobility.
"I've been touring for over 30 years, played everywhere, in countries and parts of the world," Jackson
