ALAN JACKSON
Don’t expect Alan Jackson’s 23rd spin on the RodeoHouston stage to be much different from any of his previous outings. Jackson’s appeal is in the familiar: same songs, same stance, same unfussy charm. He’s part of the show’s fabric.
Jackson is only the fifth entertainer to perform in front of 1 million RodeoHouston fans. He was inducted into the Star Trail of Fame in 2011, joining an elite group that includes Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Charley Pride and George Strait.
“It’s hard to picture a million of anything, I suppose. All I know is there’s always a whole lot of people out there when I walk out on that stage,” Jackson said in 2011. “I guess I can see how they’ve added up to a million over all these years.
The modesty is part of his appeal. But he’s earned the right to brag a little. Jackson’s first album, 1990’s “Here in the Real World,” spawned several hits, including “Wanted,” “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” and “I’d Love You All Over Again.” It established him as a young country upstart to watch.
His catalog has since included almost two dozen albums and 26 No. 1 singles.
He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010. And he’s picked up a few unlikely fans, including Houston rapper Ingrid, who calls Jackson’s 1996 hit “Little Bitty” a prime influence.
“I think it’s the repetition, the melody, how fun it is,” she says. “It’s so simple but still so witty and says so much.”
Just like Jackson himself. PERFORMING: March 11 PAST PERFORMANCES: 1992-2002, 2004-13, 2015 HOMETOWN: Newnan, Ga. FIRST NO.1 HIT: 1991’s “I’d Love You All Over Again” FROM HIS 2015 PERFORMANCE: Alan Jackson’s voice has taken on a more grizzled quality over the years. It’s reminiscent of George Jones on some songs and adds some depth to what he’s doing.