Alan Jackson, the beloved country music icon, is preparing to embark on his farewell tour, sharing heartfelt reasons behind his decision to step back from the limelight.
A significant motivation for retiring is to dedicate more time to his family, especially after the joyful announcement of his newest grandchild’s arrival.
In February, Alan had lovingly shared the anticipation of his upcoming grandchild, and now, he is overjoyed with the birth of a new grandson, Wesley Alan Smith, welcomed by his daughter, Mattie Jackson.
“One week ago, my life was forever changed,” expressed Mattie. “Wesley Alan Smith joined our little family on June 20th, the absolute best birthday gift I could have ever imagined.”
She continued, “There is no greater honor in life than being chosen by God to be your mom. And no sweeter joy than watching your daddy adore you and protect you already. Even Ryman has reluctantly warmed up to her new little brother.”
“You have all my heart and my prayers, baby boy,” she added. “If you’re anything like both your namesakes (Connor’s grandad and @officialalanjackson), you’ve got quite a life ahead of you.”
Back in February, Alan shared his enthusiasm about his growing family on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Blessings overflowing in our growing family!” he wrote. “Denise and I are thrilled for our second grandson to arrive in June! We’re so happy for proud parents Mattie and Connor Smith and can’t wait to meet the next addition to our family.”
Earlier this month, Alan reflected on his phenomenal career while discussing his decision to retire after his final tour. At 65, the seasoned performer has seen many changes in life and work, leading to his current decision.
“I’ve been touring for over 30 years,” noted Jackson in a video shared on X.
“I’ve played everywhere in the country and parts of the world. It has been a wonderful career, and now, getting into my twilight years, I have all my daughters grown, a grandchild, and another on the way.
I enjoy spending more time at home and don’t want to be away like I had to be in my younger days. It seems like the right time to start thinking about retiring full-time.”
