Alan Jackson photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
When it came time to shoot a video for his new single, “It’s Just That Way,” Alan Jackson looked no further than his daughter, Mattie, for the video treatment.
“The video depicts a backwards reality, with metaphors of nature’s undeniable realities,” wrote Mattie in the treatment she submitted. “[It] illustrates a love that is as pure and dependable as the sun rising in the sky.” Mattie is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She makes her debut as a journalist in the June issue of Paula Dean Cooking. Click here to see the video.
“It’s Just That Way” was written by Keith Stegall, Vicky McGehee and Kylie Sackley, but, Alan says, “It’s such a beautiful melody, I wish I’d written it myself.”
“It reminds me of Denise,” says Alan of “It’s Just That Way,” “and how we have been together forever. Sometimes we just look back and think of where we started and how it all happened and it’s just like it was supposed to be,” he said.
The new single is from Alan’s upcoming 18th album, Freight Train. Of the title track Alan says, “It sounded different and just kind of stuck out. I guess when you really think about it, man, we’ve been rolling along here for a lot of years, just going like a freight train.”
Also featured on the album is a cover of the 1977 Vern Gosdin/Janie Fricke duet, “Till the End,” which Alan recorded with Lee Ann Womack.
There wouldn’t be a new album without a tour to go along with it. Alan Jackson’s Freight Train Tour kicks off April 8 at Germain Arena in Estero, Fla. continuing for two months and 15 cities, ending at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY on May 23. Opening for Alan are Josh Turner and Chris Young. Tickets are already on sale in select markets. Visit alanjackson.com for more information.
ALAN JACKSON FREIGHT TRAIN TOUR DATES
April 8 – Estero, FL/ Germain Arena?
April 9 – Orlando, FL/ UCF Arena?
April 10 – Alpharetta, GA/ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park?
April 11 – Greenville, SC/ Bi-Lo Center??
April 29 – Champaign, IL/ Assembly Hall (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)?
April 30 – Moline, IL/ iWireless Center?May 1 – Rosemont, IL/ AllState Arena?
May 2 – Fort Wayne, IN/ War Memorial Coliseum??
May 13 – Manchester, NH/ Verizon Wireless Arena?
May 14 – Uncasville, CT/ Mohegan Sun Arena?
May 15 – Rochester, NY/ Blue Cross Arena?
May 16 – Wilkes-Barre, PA/ Wachovia Center??
May 21 – University Park, PA/ Bryce Jordan Center?
May 22 – Charleston, WV/ Charleston Civic Center
May 23 – Lexington, KY/ Rupp Arena
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Another artist that I love with a big new tour and no Texas tour dates. What is country music coming to?
alan we love u and when r u coming to mobile alabama roll tid
Alan you are what county singing is all about.I have all of your CD. Denise we love you and you book was great and what beautiful girls.Mattie keep up your writting, "just that way" is so cute. Thank you for sharing your Daddy with all of us! From your South Dakota Fans
I would love to see this show as Alan is my very favorite country star and i also loveJosh Turner every since he came out.I belong to Alan's fan club but he isn't going to be very close as i live in Indiana close to Ohio but if i can get to Lexington i will be there,i have gone to see Alan but not Josh. Love both of them
I love Allen Jackson and am so mad at GAC because they do not feature him near as much as they have in the past. The same with Josh Turner.
Yes Alan u r one out of many performers today that hold onto tradition. U have paid ur dues unlike todays "new country" artists. I call them bottom feeders and their music i call " TAINT " music. Being a country boy U know what taint is.In the future i would like to see you peform a duo with Laura Bell Bundy who has that true country sound and she has paid her dues to the music industry and refuses to pay GAC for a rating she relies on her talent. She will be ranked up there with Loretta Dolly Reba and i must add Miranda. Give it a whirl Alan.Listen to her sound ! ! !
Looking forward to seeing AJ’s new video. I follow Josh Turner everywhere so it will be great to see AJ again & to finally see Chris Young
All of us who love true Country music, Love Alan Jackson!
He Is The Best!!
Will be an awesome tour!!
Josh Turner and Alan Jackson? Fabulous. I have seen them both separately and they were wonderful. Seeing them both in one night will be an awesome show.
Can't wait to see this tour. REALLY excited for Chris Young <3
Love, love, love Alan Jackson! A true Country boy! So unassuming, so true to his music, keep singing Alan, I have loved every song you have sung!