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r e a l w o r l d n e w sthe official newsletter of the Alan Jackson Platinum Fan Club

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s u m m e r 2 0 0 8I s s u e 7 4

Alan Jackson Fan ClubP.O. Box 121945

Nashville, TN 37212-1945

(615) 321-5219 office

(615) 321-5221 merchandise

(615) 321-2112 fax

ajfc@alanjackson.com e-mail

www.alanjackson.com

Real World Newsis the official publication of the

Alan Jackson Fan Club. Newsletters are mailed out in

February, may, August and November.

Platinum Fan Club Membership includes:

Real World News Newsletter

merchandise Discounts

Alan’s Biography and Fact Sheet

8x10 exclusive Color Photo

Official membership Card

Preferred Concert Seating

(subject to availability)

annual dues:$20 USA

$25 Canada$30 International

Free* Fan Club Membership includes:

Real World News Newsletter

annual dues:Free* in the USA only

Please check your address label for your expiration date. We do

not send out renewal reminders. You will have a three month grace

period in which to renew your membership.

When writing to Alanor theFan Club,

please remember to include a Self-Address Stamped envelope

(SASe) for a quick response.

Cindy Hartpresident

Abby Busickadministrative assistant

We reserve the rightto refuse or deny

privileges to anyoneat our sole discretion.

©2008 Alan Jackson materials may not be reproduced without

written permission.

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topnews

Alan Jackson has invited Trace Adkins along

when his GOOD TIme TOUR hits the road this

fall. The double-barrel pairing of two of country’s

most exciting performers kicks off October 2, at

Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC and makes its

way to l7 venues through the midwest, Northeast,

Canada and the West Coast, ending November 23,

in Ontario, CA.

make sure your membership is up-to-date so you

don’t miss out on any of the Preferred Seating

offered at all the shows. You can find your

Preferred Seating request for in your membership

packet or in the members-Only section of the

website. Shows will start going on sale in early

August, so keep checking the website tour

schedule for on sale dates.

alan jackson bringstrace adkins on boardhis good time tour fora double-header of great music17 shows kiCk oFF OctOber 2nd in north CArolinA

T o u r d a T e s

October 2 Fayetteville, nC / Crown Coliseum October 3 Greenville, sC / Bi-lo Center October 9 Bloomington, il / Us Cellular Coliseum October 10 hoffman Estates, il / sears Centre October 11 Memphis, tn / FedEx Forum October 23 worchester, MD / Centrum October 24 Philadelphia, PA / spectrum October 25 Fairfax, VA / Patriot Center November 6 Columbus, oh / shottenstein Center November 7 Covington, kY / Bank of kentucky Center November 8 Auburn hills, Mi / Palace of Auburn hills November 13 london, oh / John labatt Centre November 14 toronto, on / Air Canada Centre November 15 Buffalo, nY / hsBC Arena sep November 21 Fresno, CA / save Mart Center November 22 sacramento, CA / ArCo Arena November 23 ontario, CA / Citizens Business Bank

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 22, 2008

Alan Jackson Hits 50-Million AlbumMilestone! Nashville, TN – Superstar Alan Jackson just scored the 33rd #1 single of his career with “Good Time,” the title track to his 17th album, and he achieves another incredible career landmark with news that he has now crossed the 50-million album sales milestone. A native of small-town Newnan, GA, Jackson was the first artist signed to the fledgling Arista Nashville record label in 1989, and with the release the following year of his debut album, Here in the Real World, his songs immediately connected with fans—leading to four #1 singles from that record alone. Over the course of 16 Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum albums leading up to the release this past march of Good Time, Jackson has become one of country music’s most respected and honored artists. Sony BmG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante praised, “It’s a short drive from Georgia to Tennessee, but it’s a long way to 50 million albums sold! Alan’s songs and shows have propelled him to this incredible level of success. He has never lost touch with the fans, and they’ve shown their appreciation year after year with #1 singles and Platinum sales.” With more than 100 major industry awards to his credit, Jackson is a three-time Country music Association entertainer of the Year and the most-nominated artist in CmA history. A prolific songwriter, Jackson penned 23 of his 33 #1 singles, including his GRAmmY-winning Best Country Song, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” Jackson’s Good Time collection recently became the fourth album of his career to debut simultaneously at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 sales charts. The 17-song release also marked a career first for Jackson, as the only time he has been the sole writer on each of the songs on his album.

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cmafest

Denise came out to Fan Fair to

sign copies of her books,

It’s All About Him and

The Road Home. Guess who she

brought along with her?

sUrPrisE!!!!!!!

‘08

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snapshots1 Platinum Fan Club member Norma Kerns

is proud to show off her family! Back in the

90s, Norma, her mother & sisters visited Alan’s

Show Car Café.Of course they look good in there Alan

Jackson T-shirts!

2 Platinum Fan Club member Linda Johnson

was on her way to see Alan perform in Dallas

– but decided to take a side trip to the mall.

While there, she had this great photo taken with Denise Jackson!

3 Canada sure loves

ALAN! Platinum member Brenda (far

right) and her friends proved just that at

a recent concert in Vancouver, BC.

According to Brenda’s email to the Fan Club “Brenda is my name...

Alan is my game!”

4 Sandra Campisano, a Platinum member,

recently purchased a new home and what

better to do with an extra bedroom

than make it an Alan Jackson Room!

Sandra sent us this photo of her posing with her collection!

5 There’s nothing like starting them young!

Platinum member Yvonne Pauley sent

us this adorable photo of her 6 month old

grandson Cameron. She says Cameron already enjoys Alan’s music as

much as she does!

6 What a classic photo! Platinum member Debbie Yount and her husband were backstage at the Opry last march and got to capture this great moment with two Opry Legends –Alan Jackson and Little Jimmy Dickens. 7 Longtime fan and Platinum Fan Club member melanie Wiggins was delighted to visit with Alan & Denise at their recent signing at Scotts Bookstore in Newnan, GA. 8 We love visiting with everyone at Alan’s booth during CmA Fest. This year Platinum member Helen Vidaurri gets the award for best T-shirt! Here she poses with Abby from the Fan Club. Her shirt reads “Thanks to Alan Jackson for his Devotion to his fans....Fan Fair 2008.” 9 Steve and Sharon Koester got the pleasure of meeting Alan last time he played in Ft. Wayne, IN. But they didn’t stop with a 8x10...they had the picture blown up to 40x60 and mounted on the ceiling! Who says the skies the limit!

t h a N k s f O r a l l t h e g r e a t p h O t O g r a p h s ! remember, anytime we use one of your photos in a newsletter, we will send you a $10 gift certificate toward official AJ merchandise. if you’d like your photo returned, please include a self-Addressed stamped Envelope.

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frontrow1 GISELE RICHARD, Winnipeg, MB CanadaThank you so very much for the front row seats. We had such a great time. I’m so proud to be a platinum club member! 2 ALICE COLEMAN, Portland, ORWOW!! Front row seats to the Alan Jackson concert – loved them & love the show!! Thanks so very much – a great 35th anniversary present! 3 LINDA STARK, Spokane, WAA HUGe thank you for the Front Row tickets! I had a fantastic time at the concert – it was a dream come true! 4 DORIS BREKER, Edmonton, AB CanadaThank you very much for the Front Row Seats!! The show was the best I’ve seen!

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ten of our favorite alan jackon songsit’s hArD to nArrow Down A list FroM his MAssiVE CAtAloG oF hitswritten by CMT.com Staff

Once again, Alan Jackson is out there hitting the highways this summer, singing hit after hit after hit. He’s proven himself a durable entertainer over the last two decades, and it must be hard to narrow down a set list when you’ve got so many possibilities. everybody has their favorite Alan Jackson songs. But when we are lucky enough to be in the audience, these are the 10 we want to hear the most.

“ChaTTahooChee” Aaaaaaa-yeeeeeee!!! When this song comes on the radio, I can’t help but picture Alan Jackson on water skis. Kids like it too, even if they have no idea about why the young couple settled for a burger and a grape Sno-Cone. –Craig Shelburne

“drIve (For daddy Gene)” Like father, like son. It’s heartfelt, but not too sappy. I have those same fond memories of my grandfather letting me “drive” through his rural postal route, and I know I’d let my kids do the same thing. –CS

“I’ll Go on lovInG you” I think this is one of the sexiest and most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard: “When I look into your soft green eyes and when I see your delicate body, reveal to me as you slip off your dress.” ... Don’t tell me you’re not hooked from the first line. –Whitney Self

“IT’s FIve o’CloCk somewhere” I still get a big kick out of hearing Jimmy Buffett offer his cheerful wisdom. This is the ultimate summer vacation song, and it’s ridiculously fun in concert when everybody’s singing along. –CS

“Gone CounTry” As funny as it is, I always thought this was an incredibly dark song until Bob mcDill, the guy who wrote it, set me straight by explaining that this wasn’t his intention at all. Still, the message will remain timeless as long as people from New York and Los Angeles are still flocking to Nashville. I’m not sure anybody besides Alan Jackson or George Strait could have sung it and made it a hit. –Calvin Gilbert

“here In The real world” Few people remember his first single, “Blue Blooded Woman,” but his second one set the tone for what we’d be hearing during the next 18 years. A real country song about the real world—co-written and performed by a real country singer. –CG

“lIke red on a rose” I think I’ve listened to this song on repeat for an entire day before. So often people try to describe love—using elaborate verbs and adjectives—but this song is composed of simple similes molded together to sculpt a love masterpiece. If anyone can put love into words, it’s Alan Jackson. –WS

“lIvIn’ on love” So many of his songs are so easy to sing along with, but this melody is irresistible. He and his wife Denise really did come from humble beginnings, and it’s easy for a lot of country fans to relate to that less-is-more lifestyle. –CS

“remember when” This song will forever remind me of my mother and father. We were driving along one afternoon and this song came on the radio. my father looked adoringly over at my mother and said, “Oh, honey, I think of you every time I hear this song.” About that time, Jackson sang the line, “You were the first, so was I / made love and then you cried.” my mom looked back at him puzzled and said, “You weren’t my first!” –WS

“she’s GoT The rhyThm (and I GoT The blues)” What a great title and what a quirky rhythm. Between the lyrics and the musical arrangement, Jackson again nailed the honky-tonk sound that has served him so well. I had forgotten that he co-wrote the song with Randy Travis. –CG

After reading CmT’s list of Top Ten AJ Favs, I thought it would be fun to give you our Top 10 favorites. Also, we want to know what your Top 10 Favorites and why. I know it will be hard to choose so maybe you can make different categories lists like we did. We’ll start a web board post, August 1, so you can post your lists! BE sUrE to loG onto thE wEB BoArD to ADD YoUr list AnD rEAD othEr FAns’ lists.

CIndy’s Top 10 aJ FavorITes 1 “Dallas” – my all-time favorite 2 “I Don’t Even Know Your Name” – The single when I first started working for AJ 3 “Home” 4 “Just Playin’ Possum” 5 “Song for the Life” 6 “Good Time (Remix)” 7 “Anywhere On Earth You Are” 8 “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” 9 “A Woman’s Love” 10 “Gone Country”abby’s Top 10 aJ FavorITes 1 “The Blues Man” – LOVe AJ’s version of this song! 2 “To Do What I Do” 3 “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” 4 “Let It Be Christmas” – One of the few Christmas songs I’ll listen to over & over 5 “I Wish I Could Back Up” 6 “Where I Come From” 7 “The Firefly’s Song” 8 “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” 9 “Midnight in Montgomery” – gives me chills every time I hear it! 10 “Sissy’s Song”Top 10 aJ workouT sonGs 1 “Good Time” 2 “Burnin’ the Honky Honks Down” 3 “Tall, Tall Trees” 4 “Little Bitty” 5 “Chattahoochee” 6 “I Don’t Even Know Your Name” 7 “Revenoor Man” 8 “Let’s Get Back To Me and You” 9 “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” 10 “Three Minute Positive Not Too Country Up-tempo Love Song”Top 10 aJ road or waTer TrIp sonGs 1 “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” 2 “Let’s Get Back To Me And You” 3 “Margaritaville” 4 “Drive (for Daddy Gene)” 5 “Summertime Blues” 6 “Where I Come From” 7 “I’ll Fly Away” 8 “Talkin’ Song Repair Blues” 9 “Chattahoochee” 10 “Good Time (Remix)”

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fanreview

autographed itemwinners

front rowwinners

I, along with my two daughters and niece, started

my three hour trip from Florida to Alabama. I was

so excited to see where my seats were, we drove

from the motel to The Wharf to get the tickets.

They were Second Row, in the Center!!!! The best

seats I had ever had, thanks to Cindy and The Fan

Club. Time began to count down, it was CONCeRT

TIme! As the clock started counting down, my

heart was pounding, then came ALAN! He had

the crowd on their feet. Alan sang his heart out

as usually. I really enjoyed the old tunes as well as

the new ones. I love “Small Town Southern man.”

There are so many that can relate to that one, and

“Good Time” that is gonna be another #1. The

album is the best. The Strayhorns are always good

to see. I have lost count of all Alan’s concerts I have

attended. But this will be the greatest of all. my

oldest daughter made me a quilt for my birthday in

2004, I had tried several times to get it autographed

by Alan, this night my youngest daughter got to

the stage with the quilt and Alan signed it. I wept

a few tears. Then Alan held the quilt up in front

of the crowd—how special that was! I have been

following Alan since 1990 and I have a collection

of TV recordings from Nashville Now to Austin

City Limits, all award shows, etc. Alan will always

be the #1 Country singer to me. Thanks Alan for a

memorable evening.

V e r N e l l b a x l e ythe wharf Amphiteater in orange Beach, Alabama

March 1, 2008

Remember to send your concert reviews into the Fan Club for a chance to win tickets to the next AJ show in your area. See your membership packet for complete details.

Jeri Bailey, KansasShirley Turney, AlabamaRalph Carey, New Jersey

Sharon Lamarche, Ontario, CanadaPatricia Severns, Indiana

Rhonda Channell, West VirginiaArt Monette, Vermont

Florensia Pasaribu, NetherlandsRachel Dooley, CaliforniaSharon Simon, montana

Council Bluffs, IAJane Garrison

Catherine Wilson

San Jose, CAIva Glover

Judy Peace

Lake Tahoe, NVJanice Rampley

Pattie McLaughlin

Las Vegas, NVDebra Martinez

Ken Lentz

Alan’s next singlecOuNtry bOy

Releasing to radio soon!

Start calling your favoriteCOUNTRY DJ

to play “COUNTRY BOY!”

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heyy’alla note from the fan club

tourscheduledate city, state / VeNue ticket iNfO

august8/14** San Jose, CA / HP Pavilion NOW

8/15** Lake Tahoe, NV / Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Amphitheater NOW

8/16** Las Vegas NV / mandalay Bay events Center NOW

september9/10** Alburquerque, mN / Sandia Casino Amphitheater NOW

9/11** Tucson, AZ / Ava Amphitheater NOW

9/12** San Jacinto, CA / Soboba Casino NOW

october10/2** Fayetteville, NC / Crown Center Coliseum 8/2

10/3** Greenville, SC / Bi-Lo Center 8/1

10/4** Alpharetta, GA / Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 8/9

10/9** Bloomington, IL / US Cellular Coliseum tba

10/10** Hoffman Estates, IL / Sears Centre NOW

10/11** Memphis,TN / Fed Ex Forum tba

10/23** Worchester, MA / DCU Center 8/4

10/24** Philadelphia, PA / Wachovia Spectrum tba

10/25** Fairfax, VA / Patriot Center 8/2

november11/6** Columbus, OH / Schottenstein Center tba

11/7** Covington, KY / Bank of Kentucky Center tba

11/8** Auburn Hills, MI / The Palace of Auburn Hills 8/9

11/13** London, ONT / John Labatt Centre tba

11/14** Toronto, ONT / Air Canada Centre tba

11/15** Buffalo, NY / HSBC Arena tba

11/21** Fresno, CA / Save Mart Center tba

11/22** Sacramento, CA / ARCO Arena tba

11/23** Ontario, CA / Citizens Bank Arena tba

ALL DATES IN BOLD include Trace Adkins

For the most current tour schedule, log onto www.alanjackson.com and click on Tour

* * S P e C I A L S e AT I N G F O R P L AT I N U m FA N C L U B m e m B e R S AVA I L A B L e . Please check your local listings as all dates and times are subject to change. For updates on Alan’s tour schedule, check out Alan’s website at www.alanjackson.com or send in a Self-Addressed Stamped envelope to the Fan Club. Shows are usually confirmed and announced about 4-6 prior to the actual date of the show so check back often.

I hope this newsletter finds you having a GOOD TIme Summer! When I started this letter, we were all excited that “Good Time” was #1 for the second week in a row. Then the next day we found out that Alan has now sold 50 mILLION ALBUmS – 50,000,000!!! Now I know I’ve heard from some of you that you have bought duplicates of some of the albums so you could have one in the car and one in the house... but, come on, that’s A LOT OF CARS AND HOUSeS!!!! Garth Brooks, George Strait and Shania Twain are the only country artists who’ve sold more than Alan. What an incredible milestone for our favorite country singer! So back to “Good Time!” Thanks to all who’ve called their radio stations to request it and make it #1. It’s a great summer song that ranks up there with “Chattahoochee” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” The video is still in heavy rotations on both CmT and GAC so make sure you keep voting for it to be in their weekly countdowns! You can also purchase the Dance mix version you hear in the video from iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody. How awesome is Alan’s fall tour package? Talk about double barrel country—ALAN and Trace! WOW! And I’ve also heard a rumor that James Otto will go out with them on some of the dates! Let’s just say those are gonna be some HOT evenings!!!! make sure you’ve got your Fan Club memberships up to date so you’re ready to send in your ticket requests the day the tickets go on sale. You can print a copy of the Preferred Seating Request Form from the members Only page in the Fan Club section of the website (see password below). And remember, you can fax your requests in ANYTIme AFTeR mIDNIGHT CeNTRAL STANDARD TIme the day the tickets go on sale. As PLATINUm Fan Club members, you’ll get some of the best seats in the house! We reserve tickets in Rows 2 thru 25 just for you! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures from Fan Fair. I guess the one year I can’t make it Alan comes out for a visit. I told him I wouldn’t take it personal, but I did wonder if it was a coincidence or not..ha! Abby was out there in my place and she said the crowd was amazing! It was one of the biggest turn outs she’d ever seen in the Convention Center! Remember you can send in your photos with Alan (or Alan related) and if we print them in the newsletter, you’ll get a $10 gift certificate to use on merchandise! Well I better close for now and get this newsletter wrapped up! Hope y’all have a safe rest of the summer! And don’t forget to start listening for “COUNTRY BOY” soon!!!! Talk to you soon,

P.S. The current Platinum Fan Club password is HILLBILLY.