With a year of sold-out shows and packed houses in the rearview mirror, Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour is about to add more miles as it rolls into 2018, with the first shows on tap next weekend. And the superstar will be bringing a diverse and exciting lineup of talent with him when he comes to a city near you in 2018!

Country hitmaker Randy Houser, vocalist Lauren Alaina, trio Runaway June and frequent collaborator Lee Ann Womack will be special guests on Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour throughout the new year (detailed list below). The news comes as Jackson prepares to kick off the tour next Friday, January 19 (in Lexington, KY) and Saturday, January 20 (in Little Rock, AR). Tickets for those shows and all concerts are on sale now by visiting www.alanjackson.com, where you can find information about Alan, his tour schedule, music and more. VIP tickets and packages are also available.

As previously announced, Georgia native Lauren Alaina joins Jackson for the first weekend of his tour. The recent CMA Best New Artist nominee captured America’s hearts when she appeared on Season 10 of American Idol. Last year, she followed up her #1 debuting first album with the release of the eagerly-awaited, Road Less Traveled, which features her first chart-topping hit and title track, “Road Less Traveled.”

With three-part female harmonies, ringing strings and stories that speak the language of modern women – vocal trio Runaway June mixes bluegrass tradition with dusty desert cool. Lead singer-guitarist Naomi Cooke, singer-mandolin picker Hannah Mulholland and singer-guitarist Jennifer Wayne (granddaughter of film icon John Wayne) fuse their individual influences to create a style that’s already scored chart success.

Hitmaker Randy Houser will join Jackson on the majority of his 2018 stops along the Honky Tonk Highway. Houser’s vocals have earned raves and his music has made him a staple on country radio over the past decade, as he topped the charts with “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” “Goodnight Kiss” and “We Went.” Also known for such hits as “Boots On” and his critically-acclaimed powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and CMA Song of the Year nominated “Like A Cowboy,” Houser has been working on a new project due out this year.

As a frequent Jackson duet partner, Lee Ann Womack has appeared on several of Alan’s albums, and the two have shared a number of stages, including the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. The Grammy-winner has built a career singing songs that slice life wide open with a soprano that is all purity and ache, a theme she carried over into her latest critically acclaimed album, The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone. A CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year winner, Womack is one of the most distinctive and decorated vocalists in modern music.

Alan Jackson’s concerts find the country icon performing hits that have gained him legions of longtime fans, songs that continue to draw new crowds as a younger generation discovers his music. Jackson’s repertoire withstands the test of time; it has impacted a field of artists who cite Jackson as an influence. It’s these same songs – many of them written by Alan – that earned him his newfound place alongside country music’s greatest names and cemented his place in its history with his new membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Fans will hear the songs they love from the man who wrote them and made them famous, including his debut hit, “Here in The Real World”…signature songs such as “Chattahoochee,” “Drive” and “Gone Country”…party anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Good Time”…and many, many more. Tickets for Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour are on sale now.

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ALAN JACKSON’S 2018 “HONKY TONK HIGHWAY TOUR”

(Still more dates to be announced/added)

All cities/shows listed are currently on sale! ^^

Friday, January 19               Lexington, KY (Rupp Arena)                                         with Lauren Alaina

Saturday, January 20          Little Rock, AR (Verizon Arena)                                    with Lauren Alaina

Thursday, February 8          Independence, MO (Silverstein Eye Centers Arena)    with Runaway June

Friday, February 9               Indianapolis, IN (Bankers Life Fieldhouse)                    with Runaway June

Thursday, February 15        San Antonio, TX (San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo)

Friday, February 16             Grand Prairie, TX (Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie)  with Randy Houser

Friday, March 16                  Dayton, OH (Wright State University Nutter Center)    **

Saturday, March 17             Rockford, IL (BMO Harris Bank Center)                       **

Friday, March 23                  Toledo, OH (Huntington Center)                                   with Randy Houser

Saturday, March 24             Pittsburgh, PA (Venue TBD)                                         with Randy Houser

Friday, April 27                     Baltimore, MD (Royal Farms Arena)                             with Randy Houser

Saturday, April 28                Albany, NY (Times Union Center)                                 **

Friday, May 4                       Tuscaloosa, AL (Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre)                 **

Saturday, June 23               Orange Beach, FL (The Wharf)                                    with Randy Houser

Friday, July 27                     Central Point, OR (Country Crossing Music Festival)

Saturday, July 28                 Mountain Home, ID (Mountain Home Country Music Festival)

Saturday, August 11            Oro-Medonte, ONT (Boots ‘n’ Hearts Music Festival)

Thursday, August 16           Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap)^^                                              **

Friday, August 17                 Gilford, NH (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion)            with Lee Ann Womack

Friday, September 14          North Charleston, SC (North Charleston Coliseum)     with Randy Houser

Saturday, September 15      Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center)                                  with Randy Houser

** Special guest to be announced

^^ Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap) tickets not currently on sale

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ABOUT ALAN JACKSON:

Recently inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Alan Jackson’s membership among country music’s all-time greats is the latest in a long line of career-defining accolades that include three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 25 years of membership in the Grand Ole Opry, a 2016 Billboard ranking as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time, induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Heritage Award as the most-performed country songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years.

The man from rural Newnan, GA has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers). He has earned more than 150 music industry awards – including 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 16 Country Music Association Awards, a pair of Grammys and ASCAP’s Founders and Golden Note Awards.

Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. He’s also the man behind one of Nashville’s most-popular new tourist stops, AJ’s Good Time Bar, a four-story honky-tonk in the heart of downtown (along a stretch of Broadway known as the “Honky Tonk Highway”) featuring daily live music and a rooftop view of Music City.

Suggested Tweet:

@RandyHouser, @Lauren_Alaina, @runawayjune, @leeannwomack joining Alan Jackson’s #HonkyTonkHighway Tour! Check out alanjackson.com/tour.html

Twitter Cheat Sheet: @OfficialJackson, #HonkyTonkHighway, @Lauren_Alaina, @RandyHouser, @runawayjune, @leeannwomack

UMG Nashville is starting a new tradition having our talented artists recite the age-old holiday poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This year, we have Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, TJ and John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Jordan Davis and Brandon Lay doing the honors.

For your convenience, we’re offering a produced and dry versions of the holiday classic.

Happy Holidays!

Country Music’s biggest names celebrate the holidays with an encore presentation of “CMA Country Christmas,” airing this Thursday, Dec. 21st at 9/8c on ABC.

The eighth annual “CMA Country Christmas” returns with first-time host and iconic entertainer Reba McEntire and features two hours of festive performances from Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House by Luke Bryan, CB30, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, CeCe Winans, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young. Don’t miss fantastic collaborations by Ballerini and Reba, Little Big Town and Reba, and Jackson and Young.

Visit CMApress.com for artist interviews and performance clips. For more information, visit CMAChristmas.com and follow us on Twitter @Countrymusic.

Alan Jackson is the patriarch of a family of five, including his wife Denise and his three daughters Mattie, Ali and Dani. Even though his children are grown, his family still stick to their Christmas traditions.

“Christmas is pretty traditional. We don’t let anybody open any presents until Christmas morning,” says Alan. “We don’t let them get up on their own and take off, you know, everybody has to wait and kind of get situated, and maybe have a cup of coffee, and then we start all of the regular Christmas morning activities, opening presents, taking pictures and video. We have music going, you know, I try to keep Christmas music going in the background. I like to turn that on before I let them come down to the tree and everything.”

Alan released his second holiday album, Let It Go, in 2002.

Holiday liners from UMG Nashville artists, including Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Brandon Lay, Brothers Osborne, Canaan Smith, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Gary Allan, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Lady Antebellum, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and more!

Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Alan Jackson and CB30 are set to perform during this year’s CMA Country Christmas airing Monday (November 27^th) at 8pm ET on ABC.  Hosted by Reba McEntire, the two-hour special will also feature performances by Brett Eldredge, Trisha Yearwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Young, Dan + Shay and CeCe Winans.

CMA has partnered with Balsam Hill, the leading provider of beautiful, highly realistic, artificial Christmas trees and holiday décor, to decorate the “CMA Country Christmas” stage in 2017. Learn more about Balsam Hill at balsamhill.com.

Toys for Tots collected unwrapped toys from performers including Dan + Shay and CB30 in addition to generous audience members attending “CMA Country Christmas” at Nashville’s Grand Old Opry House. To learn more about donating to Toys for Tots throughout the holidays, visit toysfortots.org.

The Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth, in the state that’s now known as Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. While initially, the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed half of the 102 colonists, the Wampanoag Native Americans helped the Pilgrims by providing seeds and teaching them to fish. The practice of holding an annual harvest festival like this did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s. People now celebrate the holiday by giving thanks for their blessings over the past year, as well as feasting on turkey and other festive goodies.

Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 23rd, and most people will be enjoying time with their friends and families, including some of your favorite country stars, such as Alan Jackson, Brothers Osborne, Canaan Smith, Clare Dunn, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Mickey Guyton, Sam Hunt and more. They share their thoughts, memories and favorite Thanksgiving dishes.

Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Alan Jackson, CB30 will all perform during this year’s CMA Country Christmas. The show, hosted by Reba McEntire for the first time, will air November 27th at 8pm ET on ABC. Dustin Lynch, Brett Eldredge, Kelsea Ballerini, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, CeCe Winans and Dan + Shay will also perform during the show, which will be held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

Darius Rucker will perform “Winter Wonderland” during ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration this year. The show will premiere November 30th at 9pm ET, as well as “Home for the Holidays” during Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration on Christmas Day.

The new revamp of American Idol, starring Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry as judges, will premiere Sunday, March 11th on ABC.

Shania Twain is featured in the new free mobile game Home Street, as an in-game character throughout the month of November. The international superstar, who recently released her new album NOW, is the first guest character to appear in the game.

Alan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (October 22nd), alongside the late Jerry Reed and songwriter Don Schlitz.

The iconic Loretta Lynn inducted the Georgia native into the Hall of Fame in what she said was her first outing after she suffered a stroke in May. “I love you and I am so proud of you,” she said. “You deserve to be here.”  “Loretta Lynn said I should be here,” Alan said. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

Alan began his career as the lead singer of local Newnan band Dixie Steel, holding down numerous odd jobs while touring and writing songs. His wife, Denise, a flight attendant at the time, had a chance meeting with Glen Campbell. Campbell suggested Alan get in touch with his music publishing company. Within two weeks of the meeting, the Jacksons packed up and moved to Nashville to follow his dreams and Alan eventually signed with the worldwide star’s publishing company.

“I wrote what I knew about, and that was cars,” he says. “My daddy was a mechanic. I grew up in a garage. That’s all I cared about. That’s the reason I came to Nashville to be a singer because I loved cars, and I couldn’t really buy any. [crowd laughs] So, I didn’t have much going on, and I didn’t see much of a future of any direction that would help me buy a lot of cars, and being a singing star looked like the only shot I had.”

He honed his craft and was eventually signed by executive Tim DuBois as the flagship artist at Arista Nashville in 1989. Jackson saw almost immediate success with his first album, Here in the Real World. It yielded his first Billboard No. 1 single, “I’d Love You All Over Again,” and made Jackson an instant — and instantly recognizable — star. He was nominated for four awards at the 1990 CMA Awards and, over the course of his career, would become the second most-nominated artist in CMA Awards history with 81 nominations, following only close friend and fellow Hall of Fame member George Strait. He still owns the record for most nominations in a single year with 10, set in 2002, the year he swept Song and Single of the Year with his poignant 9/11 tribute “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” The track also was nominated for all-genre Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards and won the Best Country Song Award, his first golden gramophone.

Jackson released four studio albums in the first five years of his recording career. Here in the Real World, Don’t Rock the Jukebox, his best-selling A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ‘Bout Love), and Who I Am sold more than 20 million albums during that period and included some of his most memorable and important tracks, including “Midnight in Montgomery” and “Chattahoochee,” a winner of CMA Single and Song of the Year in 1993-94, respectively.

Jackson has released more than 20 albums and collections — including forays into gospel and bluegrass — nine of which went multiplatinum with 2 million or more in sales. Those albums have led to one of Country Music’s most decorated careers with three CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards (1995, 2002, 2003); two Grammy Awards; and membership in the Grand Ole Opry, the esteemed Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He was given the first ASCAP Heritage Award (2014) by the performance rights organization, recognizing him as the most performed Country Music songwriter-artist of the last 100 years. Jackson has charted more than 30 No. 1 hits, sold nearly 60 million albums, and is among the genre’s most decorated and respected figures, with more than 150 awards.

During the ceremony, Lee Ann Womack performed his first Top 10 hit “Here in the Real World,” Alison Krauss sang “Someday,” while friend George Strait performed his hit “Remember When.”

As a finale to the entire evening, Alan, Loretta and George, along with Connie Smith sang “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” which is performed at the end of every Hall of Fame Medallion ceremony.

Late last week before this weekend’s induction, Alan released a new song, “The Older I Get.”