Alan Jackson has the ability to go from a raucous drinking song to a cry in your beer, rip-your-heart-out tune, and right back again to a fun, party song. This versatile performer, whose music has been the soundtrack to summer and helped heal a nation, enjoys the diversity of songs that make up his albums. “My albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know,” says Alan. “It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been.” The Georgia native has hit the jackpot with his latest single, the heart-felt “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” which is currently making its way up the country charts.

After breaking attendance records at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo last month, Alan heads to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 18th.

Alan is scheduled to perform his latest single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on March 30th.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson, who is climbing the charts with his latest single “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” talks about the diversity of songs that have made up his career.

AJ (diversity of songs) OC: …all of ‘em. :62
“I’ve always had that mixture of songs, from love songs to heartache and family-type songs, the fun, party songs and drinkin’ songs ’cause that, I mean, I played in the bars for years, and you had to play that stuff, and I liked it, anyway. I mean, I grew up on Hank Jr.’s stuff, you know? That was ultimate party country stuff, and that’s what I loved. And so it’s just kind of…to me, I’ve always…my albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know? It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been. I mean, Hank Williams, Sr. — he’d write a party song, then he’d write a cryin’ song, and then he’d have a gospel song out, you know? So I just think it’s all the themes that represent country music, and yes, I’ve had my share of all of ‘em.”