Alan Jackson was probably never more surprised in his life when his first Precious Memories album of gospel classics sold more than two-million copies…and continues to sell. He first recorded the album as a present for his mother, but at the urging of friends and family, he released it to the public.

Some of the stories he’s heard about people loving Precious Memories have come from the most random people. “I was at the airport renewing my parking pass, you know. And this young woman was behind the desk there and she was doing all the paperwork, and she saw my name there and she said, ‘Are you Alan Jackson the singer?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ And then [she said], ‘You did the Precious Memories gospel music?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Well, I’m from South Africa, and we watched that program (that we did , the television special) over there.’ And she said they sang all the songs – they called them ‘sacrees,’ I guess like ‘sacred,’” recalls Alan. “She was so excited and wanted to know how she could get a copy of that TV program. So I think we sent her one out there.”

Alan will release Precious Memories Volume II on Tuesday (March 26th).

AUDIO: Alan Jackson admits he was surprised how many people embraced his first Precious Memories album.

AJ (gospel surprise) OC: …it’s amazing. :57
“I’ve heard so many things, I tell you. I was at the airport renewing my parking pass, you know. And this young woman was behind the desk there and she was doing all the paperwork and she saw my name there and she said, ‘Are you Alan Jackson the singer?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ And then [she said], ‘You did the Precious Memories gospel music?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Well, I’m from South Africa, and we watched that program (that we did , the television special) over there.’ And she said they sang all the songs – they called them ‘sacrees,’ I guess like ‘sacred.’ And she was so excited and wanted to know how she could get a copy of that TV program. So I think we sent her one out there, and then I’ve heard stories of a friend of mine whose parents are missionaries and went to China for the first time or some time and [they] went to this, walked into this church over there and all the Chinese people were singing along to my CD over there because they didn’t have music, so they were just singing all the songs it. I’ve heard so many crazy stories like that, just from all over. It’s amazing.”