Alan Jackson and his family, as well as members of his road band and many of his co-writers were on hand as the superstar’s exhibit, 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, was unveiled. Included in the exhibit are the guitar he played on the CMA Awards when he debuted “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” just two months after the September 11th terrorist attacks and the nation’s response that inspired the song; the front of an old, red Ford pickup truck that served as Jackson’s first Fan Fair booth, before his sister and brother-in-law had it made into a desk; The water ski Jackson rode, while wearing his trademark white cowboy hat, in the “Chattahoochee” music video; a collection of belt buckles from the Houston Rodeo — which Jackson has played more than 20 times. Alan’s “first love,” a used 1955 Ford Thunderbird, will be on display in the conservatory of the Hall of Fame.

“It’s just hard to believe that I’m included in this great building with so many legends of great American music and to be a part of it is just unreal, this whole thing’s unreal,” says Alan. “We’re glad to share it and I hope that all of my fans especially will enjoy seeing what they helped build.”

Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country opens to the public on Friday (August 29th).

A little tidbit — the reason the exhibit is called Keepin’ It Country — other than the obvious — is that with every correspondence the legendary George Jones would send to Alan, he’d sign it ‘Keep It Country.’

Alan will also take the stage in the museum’s new 800-seat CMA Theater as its 2014 Artist-in-Residence on October 8th and 22nd.

Both Wednesday night concerts start at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale at Noon on Monday, September 8th. 

AUDIO: Kyle Young, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum toasts Alan Jackson at the grand opening of Alan Jackson’s 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country exhibit.

Kyle Young (AJ HOF) OC: (AJ) …thank you. :26
“Here’s to the first 25 [years], and I got a feeling that if he wants to do 25 more, they’re there. I will also say something that’s very obvious, which is, yeah, we got this great exhibition now, but Alan will end up in another room in this museum in this building at some point in his life, sooner rather than later. [cheers] So, here is to Mr. Alan Jackson – thank you for doing this with us. Here’s to you, my friend.” AJ: “Thank you.”

AUDIO: Alan Jackson talks about his 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

AJ (25 Years of Keepin’ It Country exhibit) OC: …helped build. :50
“It’s just hard to believe that I’m included in this great building with so many legends of great American music and to be a part of it is just unreal, this whole thing’s unreal. I haven’t gotten to see the exhibit yet, but I’ve heard it’s really nice. [laughs] I just know it was good to get a lot of that stuff is out of the house. [laughs wife Denise says, “We might not take it all back?”] It’s a good problem to have but I tell you what, we have a pretty big house, and there’s so much stuff. I’ve won every award that you could ever be eligible for and then some, and just the whole house was getting to where it was embarrassing. So now, it looks like we’ve been robbed a little bit there, but we’re glad to share it and I hope that all of my fans especially will enjoy seeing what they helped build.”