Real WoRld NeWsAlan JacksonT h e O f f i c i a l N e w s l e t te r o f t h e A l a n J a c k s o n P l a t i n u m Fa n C l u b • W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

M e R C H

I N T H e C lU B

M U s IC

FaC e B ooK

T W I T T e R

alan to perform at historic Ryman

seaons ofsweetbriar

alan Jackson will headline the sold out 5th Annual “Stars Go Blue” benefit on Wednesday, March 20 at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Jackson’s rare, intimate performance at this

historic music venue will be hosted by the oldest and largest national colon cancer patient advocacy organization, the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA). All proceeds from the concert will benefit the CCA’s Blue Note Fund, helping colon cancer patients in need, a program founded by Nashville’s own Grammy-nominated artist/producer Charlie Kelley. The CCA holds the “Stars Go Blue” concert annually in support of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. During March, organizations across the nation will place an emphasis on educating the public about colon cancer prevention and detection. In 2010, Alan’s wife Denise was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. “It knocked us both down. It was so hard to watch her go through that,” he recalls. “We were dating at 16 and 17, and I pretty much took care of her from that point on. But when it came to this, I felt like there wasn’t a thing I could do.” “That rocked my world, as I’m sure it does every person who gets a cancer diagnosis,” she explains. “That really brought to my attention the CCA and what the organization does, and more specifically what the Blue Note Fund does for the Nashville area and the rest of the country as well.” n

I N T H I S I S S U E

HITTIN’ THe Road

sNapsHoTs

aNd THeWINNeR

Is...

FaNspoTlIgHT

THe INsIdesCoop

TWITTeRCHaTTeR

alan recently released a limited number of copies of his book Seasons of

Sweetbriar—A Photographic Collection of Home by Alan Jackson. Seasons of Sweetbriar can be purchased through www.alanjackson.com for $25 or $50 for a book autographed by Alan, while supplies last. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the CCA’s Blue NoteFund.

g o n e D I g I t A L

TWITTeR CHaTTeRWhat you’ve been saying about AJ on Twitter.Follow Alan on twitter@officialjackson justinmontoya @justinmontoya1 It’s an @OfficialJackson day. Seeing him at red rocks was amazing. He’s an icon #hugefan Pamela @xopamelaxo Classic @OfficialJackson for this mornings jam !!!! “ livin on love” gawwwwwd I love aj !!!!!! #legend Tatiana Palma @TatianaPalmaM Greetings from PANAMÁ!! I love your music @OfficialJackson Dylan Wood @Wooody19 Alan jackson is the king of country music @OfficialJackson Nashville @NashTNmusic Everything I love is killing me....cigarettes, Jack Daniels and Caffiene! - @OfficialJackson Jessica McCoy @JessicaMcCoyy if i can’t go see @OfficialJackson at the palace in february i am actually going to bawl my eyes out #BeenWantingThisForeverr

aNd THeWINNeR Is…Every quarter we pick 10 fan club members for an autographed prize from Alan! If your name is listed to below, you’ll need to email us with your name and address to claim your prize.

Brittany Tunshell

Mike Rush

Anita Coolbaugh

Ryan Perkins

Jody Miller

Debby & Jeff Lenburg

Jean Petty

Marilyn Willkens

Yesenia Anaya

Carolyn Lomax This quarter’s prize is an autographed Thirty Miles West CD!

Welcome to the GONE DIGITAL Version of the Real World News! I guess I’m the inside scoop now. I’m not sure how much inside scoop I have, but I’ll pass it along when I can….lol! So I’m so excited about this new version of the newsletter. I really think you’re going to love it. We’ll be able to make it more interactive and up-to-date. We want to hear from you too. In addition to sending your concert reviews, we want to include fan spotlights. Tell us why you love Alan, how many shows you’ve been to, how his music has influenced your life. And remember, when we feature your story in the newsletter, you’ll receive 2 FREE Tickets to a show of your choice! The inside scoop? Well I don’t have a lot of details to share. But I’ll give you a three word scoop—NEW MUSIC SOON! Stay tuned! Well I better close for now and get this issue loaded up and sent out. Talk to you soon!

THe INsIde sCoop

Real World News is the official publication of the Alan Jackson Fan Club.

Alan Jackson Fan ClubP.O. Box 121945

Nashville, TN 37212-1945

6615.321.5221 office 615.321.4647 fax

ajfc@alanjackson.com e-mail www.alanjackson.com

Cindy Hart, president Sharon Morgan, administrative assistant

We reserve the right to refuse or deny privileges to anyone at our sole discretion.

©2013 Alan Jackson Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.

sNapsHoTs

Verla Parkhurst

Amanda Drummond

Judy MacMinn

Vickie Blankenbaker

Brenda Bauer

Brittany Donaldson

to see more photosclick here

FaN spoTlIgHT

I t was just one week ago that I saw Alan Jackson perform for the 34th time since 1994. I have tickets for two more shows this summer

and I know #35 and #36 will be as exciting as #1 or #15 were! I remember so very clearly, the night in October 1990 when I was trying to rock my one-month-old baby girl to sleep while I had the TV on. The CMA’s were on and a new artist named Alan Jackson sang “Chasing that Neon Rainbow.” I danced around the room, rocking my precious new daughter in my arms. Fast forward to summer 1994 and hearing “Livin’ on Love” on the radio. I was HOOKED! Eighteen years later, Alan’s music—old and new—is still stirring emotions in me. I wish I could write a country song describing what his country songs do to me! I have included my “concertography” listing the dates and places my BFF Donna and I have traveled to see Alan and the Strayhorns. Highlights are seeing him onstage at the Opry, of course. Especially the non-scheduled visit on the night we were there in February 2000. We were so close to the stage, I could smell his leather fringed jacket. There was an outdoor festival at a casino in Wisconsin in 2001 where Trisha Yearwood came out and they sang “Louisiana Woman/Mississippi Man” together. That was special. Celebrating my 40th birthday in Phoenix at a show. Celebrating Donna’s 40th down in Florida at two shows on consecutive nights! We even found our way to the tiki bar where the “Five O’Clock Somewhere” video was taped! In 2007 Alan was the first artist to play at the Mystic Lake Casino’s newly remodeled show room. It was fabulous. I could go on and on with memories! Because of Alan, I have made many new friends, traveled all over, and been introduced to new artists who were touring with him. Favorites are Brad Paisley and Joe Nichols. The class of ’99 was a fun idea—Chalee Tennison, Chad Brock, Clint Daniels, Andy Griggs. A BIG thank you to Alan and the fan club for the awesome platinum seating! When and if I get to have a meet and greet with Alan it won’t be wasted. I am not just someone who called in to the radio station and won. I have a history of being an AJ fan and would cherish the moment.

ACHIEVEMENTS: I own the whole library of Alan’s music and DVDs. In the old days, I used to use my VCR to tape interviews that were on TV! I probably still have that old tape somewhere! The majority of my CD liners are signed by Alan at a show. I’m tall and that helps when reaching up to Alan at his shows! He is so generous signing items during his encores!

MY “CONCERTOGRAPHY”:

Aug. 1994 MN State Fair

Aug. 1996 MN State Fair

April 1998 Target Center, Mpls, MN

Aug. 1998 WeFest- Detroit Lakes, MN

1999 Joined the Fan Club!

April 1999 Target Center, Mpls, MN

Feb. 2000 Gaylord Ent. Center, Nashville, TN

Feb. 2000 Grand Ole Opry

Oct. 2000 Target Center, Mpls, MN

Nov. 2000 Mankato, MN

May 2001 George Strait Festival, Milwaukee, WI

Aug. 2001 Mohican No. Star Casino, WI

June 2002 Fan Club Party, Grand Old Opry, Flameworthy Awards, Adelphia concert

Feb. 2003 Mankato, MN

Oct. 2003 Phoenix, AZ

Feb. 2004 Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Feb. 2004 Xcel Center, St. Paul, MN

June 2004 Country Fest, Cadott, WI

Oct. 2004 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI

June 2005 Country Fest, Cadott, WI

Aug. 2005 WeFest – Detroit Lakes, MN

Dec. 2005 West Palm Beach, FL

Dec. 2005 Tampa, FL

July 2006 Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI

Aug. 2006 MN State Fair

Sep. 2007 Mystic Lake Casino, Shakopee, MN

June 2008 Country Splash- Appleton, WI

June 2010 Winstock- Winstead, MN

Sep. 2010 Grand Casino- Hinkley, MN

Nov. 2010 Vegas, NV

Sep. 2011 Mystic Lake Casino- Shakopee, MN

June 2012 Cedar Rapids, IA

July 2012 Bismark, ND

Aug. 2012 Minneapolis, MN

Sue Feigum, Princeton, MN My Fan ResuméREFERENCES:

february2.07.2013 Auburn Hills, MIThe Palace of Auburn Hills 2.08.2013 Evansville, INFord Center 2.09.2013 Cedar Falls, IAMcLeod Center 2.24.2013 Honolulu, HINeil Blaisdell Arena 2.27.2013 Houston, TXHouston Livestock Show & Rodeo march3.03.2013 Plant City, FLThe Florida Strawberry Festival 3.20.2013 Nashville, TNRyman Auditorium - Stars Go Blue Benefit ConcertSOLD OUT may 5.01.2013 Summerside, PE, CanadaCredit Union Place 5.02.2013 Sydney, NS, CanadaCentre 200

5.04.2013 St. Johns, NL, CanadaMile One Centre 5.17.2013 St. Augustine, FLSt. Augustine Amphitheater july 7.19.2013 Albuquerque, NMThe Pavilion 7.20.2013 Cheyenne, WYCheyenne Frontier Days august8.02.2013 Camrose, AB, CanadaBig Valley Jamboree 8.03.2013 Pentiction, BCSouth Okanagen Events Centre 8.04.2013 Duncan, BC, CanadaSunfest Music Festival 8.10.2013 Salt Lake City, UTUSANA Amphitheatre

ToUR daTes

Don’t forget to tune in Sunday, 2/10 for the

55th aNNUal gRaMMy aWaRdslive from Los Angeles on CBS, 8 PM EST