32 Years Ago: Alan Jackson Becomes a Grand Ole Opry Member
Thirty-two years ago today, on June 7, 1991, Alan Jackson officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The Georgia native was inducted by Roy Acuff and Randy Travis; he received the honor just one month after his sophomore album, Don't Rock the Jukebox, was released.
Jackson made his Opry debut a little more than one year prior to becoming an official member of the hallowed institution, on March 3, 1990; the singer, who was introduced that night by Jimmy C. Newman, performed "Here in the Real World," which was the title track of his freshman album. Jackson, who used to deliver mail to the Opry, had always dreamed of performing on the sacred stage.
“The ultimate dream when you’re in country music is to be asked to join the Grand Ole Opry," Jackson shares. “You think about people like Hank Williams, and Mr. Acuff, and George Jones, who stood on that spot of wood. That’s what makes you so nervous — to think about the historical part of the Opry and how it’s played such a part in country music.”
Also in 1991, Jackson was named NSAI's Songwriter / Artist of the Year and won Top New Male Vocalist at the ACM Awards. He continued to perform regularly at the Grand Ole Opry for many years. However, Jackson has mostly stopped performing live due to balance issues stemming from Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.