Alan Jackson Congratulates Nephew Adam Wright on First Grammy Nomination

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 6, 2012) "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore,"  recorded by Alan Jackson, has earned a GRAMMY(r) Award nomination as "Best Country Song." The song was written by Alan's nephew, Adam Wright, and Jay Knowles. "You know, the first time I heard that song, I knew it was a great song," Jackson says. "I was proud to have it. Everybody that heard it, the first thing they'd say was 'Man, that thing gave me goosebumps on my arms!'

It's just a great song, a great melody. I'm a songwriter, and I appreciate songs...so I definitely appreciate this song."

"The first time I heard Alan sing it, it really put tears in my eyes and not just because I was hearing someone doing our song," Wright says. "It was the emotion of having an experienced singer who could convey it...whose heart was connected with his voice. It hurt in ways that song is supposed to hurt.

The fact that he can do that with a song is why he's been so successful - there just aren't many people on earth who can do that."

The song has received many accolades, with the New York Times noting, "Jackson does sublimely expressive things with 'So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore,' a fine tear-jerker that captures a distinctly masculine blend of gallantry, taciturnity and martyrdom."

Artists have echoed the media's praise, with Taylor Swift telling Lon Helton's Country Countdown USA, "That is, to me, one of the best songs he's ever put out. I read those lyrics for the first time and just got chills."

Zac Brown said, "That's classic country. That's a heartbreaker, tears-in-the-beer song done well. It's a selfless song, but it's just a great way of telling that story." And Miranda Lambert tweeted to her followers, "'So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore' is the $hit!!!"

"So You Don't Have to Love Anymore" was recorded by Jackson for Thirty Miles West, which topped the country chart when it was released in June. The 55th annual GRAMMY Awards(r) will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event airs live on CBS-TV (8:00-11:30pm ET).