Alan Jackson Tells Stories of the ‘Dixie Highway’ on ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock’

By: Billy Dukes  |  Taste of Country  

Alan Jackson landed the penultimate slot on ABC’s CMA Music Festival recap on Monday night, singing ‘Dixie Highway,’ a song he recorded with Zac Brown for his new album ‘Thirty Miles West.’ The ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock’ special featured highlights of the four-day festival which took place in June.

Jackson stands and delivers as good as anyone in country music ever has. He doesn’t need to work back and forth across the stage or toy with his guitarist or help his bass player sing. When he flashes that easy grin from below his famous mustache, country fans know they can count on the reliable legend. With his ‘Dixie Highway’ performance on Monday, he told stories of life growing up in the rural south. Stories of butter beans, tomato gardens and rolling up fresh tobacco at age 10 came between choruses and rollicking guitar solos.

The show finished with performances from the most long-lasting country voices of the last two decades. Martina McBride, Hank Williams, Jr., Faith Hill and Jackson were among the final acts to take the stage. Earlier in the night, young faces like the Band Perry and Hunter Hayes showed viewers that the future of country music is secure. No one new stands and delivers quite like Jackson, but that’s likely a learned skill.