#tbt Country Weekly: Alan Jackson: A Regular Guy (1994)

Shannon Parks | Published on countryweekly.com: Apr 02, 2014

Originally published in the July 5, 1994 issue of Country Weekly magazine.

He started out as a mechanic. Then he picked up a guitar. Now, two homes, four boats, nine or 10 Harley-Davidsons, an assortment of cars and trucks and a collection of platinum albums later, Alan Jackson is still very much a regular guy.

In fact, if you talk to him about his singing, he’ll more than likely shy away from the question. Because even though each new Alan Jackson album sells a million more than its predecessor, this country boy from Newnan, Ga., still just doesn’t understand what all the hoopla’s about.

“I hate to hear myself sing,” the multi award‑winning singer told Country Weekly. “’Cause I don’t sound like George Jones or Vern Gosdin or Merle Haggard.”

So even though he might not think he’s the world’s greatest country crooner, there is one thing he’s crystal clear about: Other people do.

At the Academy of Country Music Awards in May, when he wasn’t caught up in co-hosting duties with Reba McEntire, he was busy catching trophies—single and album of the year.