More than 25 years after Alan Jackson released his debut album, “Here in the Real World,” all he has to do to hype up fans is casually step up to the microphone. He did that and so much more Friday night.

Alan Jackson, Jerry “Guitar Man” Reed and “The Gambler” writer Don Schlitz are 2017’s class of inductees into The Country Music Hall of Fame. The Country Music Association made the announcement Wednesday morning during an event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The men will raise the number of those inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame to 133.

Alan Jackson might very well be the ideal RodeoHouston entertainer. He has hits for days, widespread appeal and is widely regarded among the country greats over the past 30 years. That might explain why Jackson took the stage at NRG Stadium on Saturday night for his 23rd(!!) RodeoHouston performance before an announced paid attendance of 74,259.

It all started in 1989. Those were the first words audience members at the Infinite Energy Center heard while patiently waiting for Alan Jackson to take the stage Saturday night. Those words kicked off a visual walk down memory lane showcasing Jackson’s career accolades. It ended with the thunderous statement: “Alan Jackson, you’re a true legend of country music.”