NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) \u2014 The time has come for country music superstar Alan Jackson<\/a> to hang up his signature Stetson hat.<\/p>\n The genre traditionalist from Newnan, Georgia, whose career kicked off in the 1980s and exploded shortly thereafter in the oft-cited ’90s country wave with heartfelt songs for the working man who’d rather be drinking, or fishing, or ideally both, has sold over 60 million records across his storied career. And on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, he brought his touring career to an end.<\/p>\n The event titled \u201cLast Call: One More for the Road \u2014 The Finale” was a triumphant swan song for the performer, a celebration of his life and career with some help from the artists he directly inspired.<\/p>\n It was a concert in two movements.<\/p>\n The first two hours were made up of a marathon run of Jackson covers from some of the biggest names in contemporary country. And each performer had a personal story to share. Carrie Underwood<\/a> sang \u201cEverything I Love\u201d after revealing that Jackson was her first ever concert, in 1994 at the Tulsa State Fair. Thomas Rhett warmed up the crowd with \u201cSmall Town Southern Man,\u201d an appropriate choice for a singer currently living the song’s lyrics \u2014 he’s a father to four girls.<\/p>\n The Texas-born and bred Miranda Lambert<\/a> performed \u201cDallas.\u201d Lainey Wilson got the crowd moving with \u201cTall, Tall Trees.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s almost impossible to pick a favorite Alan Jackson song … but I had to try,\u201d said Luke Combs before launching into \u201cHard Hat and a Hammer.\u201d<\/p>\n Each performer played with Jackson’s backing band, save for Eric Church,<\/a> who opted to cover \u201cSomeday\u201d with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n It was an All-Star night for one of country music’s most colossal voices. Other guest performers included Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Lee Ann Womack and a slew of super talented members of Jackson’s own family: Adam Wright, Big City Brian Wright and Carlisle Wright.<\/p>\n Five years ago, the 67-year-old music giant Jackson shared that he has a degenerative nerve condition that affects his balance called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease,<\/a> which he was first diagnosed with a decade prior. He said it was a genetic condition, and its effects on his ability to walk and perform had become more noticeable. One dollar of every ticket sold on Saturday night the CMT Research Foundation, an organization that funds research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth.<\/p>\n When it was time for Jackson to hit the stage after 9:35 p.m. \u2014 after a storm delay of about an hour \u2014 he was met with ear-piercing cheers. The singer appeared stiff as he walked to his microphone, but once he picked up his guitar for the opener \u201cGone Country,\u201d he was immediately back in action with that smoky baritone and timeless songs, though strumming was kept to a minimum.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s overwhelming,\u201d he addressed the crowd before assuring them he would not spend too much time on \u201cthat last show stuff \u2026 I’m not dead!\u201d<\/p>\n The Country Music Hall of Famer ran through his best-known hits with real ferocity: \u201cI Don\u2019t Even Know Your Name\u201d arrived quickly, as did \u201cLivin’ on Love,\u201d \u201cSummertime Blues” and the moody \u201cMidnight in Montgomery,\u201d as the music videos for each played on a giant screen behind them.<\/p>\n He made it a point to walk from side to side of the stage, greeting each section while championing his band and the power of \u201creal country music.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf anyone has lived the American dream,\u201d he said later, while seated on a stool, \u201cIt’s me.\u201d<\/p>\n Anecdotes flowed from there. He talked about writing \u201cI’d Love You All Over Again\u201d for his wife on their 10th wedding anniversary and how the radio from \u201cChasin’ that Neon Rainbow\u201d is currently in the Country Music Hall of Fame<\/a> museum. And he mentioned that \u201cDrive (For Daddy Gene\u201d was written after his father died.<\/p>\n An hour into his set, Jackson teased the audience by saying he needed some help for the next song. Out emerged George Strait<\/a> for their collaborations \u201cDesignated Drink\u201d and \u201cMurder on Music Row.\u201d<\/p>\n Then came an incredible run of hits: \u201cLittle Bitty,\u201d \u201cCountry Boy,\u201d \u201cGood Time\u201d and \u201cWhere Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)\u201d among them, the latter written and recorded following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.<\/a><\/p>\nNashville’s all-stars came out in droves<\/h2>\n
A night to remember<\/h2>\n