Chart Rewind: In 1995, Alan Jackson’s ‘Gone Country’ Went to No. 1
Written by djfrosty on January 28, 2025
On Jan. 28, 1995, Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
The track was solely authored by Bob McDill and produced by Keith Stegall. In 2017, Billboard described the song as, lyrically, “reflective of a time period where many artists were coming to Music City from New York, Los Angeles and all points in between. Jackson told the press that he definitely understood the appeal of the format to newcomers and welcomed them all to town. Even so, there was a little bit of gently-placed sarcasm on this one, which helped to make it yet another No. 1.”
“Gone Country” was released as the third of five singles from Jackson’s album Who I Am, which yielded four Hot Country Songs leaders: “Summertime Blues” (three weeks), “Livin’ on Love” (three), “Gone Country” (one week) and “I Don’t Even Know Your Name” (one). Fourth single “Song for the Life” hit No. 6. Who I Am became his second of 14 No. 1s on the Top Country Albums chart.
“Gone Country” marked Jackson’s ninth of 26 No. 1s on Hot Country Songs. Dating to his first, “I’d Love You All Over Again,” in March 1991, he and Tim McGraw boast the most leaders: 26 each.
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Jackson was born Oct. 17, 1958, in Newman, Ga., and moved to Nashville in 1985 to follow his dreams. He became the first artist signed to Arista Records’ then-new country division in June 1989. His first of 84 Hot Country Songs entries, “Blue Blooded Woman,” peaked at No. 45. He followed with his first of 51 top 10s, the No. 3-peaking “Here in the Real World.”
In 1979, Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Jackson (yep, same last name). The couple has been married for 45 years and has three daughters.
On Sept. 28, 2021, in an interview on NBC’s Today with Jenna Bush Hager, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), a degenerative nerve condition which limits his ability to perform. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017, he released his 21st studio set, Where Have You Gone, in May 2021. It arrived at its No. 2 best on Top Country Albums, becoming his 28th and most recent top 10.