Alan Jackson and his wife, Denise, have been country music’s beloved couple for decades, but the full depth of their enduring love story is more complex than anyone could have imagined.
Their journey began in their hometown of Newnan, Georgia, where they first met as teenagers and became high school sweethearts. When they tied the knot on December 15, 1979, Denise didn’t even need to adopt a new last name—her maiden name was also Jackson.
In the early days of their marriage, Denise played a pivotal role in helping Alan pursue his country music dreams. While working as a flight attendant, she had a fateful encounter at an airport with Glen Campbell. Boldly, she introduced herself and shared Alan’s aspirations of becoming a country singer. Glen, impressed by her determination, handed her a business card for his Nashville publishing company, which would soon sign Alan to his first songwriting deal and introduce him to key industry players.
As Alan’s career started to take off, the couple welcomed children and built a family, but the pressures of his rising fame began to strain their relationship. In 1997, after facing serious challenges, Alan and Denise separated for several months. The couple ultimately worked through their struggles with marital counseling and reconciled, with their time apart serving as inspiration for one of Alan’s most iconic songs, “Remember When.” The music video, which depicts the couple dancing through life’s ups and downs, symbolized the healing of their bond.
In her 2007 memoir, It’s All About Him, Denise shared a painful truth: during their separation, Alan had been unfaithful. However, it was through her rediscovered faith that she found the strength to rebuild their relationship.
“The greatest blessings in my life have come out of my worst shattering,” Denise revealed in an interview with People. “His betrayal and our separation were what led to this new, passionate love relationship with God and also led to us being able to have the kind of marriage that we both always wanted but just didn’t know how to have.”