29 Years Ago: Alan Jackson Goes #1 With “Gone Country,” A Song He Wishes He’d Written
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29 years ago today, Alan Jackson hit No.1 with “Gone Country,” a song that would go on to become his 10th No. 1 hit.
1994 found Alan Jackson at the pinnacle of his career thanks to the success of songs like “Here In The Real World,” “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Chattahoochee” and “Mercury Blues.”
Written by legendary songwriter Bob McDill, a 2023 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, “Gone Country” tells the story of three singers with big country music dreams. Each of the singers hail from different backgrounds, careers and musical styles who walk away from everything they’ve known for a chance at country music success.
“Bob McDill wrote this and he is one of my favorite writers of all time. When I first heard this song I fell in love with it. I wish that I’d written it cause it says a lot of things that I’d like to say. I think it’s just a fun song actually, celebrating how country music has become more widespread and accepted by all types of people all over the country,” Alan Jackson said of the song
“Gone Country” was the third song released from Jackson’s fourth studio album, Who I Am. The album also boasted the hits “Summertime Blues” and “Livin’ On Love.”
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Billboard magazine writer Deborah Evans Price wrote that “Gone Country” was “the most talked-about country song of the year, and deservedly so.” The song was credited with propelling Alan to the peak of his country music success and leading to his first CMA Entertainer of the Year win in 1995. He would win the title again in 2002 and 2003.
“Gone Country” played such a prominent role in Alan Jackson’s career that he included it on six compilation albums: The Greatest Hits Collection (1995), The Very Best of Alan Jackson (2004), 16 Biggest Hits (2007), 34 Number Ones (2010), Playlist: The Very Best of Alan Jackson (2012) and Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story (2015).
Celebrate the anniversary of the “Gone Country” single release by watching the official music video for the song below.
