Introduction
Alan Jackson Moves Audience as He Accepts “Poet of the Year” at the 2024 ACM Honors
At the 17th ACM Honors ceremony, country music legend Alan Jackson delivered an emotional speech as he accepted the “Poet of the Year” award — a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding contributions to songwriting in country music.
Opening his remarks, Alan sincerely thanked artist Eric Church for a heartfelt performance of “Neon Rainbow,” a song closely tied to his career. “You brought new life to that song,” he said. “It moved me to tears backstage.”
Alan was joined onstage by his longtime companion and wife, Denise, in a touching moment that reflected the depth of their journey together.
He shared the origins of his songwriting path, recalling a childhood memory from Georgia. He spoke of an old wooden radio his father had won in a Pepsi-Cola employee contest — a memory that sparked his earliest musical impressions and eventually inspired the opening line of a song he co-wrote with Jim McBride nearly 40 years ago.
“Life gives you so many ingredients for songwriting,” he reflected. “And often, the best songs come from real life.”
With genuine emotion, Alan expressed that his greatest pride as an artist has been writing songs that resonate with people — whether helping them through tough times or adding joy to their happiest moments.
To close his speech, he dedicated the award to his late father, Gene Jackson, and that old radio — a symbol of his humble beginnings and enduring passion. “I’ve definitely lived that honky tonk dream,” he said. “God bless y’all. Thank you.”