Alan Jackson and his wife Denise’s love story began 50 years ago, when the couple met in their shared hometown of Newnan, Ga.
Denise was a high school cheerleader at the time, and during their earliest days as a couple, she was working on a cheerleading routine set to a hit song from that summer: Orleans’ “Still the One.”
In a social media post shared earlier this week, Jackson recalls going to a friend’s house and watching her practice that routine.
“Three years later, I ended up marrying that young girl. She’s my wife today, Denise,” he recounts.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZ-QlMbR9T7/
In the years since, Jackson and his wife have become one of country music’s favorite couples. She played a major role in launching his country music career after a chance meeting with Glen Campbell while she was working as a flight attendant, and inspired one of his best-loved songs, “Remember When.”
Read More: Inside Alan Jackson’s Love Story With His Wife Denise
Jackson and Denise will celebrate 47 years of marriage at the end of 2026, but they fell in love 50 years ago — and Jackson said he recorded his cover of “Still the One” to give her as a birthday present this year.
“It’s always been one of our old fond memories of our ‘starting out’ days,” he says. “When we’d hear that song every now and then, it’d bring back all these memories. So in honor of the 50 years this year, I went into the studio and recorded that little pop song with some country season on it, and I gave it to her for birthday, ’cause she’s still the one.”
Alan Jackson’s Cover of Orleans’ “Still the One” Lyrics:
Alright, this was released in 1976
We’ve been together since way back when / Sometimes I never wanna see you again / But I want you to know after all these years / You’re still the one I want whisperin’ in my ear
Chorus:
You’re still the one I wanna talk to in bed / Still the one that turns my head / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one
I looked at your face every day / But I never saw it ’til I went away / When winter came I just wanted to go / Deep in the desert, longin’ for that snow
Chorus:
You’re still the one that makes me laugh / Still the one that’s my better half / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one
Aw yeah / Pick it, son / Steel guitar / C’mon, fiddle
Changing our love is gold / And even though we’re old, it grows new
Chorus:
Oh baby, you’re still the one I love to touch / Still the one, I can’t get enough / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one
Well, you’re still the one who can scratch my itch / Still the one who I wouldn’t switch / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one / You’re still the one that makes me shout / Still the one that I dream about / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one
You’re still the one / You’re still the one / We’re still havin’ fun / And you’re still the one
Ah, still got it baby / Aw, yeah / I love you sugar
PICTURES: The Happiest Marriages in Country Music
Country music has more than its fair share of songs about heartache and cheating, but that doesn’t mean country stars can’t have happy, long-term marriages. These country stars have found out how to make love last.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Learn Which Country Couples Have Been Married the Longest
See which country couples have been married the longest. At No. 1 it’s a couple who have been married for nearly 60 years!
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
