Lifestyle

Alan Jackson Surprises Crowd With Hank Jr. Duet

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Tony Maples Photography

 

In 1999, Alan Jackson released the album “Under the Influence,” honoring his country music heroes with covers of some of the more influential songs in his life. It also gave him an opportunity to display the range and depth he had as an artist and gave his fans the chance to hear his versions of songs they may have long since forgotten.

With that in mind, stars such as Charley Pride, George Jones, and Merle Haggard had their original hits covered by this country virtuoso, and although some are still with us, others aren’t, leaving it impossible for live versions to be performed. But not so for Jackson’s cover of the Hank Williams Jr. classic, “Blues Man.” The song, referencing the life and times of a younger Hank Jr., was performed live by Jackson at the ACM Awards in 2000 and the live audience was amazed when Jr. accompanied Jackson on stage to share in the performance.

With the two of them singing and harmonizing on such a classic, the audience couldn’t help but feel they had been in the presence of something special. It’s a time-tested hit that speaks the truth, talks about the power of love, and gets right to the heart of a country music fan. The song appeals to the listener, but so too does the collaboration of 2 artists with such great respect in the industry.