Despite his amazing accomplishments and prosperity, Alan Jackson and his family have faced some challenges over the years.
The Country Music Hall of Famer and his family are still grieving the death of their son-in-law Ben Selecman, who died in a boating accident in 2018. In a cruel twist of fate, the 28-year-old, who was married to Mattie Jackson Selecman, died while attempting to assist a lady into a boat.
Ben was attempting to assist a lady aboard a boat when he tripped and injured his head. He was transported to the hospital, but Ben died as a result of extremely traumatic head injuries.
His coworkers at Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk, where Ben worked as an Assistant District Attorney, told that his sense of humour and unmistakable determination will be missed.
Alan Jackson has said that this familial tragedy was a key inspiration for his 2015 album Angels & Alcohol and his most recent release, Where Have You Gone, earlier this year.
Mattie has been mourning the tragic death of her lover for three years, with her father at her side.
Although Jackson’s daughters have frequently influenced his legendary country songs, this is the first time the two have written anything together.
Fans of the singer may get the song for free by purchasing Mattie’s new book, Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through My Greatest Heartbreak. Mattie discusses how her husband’s death impacted her and how she started to heal through her religion in the book.
She also discusses how her sorrow inspired her to discover new strength in NaSHEville, a firm she co-founded to empower women in Music City.
Alan and his wife, New York Times best-selling novelist Denise Jackson, also wrote a preface for the book. The married pair speaks on their own experience in the aftermath of their daughter’s loss, from discovering new methods to help her to also mourning the loss of a cherished family member.
On November 16, Lemons was released.
Regrettably, Alan Jackson has also been forced to face some personal health issues.
In an exclusive interview last year, Alan opened up and disclosed that he’s been fighting severe health problems in recent times.
Alan has had troubles for the last 10 years, and the diagnosis he has is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve illness.
The disease affects the country star’s life; walking and keeping his balance may at times be difficult. Sadly, there is no treatment; the disease is hereditary, and Alan received it from his dad.
Sadly, it has gotten worse over the years, according to Alan.
The illness affects the peripheral nerve system and causes balance issues by weakening smaller, weaker muscles in the body’s extremities, with the majority of the damage occurring in the arms and legs.
Even though it’s a heavy blow for him, Alan doesn’t intend on stepping out of the spotlight. Hopefully, he will continue to tour and play his music for many years to come.
The good news is that the renowned country artist has his wife, Denise, at his side. The two were high school sweethearts, and married the marriage in 1979, when they were 19.
The two have been dedicated to one another ever since. Even though they’ve experienced difficulties and tribulations, they’ve always come out stronger.
Denise was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010. She subsequently conquered the cancer via chemotherapy, and Alan believes it helped them cherish life all the more.
Alan and Denise recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary, and on December 13, 2022, they welcomed their first grandchild, Jackson Alvie Bradshaw.
Alan’s daughter Ali and her husband Sam Bradshaw, of course, were overjoyed to hear the good news. And, based on the photo below, Alan and Denise appear to be overjoyed to be grandparents!
Denise and I are celebrating our 43rd wedding anniversary with our new grandson Jackson Alvie Bradshaw.
— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) December 15, 2022
Ali and Sam welcomed Jack into the world on Dec 13, 2022.
So happy that this little guy has made us grandparents! -AJ pic.twitter.com/gc9PghhUtg
