Denise Jackson is the wife of the Grammy Award-winning neotraditional country/gospel singer-songwriter, Alan Jackson. Denise and Alan have been married for nearly 42 years and have three daughters: Mattie Denise, Dani Grace, and Alexandra Jane.
Alan Jackson is Married to his wife, Denise Jackson, since 1979
Denise Jackson tied the knot with her longtime partner, Alan Jackson on December 15, 1979. The ceremony was a lavish affair, witnessed by both friends and family. Denise and Alan — both natives of Newnan, Georgia — had been high school sweethearts.
They met circa 1976 at a Dairy Queen and immediately hit it off. Subsequently, they dated through high school before tying the knot three years later. Once Denise (born in 1960) became of legal age, they decided to wed.
However, Alan and Denise’s marriage has not all been smooth sailing. They hit a rough patch 19 years into their marriage when reports circulated that Alan was unfaithful to Denise in the late-’90s.
At the height of Alan’s popularity, he was touring rigorously and faced many temptations along the road. Despite being deeply religious, Alan succumbed to his vices on at least one occasion, which was all it took. When Denise found out about her husband’s lapse, it understandably caused a rift in their marriage.
In 1998, Alan and Denise were separated for several months when Alan’s cheating scandal came to light. Despite being on the brink of divorce, the couple somehow managed to salvage their marriage.
Several of Alan’s songs, including “She Likes It Too” and “Remember When“, allude to the turmoil. Furthermore, Denise chronicled the affair and the ensuing turmoil in the Jackson family in her 2007 book, “It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life.”
The autobiographical memoir of sorts went on to become a New York Times bestseller. The following year, Denise released another book, titled “The Road Home,” which dealt with similar topics.
Despite the hardships in their marriage, their relationship persevered. After Alan admitted to his shortcomings and made amends, they reconciled and have been together ever since. Currently, they are nearing their 42nd anniversary in December later this year.
Who is Denise Jackson? Her Career
While fans of country and gospel music are familiar with Alan Jackson, his wife, Denise Jackson, is another matter entirely. While not quite as popular as her husband, Denise is much more than a housewife. She played an instrumental role in helping Alan get his foot through the doors of the music industry.
Denise Jackson worked as a flight attendant when Alan struggled to make it as a country music singer. He had a menial job at the mailroom of the Tennessee-based cable network, The Nashville Network.
Through Denise’s influence as an attendant, she came into contact with singer and TV host Glen Campbell and implored him to help her husband. Consequently, Glen handed her his manager’s business card and patched her through. As a result, Alan made a breakthrough and subsequently signed with Arista Records.
If it wasn’t for Denise’s savvy, we might not have had an Alan Jackson. Throughout their marriage, Denise remained a constant source of inspiration for Alan.
She was his muse, friend, life partner, and confidant. Even when Alan strayed away from their marriage, Denise remained a faithful partner and the ideal mother for their three children.
Outside of her marriage to Alan, Denise left her job as a flight attendant and became an elementary school teacher. Additionally, she is also a published author. Mrs. Jackson is the author of the New York Times best-selling book 2007, titled “It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life,” and the 2008 book, “The Road Home.”
Alan and Denise Jackson’s Children
During their 42-year marriage, Alan and Denise Jackson were blessed with three daughters: Mattie Denise, Dani Grace, and Alexandra Jane.
Mattie Denise Jackson
On July 19, 1990, Denise became a mother for the first time at age 20 when she gave birth to her daughter, Mattie Denise Jackson. Now 31, Denise is coming off of a recent tragedy that changed her life forever.
In September 2018, Mattie became widowed at 28 when her husband of less than a year died in a tragic accident. Mattie and her late husband, Ben Selecman, tied the knot in October 2017 after dating for a couple of years.
Ben, an assistant District Attorney in Davidson County, Nashville, suffered traumatic head injuries after falling from a boat dock while attempting to help a woman.
The accident occurred during a vacation with Mattie and her family in West Palm Beach, Florida. Selecman was rushed to a hospital, where he was treated in intensive care for over a week before passing away on September 12, 2018.
Despite the unspeakable tragedy, Mattie’s faith in God is unshaken, and she inspires her nearly 10k Instagram followers with her positivity. She co-founded “NaSHEville,” a non-profit organization that helps widowed, orphaned, impoverished, and trafficked women get back on their feet.
Mattie previously owned a bistro in Sylvan Heights, Nashville, called Salt & Vine restaurant. The restaurant closed its doors in June 2018. She currently operates another restaurant in Nashville. Mattie is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and is a certified sommelier.
Alexandra “Ali” Jane Jackson
The middle child of the family, Alexandra “Ali” Jane Jackson, was born on August 23, 1993. Very much the wild child of the Jackson family, Ali was arrested in August 2013 for underage drinking and assaulting a cop.
Ail, 20 at the time, had been drinking and driving when cops pulled her over. According to the police report, Ali was uncooperative and resisted arrest.
She is coming up on her 28th birthday and seems to have turned her life around. Ali tied the knot with her longtime partner Sam Bradshaw on July 18, 2020. Their wedding was an intimate affair attended by the family’s closest relatives and friends.
Dani Grace Jackson
Dani Grace Jackson is the youngest of Denise and Alan’s three daughters. She is also the least famous of her sisters. Born on August 28, 1997, the 23-year-old is virtually anonymous, which is quite a feat considering her eminent parents and siblings.
Dani is not on any social media platforms since deactivating her Instagram account. Nonetheless, her older sisters never miss a chance to gush over their little sister. In August 2018, Dani’s older sister Mattie wished her a happy 23rd birthday in a particularly touching Instagram post.
She posted a carousel of photos from various stages in their life, including a throwback picture from when Dani was still an infant. Among other things, Mattie said she had “a tender, loving heart.” Furthermore, Mattie called her “beautiful in more ways than you know” and ended the sweet post saying she loved her.
