Alan Jackson's Platinum-Certified Precious Memories Album Celebration Truly a Family Affair

NASHVILLE, TN (Alan Jackson Official Website) - It was indeed a family affair for Alan Jackson as wife Denise, daughters Mattie, Ali, and Dani, mother Ruth, and mother-in-law Nell joined industry and media today for a celebration of the million-selling Platinum certification of Jackson's ACR/Arista Nashville collection of gospel classics, Precious Memories. Appropriately gathered in the historic chapel area of the Nashville building of SONY BMG, the occasion was one Jackson had never envisioned for the little album project originally recorded as a Christmas gift for his mother.

Hosted by SONY BMG Chairman Joe Galante, the event included multiple presentations, including two from Jackson himself, who presented $100,000 checks to his mother Ruth and mother-in-law Nell, with each woman donating her check to the charity of her choice. Both women had offered inspiration toward the original recording of the album.

Released on the encouragement of family, friends, and his record label, Jackson's Precious Memories became the only gospel recording in history to debut at No 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Jackson also became the first country artist ever to debut an album of all-spiritual material at No 1 on the Top Christian Albums and Top Christian & Gospel Albums charts, and the first artist to ever top all three charts at once.

Hailed as 'a masterpiece' by Billboard, Precious Memories has now spent a remarkable 19 of its 25 chart weeks - including this week - at No 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and has become the only Platinum-certified country gospel disc by a solo artist in SoundScan history.