Inside Alan Jackson's 44-Year Love Story With His Wife, Denise -

Alan Jackson and his wife Denise have long been one of country music fans' favorite couples, but there's a lot more to their decades-long love story than meets the eye.

The couple met in Newnan, Ga., as teenagers, and they were high school sweethearts. Denise didn't even have to change her name when they wed on Dec. 15, 1979; her maiden name was also Jackson.

Denise played a major role in helping her husband achieve his dreams of country music stardom when, early on in their marriage when she was working as a flight attendant, she spotted Glen Campbell at the airport. She approached him and explained that her husband was an aspiring country singer, and Campbell gave her a business card for his Nashville publishing company. That company signed Alan Jackson to his first songwriting deal and helped the young newcomer establish valuable contacts in town.

Alan and Denise started a family even as he was beginning to have some career success. He released his debut album, Here in the Real World, in February of 1990, and they welcomed their oldest daughter, Mattie Denise, on June 19 of that same year. Alexandra Jane "Ali" followed on Aug. 23, 1993, and Dani Grace was born on Aug. 28, 1997. As Jackson's career fortunes continued to grow, he built a massive plantation-style mansion inspired by Tara from Gone With the Wind for his family, and from the outside, they appeared to be living a fairytale.

But the strains of Jackson's career were weighing heavily on their marriage, and in 1997, Alan and Denise Jackson separated for several months before ultimately working through their problems in marital counseling and reconciling. Their period of separation helped inspire one of his most classic songs, "Remember When," and the video for the song features the couple dancing through their cares as the world goes by.

Denise revealed in her 2007 book, It's All About Him, that her husband had been unfaithful during the period leading up to their separation. She credited her newfound re-commitment to her Christian faith with helping to salvage their marriage.

"The greatest blessings in my life have come out of my worst shattering," she told People. "His betrayal and our separation were what led to this new, passionate love relationship with God and also led to us being able to have the kind of marriage that we both always wanted but just didn't know how to have."

The couple went through another trial in 2010, when Denise was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She beat the disease after chemotherapy and prayer, and in an interview with the Palm Beach Post in 2012, her husband admitted her diagnosis “made us change our whole outlook on life, what we value and what’s important. That’s what happens in situations like that.”

As a result, they sold off several of their residences and simplified their lives, and when Jackson is not on the road, he and Denise try to spend as much time together as they possibly can.

"We try to get out and go to dinner or hang out and go to the movies or something. We build a fire and have some wine and a nice evening," he tells the Boot.

"We get up in the morning and drink coffee together and talk, and I can't go to bed at night if she's downstairs watching television. We go to bed together, unless I'm out of town," he shares. "It's just little things I think that have helped us more than anything. If you can last until you're 40 years old, hopefully, you'll be mature enough to figure out the rest of the years."

PICTURES: See Inside Alan Jackson's Massive Southern Manor Home

Alan Jackson's former 18,622-square-foot plantation-style estate sits on 135 acres in Franklin, Tenn., an affluent rural suburb outside of Nashville. The staggering residence includes formal dining and living rooms, a home office with maple floors, a spacious family room with 22 ft. ceilings, a gourmet kitchen with an adjoining breakfast room and a glass-enclosed porch on the first floor. There are four bedroom suites on the second floor, along with an exercise room and nanny quarters. The third floor has a game room, home theater and a custom pub. The property sold for $28 million in 2010, making it one of the largest sales of a private residence in Nashville.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: See Inside Alan Jackson's Spectacular Hilltop Estate

After selling their spectacular Southern manor home in 2010, Alan Jackson and his wife moved to to what might be an even more impressive mansion, if that's even possible. Their 5-bedroom, 8-bathroom, 22,012-square-foot estate in the same Nashville suburb of Franklin features bedrooms that are all well-appointed suites, while the formal dining and living areas are finished off with splendid arched doorways, oversized windows and elaborate woodwork. The residence also includes a bar, a media room and multiple indoor and outdoor fireplaces. It sold for $19 million in March of 2021.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: See Inside Alan Jackson's Stunning Lakefront Georgia Mansion

Alan Jackson sold his lakefront mansion in Georgia for just over $6 million, and pictures show a stunning property that's as relaxing as it is luxurious.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: See Inside Alan Jackson's Jaw-Dropping Florida Beach Mansion

Alan Jackson's ultra-high-end taste in property even extends to his vacation homes. The singer and his wife built a spectacular 6-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom, 9,800-square-foot oceanside mansion on Jupiter Island in Florida that's one of the most jaw-dropping celebrity vacation homes of them all.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: See Inside Alan Jackson's Spectacular $8.2 Million 'Hullbilly' Yacht

Alan Jackson is selling his lavish yacht for $8.2 million, and fans will recognize the nearly 69-foot, 4-cabin craft, dubbed "Hullbilly," from some of his videos.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

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