Alan Jackson Releases “Still the One” for Wife Denise

Superstar gives the Orleans classic a personal country twist.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: June 29, 2026

Alan Jackson has released a new version of “Still the One,” giving the 1976 Orleans hit a personal country touch inspired by his wife, Denise.

The song has long held special meaning for the couple, tracing back to the earliest days of their relationship in Newnan, Georgia. Jackson first saw Denise practicing a cheerleading routine choreographed to “Still the One,” which had been released that summer by Orleans and became a Top 5 pop hit.

“She was a cheerleader for Newnan High School,” Jackson shares, recalling the day when he found himself at a mutual friend’s house where Denise was “practicing her dance routine for the cheerleader squad” ahead of an upcoming football game. “I sat there and watched her, and three years later I ended up marrying that girl and she’s my wife today,” he recalls, adding, “This has always been one of our fond memories of our starting-out days, and every time we hear that song…it brings back those memories.”

Jackson recorded the song this spring as a birthday gift for Denise and in honor of the 50 years since that memory began.

“I went in the studio and re-recorded that pop song with a little country seasoning on it, and I gave it to her for her birthday because she’s ‘still the one.’”

Available now on all streaming platforms, Jackson’s take on “Still the One” keeps the song’s upbeat spirit while adding a personal country feel. He also makes the recording his own with a few adlibs, opening with “This is for Nicey – 1976!” and later adding “Aww, you still got it, baby!” and “Love ya, sugar!” near the end.

The release arrived during a milestone week for Jackson, who marked the close of his touring career with Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. The sold-out concert brought together a long list of artists to celebrate Jackson’s career and legacy, including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and Lee Ann Womack, along with Adam Wright, Big City Brian Wright and Carlisle Wright.

The event was also captured for a future NBC concert special, Alan Jackson: The Last Show, which is expected to air later this year.

The same week also brought the opening of Alan Jackson’s Silverbelly Whiskey Distillery and Museum in downtown Nashville, giving fans another way to connect with Jackson’s music, career and Silverbelly Whiskey brand.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jackson has built one of country music’s most enduring catalogs. His career includes 35 No. 1 hits, 50 Top 10 singles and nearly 60 million albums sold worldwide. He has also earned three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 30 years as a Grand Ole Opry member, two Grammy Awards, 22 ACM Awards and 17 CMA Awards.

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