Alan Jackson is sweetly celebrating his “50-year love story” with his wife, Denise Jackson.

The country legend, 67, met his wife in 1976 in Newnan, Georgia. Jackson said Denise was a cheerleader at Newnan High School who was practicing her cheer squad’s choreographed dance routine to Orleans’ “Still the One” at a mutual friend’s house that day. Jackson remembers, “I sat there and watched her, and three years later I ended up marrying that girl and she’s my wife today.

“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,” he said.

Jackson opted to put a country spin on the classic pop hit for Denise for her birthday, “birthday because she’s ‘still the one.’” He released it on Thursday (June 25).

Jackson’s version of “Still the One” arrives as he gets ready to play his final headlining concert before he retires from touring. Jackson’s “Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale” will feature a star-studded lineup: George Strait, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack and more, plus Jackson’s extended family, nephews and niece Adam Wright, Big City Brian Wright and Carlisle Wright.

The “Remember When” artist, who previously opened up about his Charcot-Marie-Tooth diagnosis that impacts his nerves and ability to perform, said he was “overwhelmed” when tickets to the show sold out “in no time.” ‘Alan Jackson: The Last Show’ will air as a televised special later this year on NBC and streaming the following day on Peacock. The date has not been announced as of publication time on Thursday. Jackson’s final show will take place on Saturday, June 27 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mike Klein