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Alan Jackson's home isn't just a little bit country
By Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Alan Jackson has always wanted to live somewhere similar to Gone With the Wind's Tara.
The country singer got his wish with the white colonial mansion he affectionately dubbed "Sweetbriar." The property is only partially visible from the narrow road, obscured by large maples and elms. With massive two-story columns, the home could be the Hollywood version of a plantation house that witnessed Gen. J.B. Hood's decimated Army of Tennessee advance north from Franklin to Nashville in late 1864. "We wanted a place that would look like it had always been here, like an old estate," says wife Denise Jackson, whose inspirational book, It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life, goes on sale Tuesday. The Jacksons bought the land, an old horse farm surrounded on the southern and western sides by the Harpeth River, in 1993. They closed on it the week of Alan's 35th birthday, just a few days after his song Chattahoochee won the Country Music Association's award for single of the year. The home took 23 months to complete, and Alan was involved in every stage, from the design to the décor, which Denise describes as "casual elegance." The home has vaulted gilt ceilings and engineered-maple and Travertine stone floors through the first level. Spiral staircases rise from each end of the north-facing entry area. Three rooms sit on the other side of the spacious, well-lit vestibule. The formal dining and living rooms, both decorated in neutrals and warm gold tones, share a Mexican-marble fireplace. Alan's maple-floored office contains six guitars, including an old Roy Rogers toy guitar model. A few of his music awards, along with a necktie that once belonged to Hank Williams, adorn the walls. Alan writes music here; it's the place he came one morning with the idea for his elegiac post-9/11 tune, Where Were You (When the World Stopping Turning). FIND MORE STORIES IN: NASHVILLE | Franklin | Alan Jackson | Jacksons | Ford Thunderbird | Ford truck
"I stay in there a lot of times because it's convenient to the house and close to the refrigerator," he says. Alan, Denise and their three daughters — Mattie, 17, Ali, 13, and Dani, 9 — spend most of their time in the house's west wing, in a large open area that includes a family room with 22-foot ceilings, the kitchen and the breakfast room. A glass-enclosed porch off the family room overlooks the swimming pool and the property's rolling hills. The second story has four bedrooms and an exercise room with nanny's quarters. The third floor consists of a game room with a ping-pong table, an air-hockey table and a bar area . Jackson may have been thinking of Tara when he built the 19,000-square-foot house (26,500 including the porches), but the 140-acre estate also conjures another sprawling Southern site. "It's Disney World out here," he says. Jackson's daughters ride their Yamaha ATVs on the 2-mile dirt track, take boats out on the largest of the four ponds on the property and relax on the white-sand beach. The estate also features an enclosed tennis court and basketball gym and a red-roofed barn with an upstairs apartment. Denise Jackson used this space to write much of It's All About Him, an inspirational tale that details how her rekindled faith helped the couple through a separation and near-divorce. The log cabin that overlooks the river was the first structure the Jacksons built on the property and the place they often stayed while the main house was being built. The grass runway has grown over since Alan sold his airplane. "Denise and everybody was concerned about me flying a single-engine plane," he says. These days, Jackson's rides are in the garage, which contains 14 cars. The prized automobile is the cream-colored 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible, his first car. He bought it as a teenager for $3,200 and lovingly restored it with his father, Gene. Despite Jackson's sentimental attachment to the car (he and Denise went on their first date in it), he eventually sold it to raise money for his first home. In 1993, Denise tracked down and repurchased Alan's beloved Thunderbird and gave it to him as a Christmas present. "It was almost like finding a lost child for him," Denise says. The garage serves as a refuge and a second office for Alan. It's full of memories: the turquoise Harley-Davidson motorcycle from his A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) album cover and a desk, made from the front end of a Ford truck, where he signed autographs at his first Fan Fair in Nashville in 1989. Jackson spends time in the garage, where he writes songs and listens to demos from songwriters, but it's not his favorite place at Sweetbriar. "I like sitting on the back porch," he says. "Watching my kids ride all over the property with their friends and having bonfires back on the hill. That's what I enjoy more than anything." 
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Comments: (17) Showing: 
Tibbie wrote:
165d ago
Well written BlueJeansGal.....
Why are some people always jeaulous of other people's belongings????? To me it's very nice and I love to see/hear people how they succeed and what they have on posessions, this way I know there's alot out there and for anyone.... I rather hear about people being successful than being poor. Because when I hear that people are poor it just makes me sad and being sad means being out of sync with your source/God. And I rather be happy, this way the people around me are happier etc. etc. etc. So, when I see your little picture BlueJeansGal, it's nice, when I see your picture Nice Doggy, that's a nasty one, one I don't like to look at and it doesn't make me feel good, and it probably doesn't make other people feel good either...... 
Nice Doggy wrote:
167d ago
Cool.
I wish they would have written they article on that instead of how nice
their house is. You rarely hear about the charitable acts people do,
but you know what kind of stuff they have. Thanks BlueJeansGal.
BlueJeansGal wrote:
168d ago
Nice
Doggy, that's a valid question, and believe me Alan & Denise GIVE
heaps of money, time and support to many different charities and
events.
However, the one closest to their hearts is called the Angel's House, which is a safe haven/shelter for children in need. Have a look for yourself: http://www.theangelshouse.org/ This is a wonderful organization, and Alan & Denise have been there since day one of the start of it. The Jacksons are wonderful, giving people and I'm sure this is not the only organization they support. Additionally, I think Alan's worked hard to get where he's at and earned every penny! Living life on the road with a wife and three children at home has given their family plenty, but it has also robbed Alan from being able to be with his family on many very important occassions. Surely you can understand how and why they enjoy the lifestyle that they do. Alan has sacraficed a lot for it. By the way, as I understand it, the family still attends church services and is active in their church. I'd hate to think that you think these people are just greedy money hungry people, because that is just so far from the truth. Do some research on Alan Jackson, you'll find that he is a very giving, sharing person. Congrats to Alan & Denise, who have both worked so hard and given so much!!
Nice Doggy wrote:
171d ago
I'm
glad he's successful and has a nice family, but I hope he's done more
with his money then just bought things. The article is all about the
excess in his life....I want to know what charity work he's done and
what charities he's given to. I don't care about the square footage of
his house plus porch. It's nice to write about Jesus, but I want to
know what they have done for Him lately?
docnannie wrote:
171d ago
to jlridd, We need to return to whatever country spawned you. You ARE the reason people learn to hate!
Mahjongmart wrote:
172d ago
Franklin,
TN and Sevierville are my late father's family places, Bowers, family
name. it's a great place to live and grow up. I'm now in Texas and miss
the Blue Ridge Mountains. I'm looking forward to reading Denise's book.
Cheers.
LadyLucky7 wrote:
172d ago
Congrats
to Alan and Denise. They are fine people and I am very happy for both
of them! Good luck with your book Denise! I would also love to see a
picture of their house, something other than the garage, or at least a
picture of the 500 year old oak tree!
GoldenArm777 wrote:
172d ago
Who
the hell is < JLridd > what other part of the world you from,
because it dam sure isnt the US, i guess its from over in one of those
sandbox communities, i kinda think the name resembles the awful jihaud
idiots.
squirrelgp wrote:
172d ago
To
Jlridd, You really need to get a life..I don't see anyone forcing you
to read about Jesus,to visit the south or listen to country
music...this IS America! So I see no need for you to bad mouth those of
us who LIKE those things....
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