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Country star Alan Jackson honored with CMT special

Wed Dec 3, 2008 4:03 PM EST

entertainment, people, jackson, alan-jackson

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<p>Country music singer and songwriter Alan Jackson is applauded during a tribute to him Oct. 30, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn. Although Jackson, at age 50, is old enough to be labeled an influence to new performers, he still remains a reliable hitmaker. (AP Photo/Christopher Berkey)</p>

Country music singer and songwriter Alan Jackson is applauded during a tribute to him Oct. 30, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn. Although Jackson, at age 50, is old enough to be labeled an influence to new performers, he still remains a reliable hitmaker. (AP Photo/Christopher Berkey)

NASHVILLE — Alan Jackson knows that typically an artist is dead or his career is over when a group of hot new stars get together to salute a veteran like him.

But he feels fortunate to get such attention on Country Music Television's "CMT Giants: Alan Jackson" (9 p.m. EST Saturday) while he's still going strong.

At 50, Jackson remains a reliable hitmaker, even though he probably has guitar picks older than Taylor Swift and some of the other artists honoring him. His latest album, "Good Time," has produced two No. 1 singles with the title cut and "Small Town Southern Man."

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