On This Day in 1979, Alan Jackson Married His High School Sweetheart, Who Later Helped Launch His Career
On December 15, 1979, long before sold-out arenas and country radio dominance, Alan Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Leppert, in their hometown of Newnan, Georgia. At the time, Jackson was a young man with a deep love for traditional country music and a dream that felt far bigger than his circumstances. What few could have known then was that this marriage would become one of the quiet foundations of one of country music’s most enduring careers.
Background
Alan and Denise had met as teenagers, growing up together in a small Southern town where faith, family, and hard work shaped daily life. In the early years of their marriage, success was far from guaranteed. Like many aspiring musicians, Jackson worked odd jobs while writing songs, often unsure whether Nashville would ever open its doors to him. Denise stood beside him through those uncertain years, believing in his talent even when the industry had yet to notice.
That belief would prove pivotal. In the mid-1980s, Denise was working as a flight attendant when she happened to meet Glen Campbell on a flight. Recognizing an opportunity, she handed Campbell a demo of her husband’s songs. The gesture set off a chain reaction that eventually led Alan Jackson to Nashville—and to his first major songwriting and recording opportunities. It was a turning point that changed the course of his life.
Introduction
As Jackson’s career took off in the late 1980s and early 1990s, his music remained deeply rooted in authenticity, storytelling, and emotional honesty. That authenticity was often drawn from his own life, particularly his marriage. Denise inspired two of his most personal and beloved songs: “She Likes It Too” and later “Remember When,” the latter becoming one of the most poignant reflections on love, marriage, and time in modern country music.
Their relationship was not without struggles. Like many couples navigating fame, they faced challenges, including a temporary separation in the late 1990s. But reconciliation followed, strengthening both their marriage and the emotional depth of Jackson’s songwriting.
Looking back, that wedding day in 1979 feels like more than a personal milestone—it marks the beginning of a partnership that helped shape a career defined by sincerity and heart. In a genre built on truth and lived experience, Alan Jackson’s greatest songs were often born not just from talent, but from a shared life. And it all began with a high school sweetheart who believed before the world did.
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Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Two young people without a thingSay some vows and spread their wingsAnd settle down with just what they needLivin’ on loveShe don’t care ’bout what’s in styleShe just likes the way he smilesIt takes more than marble and tileLivin’ on loveLivin’ on love, buyin’ on timeWithout somebody nothing ain’t worth a dimeJust like an old fashion story book rhymeLivin’ on loveIt sounds simple, that’s what you’re thinkin’But love can walk through fire without blinkin’It doesn’t take much when you get enoughLivin’ on loveTwo old people without a thingChildren gone but still they singSide by side in that front porch swingLivin’ on loveHe can’t see any moreShe can barely sweep the floorHand in hand they’ll walk through that doorJust livin’ on loveLivin’ on love, buyin’ on timeWithout somebody nothing ain’t worth a dimeJust like an old fashion story book rhymeLivin’ on loveIt sounds simple that’s what you’re thinkin’But love can walk through fire without blinkin’It doesn’t take much when you get enoughLivin’ on loveLivin’ on love, buyin’ on timeWithout somebody nothing ain’t worth a dimeJust like an old fashion story book rhymeLivin’ on loveIt sounds simple that’s what you’re thinkin’But love can walk through fire without blinkin’It doesn’t take much when you get enoughLivin’ on love