Alan Jackson, one of music’s most acclaimed songwriter singers, will perform on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening, September 26; also the day of release of Like Red On A Rose. Produced by Alison Krauss, Like Red On A Rose explores a variety of emotions from the point of view of a man whose life is settled and where paths are well worn. Entertainment Weekly wrote, "The dramatic departure is startlingly good, downright bold, and his best album yet…nearly heroic."

Jackson will also appear on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 12 and the Today Show on October 13. On October 8, the hit ABC Network show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will air selections from his benefit concert for the volunteers and donors who rebuilt the home of the Hawkins family of Hendersonville, TN, victims of a massive F-3 tornado that struck middle Tennessee this past April.

Alan Jackson is the most nominated artist in CMA history and is currently nominated for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year for Precious Memories (2006). He has sold more than 45 million albums, has 31 #1 singles and is renowned for seeking creative challenges (Under the Influence, Precious Memories). Like Red On A Rose was born from his desire to do something that was "a little more about where I am in my life right now." During a conversation between the two artists at Carnegie Hall last year, Jackson told Krauss that he’d wanted to make a bluegrass album for years. During the recording process, Krauss brought him songs that were anything but bluegrass.

"Some of them were songs that she'd known about for years and loved and it really didn’t fit her as a woman to sing and she just always remembered them," says Jackson. "Or it was an old song that somebody had had years ago that she’d remembered and loved. Even the one song of mine on there, it's called 'A Woman's Love,' was an old song that was on an album years ago, and it was never a single and she wanted to re-do that one. I think she was just being nice, you know, throw one of mine on there! I know two songs were written especially for the album. It is an interesting collection of old, new, and whatever! I kinda let Alison run with this thing; it was her baby."

Like Red On A Rose was recorded at Nashville’s Masterfonics over the course of the early summer. Krauss brought in songs from writers including Leon Russell, bluegrass great Sidney Cox and folkster Patrick Brayer, and from Nashville greats such as Robert Lee Castleman, who wrote the title track first single, among others. Lee Ann Womack, Dan Tyminski, and Krauss lend background vocals to the songs. Krauss assembled a diverse group of musicians from across the country to play on the album: Ron Block (Acoustic/Electric guitar), Jim Cox (Fender Rhodes, B-3 Organ, Wurlitzer), Jerry Douglas (Lap Steel Guitar/Dobro), Viktor Krauss (Electric/Acoustic bass), Howard Levy (Harmonica), Joey Miskulin (Accordion), Gordon J. Mote (Piano, Fender Rhodes, B-3 Organ), Bernard Purdie (Drums), and Kenny Vaughan (Lead electric guitar).

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