SOLD OUT: Return of ALABAMA's June Jam Draws Nearly 11,000 Fans to Fort Payne
Photo Caption: ALABAMA's Teddy Gentry (L) and Randy Owen (R) perform live for nearly 11,000 fans at the 2023 June Jam
Photo Caption: Randy Travis, accompanied by wife Mary, makes special appearance at 2023 June Jam
Jamey Johnson performs at 2023 June Jam
Jake Owen performs at 2023 June Jam
The Frontmen perform at 2023 June Jam
ALABAMA, Chapel Hart, The Isaacs, Jamey Johnson, Mark Wills and Janie Fricke perform live at 2023 June Jam
ALABAMA's Randy Owen (L) and Teddy Gentry (R) remember bandmate Jeff Cook during public memorial service preceding June Jam
Photo Credit: Cooper Smith
Nashville, Tenn. (June 21, 2023) — The attendance has been tallied and it's now confirmed that the resurrection of country group ALABAMA's iconic June Jam drew nearly 11,000 fans to the city of Fort Payne, Alabama. The return of the SOLD OUT festival, last held in 1997, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, which will be used as future grants for those in need of disaster relief. Collectively through the years, June Jam has raised over 20 million dollars for charity.
"It was great to see the local community excited about the Jam again," says ALABAMA's Teddy Gentry. "It was a great event to bring back, once again, to help a few charities as well."
This year's June Jam, held on June 3 at the VFW Fairgrounds, featured performances by ALABAMA, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Frontmen (Richie McDonald, formerly of Lonestar; Tim Rushlow, formerly of Little Texas; Larry Stewart of Restless Heart), Chapel Hart, The Isaacs, Worth The Wait, Exile, Mark Wills, Neal McCoy, Home Free, Janie Fricke, The Malpass Brothers, Dee Jay Silver and a special appearance by Randy Travis.
The performance portion of June Jam was preceded by a public memorial service for the late Jeff Cook who passed away last November following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's.
"I think Jeff would have been proud of having another Jam," explains Gentry. "His celebration of life to kick things off was a wonderful time to reflect on all the good times we have shared over the years. We miss you."
June Jam was created by Fort Payne’s sons, ALABAMA, and brought some of the biggest names in country music together for charity. The first June Jam benefit concert took place in 1982 and continued annually for sixteen years, making it one of the biggest country music events in the nation. Previous performers include Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, The Judds, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson and many more.
ALABAMA plans to continue June Jam for years to come.
This year's June Jam was produced by Outback Presents and Conway Entertainment Group.
About ALABAMA
Over 50 years ago, Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bar called The Bowery. It took them six long years of tip jars and word-of-mouth to earn the major label deal they'd been dreaming of. Then, seemingly no time at all to change the face of country music. ALABAMA, country music’s first band, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The group is known for hit songs including “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” From humble beginnings picking cotton in the fields, to international stars, ALABAMA went on to sell 80 million albums and charted 43 No.1 hits, becoming the most successful band in the history of country music. In November 2022, ALABAMA co-founder Jeff Cook passed following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. With his prior encouragement and wishes, ALABAMA continues touring on a limited basis, keeping the iconic music they created alive for the current and future generation of fans.