On This Day in 2003, Alan Jackson Released a Duet with Jimmy Buffett that Became a Milestone for Both Artists

On this day (June 2) in 2003, Alan Jackson released “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” a duet with Jimmy Buffett. It was a hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts for Jackson and Buffett. As a result, it was a landmark hit for both artists.

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Written by Jim “Moose” Brown and Don Rollins, Jackson released “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” as the lead single from his 2003 compilation, Greatest Hits Volume II. It went to No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and stayed there for nonconsecutive weeks throughout the summer.

[RELATED: The Story Behind “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett]

Jackson was no stranger to country hits or iconic summer songs. So, in that respect, “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” was business as usual for the “Chattahoochee” singer. However, the staunch country traditionalist never had much success on the all-genre Hot 100 chart. This single brought Jackson his first and only top 20 hit on the survey. It was an even bigger milestone for Buffett, who hadn’t had a top 40 song on the chart since “Fins” peaked at No. 35 in 1979. It was also his first No. 1 on the country chart.

“It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” wasn’t just a hit for Jackson and Buffett. It also brought the pair a handful of awards. It won Vocal Event of the Year at the 2003 CMA Awards. Shockingly, it was the first award win of Buffett’s long career. The track also won Vocal Event and Single of the Year at the ACM Awards and the Grammy for Best Country Song.

Alan Jackson Almost Didn’t Record “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”

Jim “Moose” Brown and Don Rollins didn’t write “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” with Alan Jackson in mind. Instead, they wrote it for a largely unknown artist. Brown, who is also a session musician, was playing piano on Colt Prather’s debut album. Prather and his producer wanted a song with a “Jimmy Buffett vibe,” according to Songfacts.

Prather’s producer was the first of a few to pass on the song. Then, Rollins learned that Jackson planned to record it. “I got the call that it was on hold for Alan, which I thought was strange, because if you hear the demo, it’s very island-ly,” he recalled. “There are acoustic guitars and steel drum samples, very much Buffett. The idea that someone as country as Alan Jackson might be interested in that song never even occurred to me,” he added. “Then, I got wind that he was wanting to do a duet with Buffett, and it made a little bit more sense at that point.”

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