Alan Jackson’s Mother, ‘Mama Ruth,’ Passes Away

Our thoughts and prayers are with Alan Jackson and his family as they mourn the loss of his mother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson. 

Written by Lauren Jo Black
Alan Jackson’s Mother, ‘Mama Ruth,’ Passes Away
Alan Jackson and Mother; Photo Courtesy Alan Jackson

Our thoughts and prayers are with Alan Jackson and his family as they mourn the loss of his mother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson.

Known to her family, friends, and country music fans as “Mama Ruth,” Jackson died this morning (Jan. 7) peacefully at age 86 in her home in Newnan, Georgia.

Mama Ruth was born April 2, 1930 in Lowell, Georgia. At age 16, she married Joseph Eugene Jackson (known as “Daddy Gene”) in 1946. They went on to have five children, daughters Diane, Cathy, Carol, and Connie, and son Alan. She is survived by all of her children, 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchilden. Her husband Eugene passed away 17 years ago this month.

Over the years, Mama Ruth inspired several of Alan Jackson’s songs and recordings, including Previous Memories, his gospel collection, which was initially made as a gift to her for Mother’s Day. Additionally, Alan told his parents’ story in the song “Home.” “My mama raised five children – four girls, and there was me. She found her strength in faith in God and a love of family. She never had a social life; home was all she knew/ Except the time she took a job to pay a bill or two,” he sings in the tune. Mama Ruth lived in the home described in that song for 70 years, until the day she died.