The man who often prides himself on putting his family first and foremost was taken aback by his middle child Ali, who went on social media to tell the truth about her father.

With 17 American Country Music awards, 35 number one singles, and 14 albums that topped charts outstandingly, it is no surprise that Alan Jackson has been named one of the most popular country music stars of his generation. But there is more to the Georgia native than selling over 80 million records worldwide – and no, we are not talking about his rather peculiar choice of  favorite sandwich, which includes pineapple and mayonnaise. We are talking about what happens the minute Jackson walks off stage.

Born in Newnan, Georgia, Jackson was the only boy among five children in total. Growing up with four sisters taught the man plenty about respecting women and how to act around them, as well as how one should stand their ground when living in a crowded household. Alan also attended church from a very young age, since his parents were devoted Christians who wanted their child to be brought up in an environment that nurtures faith and is God-abiding.

Going to church every Sunday not only caused Alan to be a man of faith, but also granted him the opportunity to sing, something he enjoyed doing but never gave too much thought to. However, belting out songs was not something Alan considered to be a long-term affair, and did not see himself heading down the path of becoming a professional musician. His childhood home was built around his grandpa’s old tool shed, where he was taught to live life simply and had a down-to-earth upbringing.

Only when his close friend started playing him country music including some of the biggest names in the industry did Alan realize there was something to this genre, something he could not quite put his finger on. While listening to Gene Watson and Hank Williams Jr., Alan became inspired to put together a band. Despite the growing obsession, Alan postponed making a bold move and kicking off his musical career until he was 27 years of age, when he and his wife decided to move to Nashville.

If you were to ever ask Alan about the first time he had laid eyes on Denise, you would be guaranteed a story that would cause you to smile. One day, as he was sitting down for a meal at a Dairy Queen restaurant, Alan spotted Denise sitting at a table close by. He could not make up his mind as to how to grab her attention, so he did the first thing he could think of – he tossed a coin her way.

The coin toss stunt must have had a positive effect on Denise since after she left the restaurant, Alan followed her home, asked her out, and she was quick to agree. After that incident, the rest of history. The lovebirds enjoyed each other’s company to a great extent, driving around town in Alan’s beloved 1955 Thunderbird convertible. Come 1979, the two walked down the aisle, and said “I do,” excited to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

After the two tied the knot and moved to the country music capital of the world, Alan was juggling different jobs trying to make ends meet. He was working at the Nashville Network’s mailroom when suddenly, his wife came home from work with exciting news: as a flight attendant, she often met people from all over the world, and she experienced a chance encounter with Glen Campbell. The Rhinestone Cowboy heard about Alan and offered his help immediately.

Campbell wanted to help Alan to get on the right track, by which he meant to sign a deal with Arista Records. It was this very same label that released his first single, “Blue Blooded Woman,” which came out in 1989. One short year later, Alan had a parent album released, Here In The Real World, which consisted of his first chart-topping single, “I’d Love You All Over Again.” However, despite his rise toward fame, Alan’s life was far from perfect.

Alan Jackson produced four more number one hits, which were then followed by his first album that topped country charts titled A Lot About Livin’. He continued to rule the country music scene all throughout the 1990’s, singing singles that gained worldwide recognition like “Chattahoochee.” It was this very same single that had won both Song and Single Of The Year at the CMAs in 1994. The next year was a highly significant one for Alan, who gained membership into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry and booked a 100-date U.S. tour.

While his tour profited him a cool $40 million, Alan was never one to be blown away by cold hard cash. In spite of this, the life he led of fame and fortune confused the man who used to stand behind his word and put everything he held dear to his heart at jeopardy because of a foolish mistake. This decade brought him his three cherished daughters who he values more than anything, but it also nearly tore his entire family apart.

Mattie Denise, the oldest, was born in 1990. Alexandra Jane “Ali” came into the family three years later, and Dani Grace was the last child to join the Jackson crew in 1997. For a while, it seemed as though life does not get any sweeter than this – Alan Jackson was a successful musician in his field who has made an international name for himself, his wife, Denise, was supportive of her husband despite him often being away, and their three girls were healthy and chipper.

After almost two decades of being married to the woman who stole his heart that eventful day in Dairy Queen, Jackson had a slip. The man had a fling, one that was short-lived, but caused long-term damage, nonetheless. When news of his adultery hit the fan, Jackson admitted his work commitments pressured him greatly and caused him to seek comfort in other places. Devastated by the news, Denise had enough and the two separated in 1998. But then, something unexpected happened.

After several months, Denise and Alan met up in private and had a serious talk. Coming to terms with the fact they still love each other immensely, the pair decided to try and patch things up. Eventually, they reconciled, which Denis later elaborated about her 2007 memoir, It’s All About Him: Finding The Love Of My Life. Denise shared how difficult it was putting everything in the past and looking forward into the future, which helped her move past the events that nearly tore up her marriage.

The affair was not the only event that affected Alan Jackson’s life considerably. Following the events of the 9/11 attack, Jackson released a song titled “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” which achieved him mainstream recognition and success. The song was an emotional tribute to the victims of the terror attack and dedicated to their torn up loved ones who had to deal with the endless voids that formed in their hearts. The song was later voted Best Country Song at the Grammy Awards.

Ali was not the only Jackson member who was in the spotlight for unfortunate reasons. Sadly,  his wife Denise was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, which caused the Jackson family to undergo yet another difficult time. After two long, hard years of battling the horrible disease, Denise was given the best news she could imagine – her cancer was finally gone. Her appreciative husband later chronicled her battle with the disease as “the hardest thing [he’s] ever been through” and applauded her as “the toughest person [he] know[s].”

Before daughter Ali revealed the truth about her father, it was Jackson who was upfront about his experience raising three daughters. In his 2012 album, Thirty Miles West, Alan included a track that he wrote primarily for his girls, which he titled “Her Life’s A Song.” Jackson later gave an interview to promote the record, and he spoke of how far they have all come into their own. His youngest, Dani, was apparently following in his musical footsteps, he said proudly.

In the same interview Alan gave while promoting his new album, the celebrated singer discussed looking forward to watching his girls grow and become independent women. “We’ve raised them to go out and take on the world,” he noted. “That’s what you want them to do, just be happy and healthy. I think we’ll be fine with it.” Since their daughters’ way of upbringing was something both parents agreed upon firmly, Alan and Denise decided to get rid of their extravagant Nashville estate and purchase a more modest home instead.

Notwithstanding the progress and acknowledgment Alan Jackson had received until then, it was only in 2017 that Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, the superstar explained that in spite of all his success, he still did not “feel quite worthy” of the honor given. One person who had plenty to say about this induction was Alan’s daughter Ali, who went on to her Facebook page to express her deepest thoughts on the matter.

Ali wasn’t always the easiest daughter. In 2013, the middle child proved to have quite a rebellious side as she was charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and consuming alcohol while still being under the legal drinking age. Since her character seemed mature enough to avoid future temptation and she appeared to be overall remorseful for giving her family grief, Ali reached a plea agreement with a relatively small slap on the wrist. Instead of jail time, she received community service along with anger management and alcohol safety courses.

In her post, Ali wrote: “The world sees you as follows: a great musician, an impressive songwriter, and a talented vocalist,” she wrote, adding, “I see you as: my best friend, the guy that taught me that how you treat people matters more than anything else and taught me just how to stand on my own two feet.” But Ali did not stop there. It was important for her to stress why she felt the need to protect her father’s name, despite any of his past wrongdoings.

Ali used her voice to pass forward a moving message, one that described her father, Alan Jackson, as “every daughter’s dream father.” Ali knew she could count on her dad no matter what. He was a constant reminder of what a role model should be like – one that fills their home with love, understanding – and, of course, music. She praised Jackson for “making sure [they] knew whatever [their] dream was could be [their] reality.” It is no surprise this particular post went viral. But then, she got surprising replies.

Reading his precious daughter’s admiring message, it did not take long for many of Jackson’s fans to share similar positive feedback in response. One user wrote: “His songs are wonderful and you knew he was a dedicated family man. You can see why his daughters are so proud of him.” Another chimed in, noting in appreciation how nice it was to read such words from the singer’s daughter: “What a beautiful tribute to Alan Jackson, love his music.” But now…

Alan and Denise Jackson’s three daughters may have lived in their father’s shadow while growing up, but the trusty trio has great things lined up in their future. Eldest daughter Mattie has proven to have both beauty and brains and became a qualified sommelier. Putting her skills to good use, the girl now owns her own Nashville wine bar. As for Ali and Dani – both have recently spread their wings and fled the nest. As for their father…

Alan continues to try and make up for his wrongdoings in the past by being the best possible father and husband he can be. As for his music, he was quoted saying: “I’ve always tried to make music the first priority – not being a star, not being in the spotlight, just trying to make music that I loved, that the fans like, and not compromise that to fit into something else.” On that note, we look forward to seeing what great things Alan Jackson has up and coming.

Although Sophia Loren may have been revered for her enviable style and effortless beauty, she also grappled with a troubled upbringing and tumultuous relationships throughout her life. Sophia Loren was known by many names throughout her life and acting career, but she was known as ‘wife,’ ‘soul mate,’ and ‘great love’ to only one person: Carlo Ponti. Sophia’s dark, exotic eyes and long, bronzed limbs gave her an unparalleled beauty that stole the hearts of men the world over. When Italian film star Sophia Loren arrived in America, she easily managed to impress two men: Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant…

Born in poverty, Sophia was an illegitimate baby of a single mother born in the charity ward of a hospital in Naples. Sofia Villani Scicolone would go on to live a real-life fairytale, and she transformed into one of the best and most loved stars of cinema.

But her early life was not so glamorous, in fact, Loren shared a bed with at least three family members until she, her younger sister, and her mother moved from her mother’s family home.

Her last name came from her father, Riccardo Scicolone, who refused to marry her mother, Romilda Villani, and would not allow her younger sister to take his name.

According to Loren, she was taunted as a child for being illegitimate. Even as a young girl, Sophia found herself drawn to the theatre, making many trips to see her favorite Hollywood stars on the screen. She would sometimes watch four shows in a single day. And even at the age of 11, she knew her future would lay in films.

It was 1950, and a young Sophia appeared as a contestant in the Miss Eleganza beauty contest in Rome. As though a ploy by Cupid, Carlo — a renowned Italian film producer — was one of the competition judges, and from the moment she stepped on the stage, he could not take his eyes off of her.

“I immediately knew that she was someone exceptional. Something played off her that gave her a kind of illumination,” Carlo Ponti said of the first time he saw her.

Sophia met the love of her life, Carlo Ponti, when she was just 17 years old. At first, he was just a director for her and Carlo took an interest in training her: he taught her manners, got rid her of accent, made her read books about art, and he insisted she learn English.

He became a mentor to her, he protected her, and soon a strong feeling prevailed. It was their love that helped them overcome the many obstacles to happiness.

Despite there being immediate chemistry between them, Ponti was previously married, and despite being separated from his wife, the circumstances put a halt to their romance.

“To Sophia it was just unthinkable to be the ‘other’ woman in his life, especially after her strict and conservative upbringing that she had grown up about the sanctity of a marriage.” Carlo Ponti nevertheless took her under his wing, becoming her talent agent, and changing her name from Sofia Scicolone [the name of the father who was never there for her] to Sophia Loren.

With the help of Carlo, Sophia appeared in an astounding thirty films, and it was during this period that the pair grew closer and closer, becoming inseparable. Sophia only had eyes for one man, despite their 22-year age difference.

After four years of companionship, Carlo finally bought the now 20-year-old Sophia a diamond ring. They were secretly engaged for three years. Madly in love with one another, the pair would not believe critics who said their marriage would not work, and on September 17, 1957, in a simple and secret ceremony, they finally wed.

Sophia Loren and Cary Grant shared amazing chemistry in the movie Houseboat. They first met when they both played in The Pride and the Passion back in 1957. Loren was about to marry Carlo Ponti and faced a choice that was to determine both her personal life and her career.

Grant asked Sophia to marry him while they were filming, but he belonged to another world in America. Sophia was scared to change her life completely without knowing if their relationship was real.

“They were very different men. It was difficult. It was my first American-language film, and my English was so very terrible. I was upset. I needed help on many occasions with the language, and Cary would help me.” When their filming of Houseboat finished, they exchanged numbers, and he said he would call.

In fact, he did come to visit her on the set of an Italian film, Two Women, and then when she was acting in a film in New York, he came to the house.

On the day Houseboat concluded, he sent her a giant bunch of yellow roses. She was leaving on the plane and boasted to Ponti about the yellow roses.

“Yes, it wasn’t a nice thing to do. I think I wanted to test him, to test how he felt. I was very young and thought if he got angry and jealous, it meant he loved me.” In fact, Ponti was so jealous; he became angry and hit her. Jealousy doesn’t equate to love, but for Sophia, it meant he cared.

She was together with Carlo at this time and they already had a son. Loren said, “One day, Cary called me when I was in New York for another film. ‘How are you?’ ‘I’m fine,’ I said. ‘Why are you calling?’ And he replied, ‘Because I wanted to say ciao.’ That was it. He died. He must have known he was dying.”

She also said, “I felt that I could never fit in there. I never felt like I have a future there because of my nationality.”

Even though she had a father, he never married her mother, Romilda Villani, and was absent from her life. Her mother was also beautifully regal.

When she was 17, Romilda won a contest held in Italy by MGM Studios to find a new star – and the prize was to go to Hollywood. It was her dream to be an actress, but her parents both said she was too young and didn’t permit her to go. Romilda, according to her daughter, “oozed allure.”

By this time they couldn’t get married because Ponti couldn’t get a divorce – the laws in Italy at that time were extremely strict and dictated by Catholic rules. Adding to this vulnerable point in time came the gently seductive, impossibly charming Grant, who courted her while on the Pride and the Passion set.

They had many intimate dinners. Why didn’t she take Cary Grant? Loren explained, “You know, I had to make a choice, Carlo was Italian; I know it was the right thing to do for me.”

The older, respected father figure is something that she was always searching for, which is perhaps why she loved Carlo Ponti, who was 22 years older. He was her emotional substitute for a father. The first problem was that Carlo Ponti was already married and had two children.

Back then, one had to obtain permission to divorce from the Vatican, but he couldn’t get permission, and so the lovers had to do it in another country. They eloped to Mexico in 1957, where Ponti got his official divorce and married Loren.

But after returning home, the spouses were faced with new problems. In Italy, their marriage wasn’t accepted. So Ponti was accused of bigamy and Lauren of illegal cohabitation.

They didn’t even have the right to appear together in public, they were in love and didn’t want to go along with the rules of society and end their relationship, so they decided to leave Italy and lived in exile for many years while they sought a solution.

Attempts to resolve their issue proved unsuccessful, and in the end, the couple acquired French citizenship and moved there. Ponti’s ex-wife also had to acquire French citizenship in order to file for divorce. Finally, Sophia and Carlo got married again in 1966. This time their marriage was official.

A seemingly unlikely pair, as time passed, their love only continued to deepen and flourish, just as they would have continuing successes in their careers in film & television.

Loren didn’t want to just be a married woman; she dreamed of being a mother and desperately wanted to start her own family. Unfortunately, this wasn’t that simple as the actress had already had two miscarriages.

After some tests she soon discovered that her hormones were imbalanced and that was the cause of her miscarriages. So she underwent hormonal treatment and after being prescribed estrogen shots and undergoing fertility treatments, Loren finally had a successful pregnancy.

When Sophia finally became pregnant she was 34 years old, but doctors had her on bed rest as a precaution. She was cautious and followed their advice and led a reclusive lifestyle from a hotel room in Geneva for months.

It was on the 29th of December in 1968 that she gave birth to their first son Carlo Ponti Jr. Four years later on the 6th of January 1973, she gave birth to their second son Edoardo Ponti.

She may love Italian food, but the country’s religiosity, rules, and regulations certainly didn’t please her. Indeed, her husband was convicted in Italy for income tax evasion, misuse of government subsidies, and illegal export of Italian assets and artwork, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.

Loren was charged for complicity in the crimes but was later acquitted. The paintings Loren was accused of smuggling included works by Picasso, Braque, de Chirico, and Canaletto, which were valued at around $6.7 million.

“It was painful because I was innocent all that time. It was bad management, but they went on with the trial. They gave me one month in jail and released me after 17 days.”

“No, it took 40 years. Forty years later, I won the trial. I had paid every penny. I made a lot of films outside of Italy, and it was convenient, so we moved.” Despite having to move, they were happy; they were in love and stayed together for half a century.

Once she cut her hair to look like an actress who was very successful at the time, Lucia Bosé, and Carlo said to her, “You should always wear your hair short.”

“Each time I did something that he had a liking to, he would always say, ‘You should always do that.’ And yes, this gave me confidence. He watched over me and he … took my insecurities away. It seemed like he would take care of me, which no other man had done,” Sophia said.

She says that the first time she met Ponti, she immediately felt at home. She noticed after she saw him, she felt calm. Carlo Ponti made her into what she is, and together they steadfastly withstood all the blows of fate.

After her and Ponti’s run-in with the Italian law regarding marriage, they were essentially exiled from the country. Loren missed Italy so much that Ponti would drive her to the top of St. Gotthard Pass in Switzerland so she could just glimpse her homeland.

“I would think to myself, ‘Why do I feel like this?’ Because I trusted him. I was terribly young. I just turned 17 when we first met, and it wasn’t until a long time later that we got together.” she said of her husband.

He gave her confidence and one day he bought her an outfit, and he said, “You should always wear suits because it looks very good on you.” He always made a point of focusing on what was positive…

The couple eventually moved again, this time from France to Geneva, Switzerland, where they lived quietly and happily. It was the New Year of 2007, and Carlo, having trouble breathing, was rushed to the hospital. He was now 94 years old, and Sophia & Carlo’s relationship had spanned an amazing 50 years.

Carlo remained in the hospital for ten days, fighting, but eventually passed away on the 10th of January 2007. Sophia had not left his side for the entire ten days.