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Alan Jackson paid tribute to late songwriting giant Jim McBride, known for writing some of the country legend’s most well-known songs. McBride reportedly died on Tuesday (January 6). He was 78.
Jackson, 67, posted photos on Instagram with McBride on Thursday (January 8). The pair stood side-by-side holding ASCAP honors in one photo, and Song of the Year awards in the second photo. Jackson said “Jim was a good man and a great and genuine songwriter. He understood country music and touched many with his songs. Jim and I wrote some of my favorite songs together and I don’t know if my career would have ended up quite the same without his help, inspiration, and encouragement in my early years. Thank you Jim, rest in peace.”
Others, including singer-songwriter Jerry Salley, also paid tribute to McBride. Salley hailed McBride “my closest and longest friend I’ve ever had,” in a lengthy tribute he posted on Instagram on Wednesday (January 7). “Jim McBride wasn’t just a close friend, he was a true, lifelong Brother to me. My best friend. We talked or texted every few days right up until the end. …Rest In Peace my Brother. I love you, and will miss you, our conversations, our adventures and all the laughter we shared till then.
McBride’s hits include Jackson’s “Chattahoochee” and “Chasing That Neon Rainbow.” He also wrote or co-wrote songs for George Jones, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Toby Keith, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis and many other artists throughout his career.
McBride was born in April 1947 in Huntsville, Alabama. He began playing guitar at 21, and in the early 1970s, he made the move to Nashville, Tennessee, per his bio from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. McBride, a 2017 inductee, met Jackson in the early 1990s. “Chattahoochee” went on to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year award, among other honors. McBride was also inducted into the Alabama Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023. The organization notes that his songs appear on more than 70 million records sold globally.
“Our condolences go out to Jeanne and the entire McBride family on the passing of Mr. Jim McBride. Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor, and so much more. He is perhaps most widely recognized for his work with Alan Jackson, including co-writing the country hits ‘Chattahoochee’ and ‘Chasing That Neon Rainbow,’ the Alabama Hall of Fame posted in a tribute, in part. “We will greatly miss Mr. McBride—may his legacy live on forever.”