Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

REWIND: In 1996, Alan Jackson Turbocharges Home Improvement with “Mercury Blues”

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

AJ at the Home Improvement Show

During one of the biggest years in Alan Jackson’s music career, he makes an unexpected appearance on the widely well-liked American sitcom, Home Improvement, which had swept the nation in the ’90s.

Home Improvement was an ABC sitcom that aired on ABC from September 17, 1991, to May 25, 1999. The sequence was produced by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra, and David McFadzean. During the 1990s, it was the most-watched sitcoms in the US because it was one of the highest-rated sitcoms for almost the entire decade, and received many awards. They had many surprise guests – but Alan Jackson certainly topped the list. After his debut album’s released, the country music singer gave his fans something to remember.

Tim Taylor’s cable show, “Tool Time,” would generally have a surprise guest show up, but this one just happened to feature the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year at the time (1992) Alan Jackson!

Tool Time was the mini-handyman show in Home Improvement hosted by Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor ( Tim Allen) and Al Borland ( Richard Karn). In the episode, (the season 5 episode “When Harry Kept Delores”) Jackson sings his hits remake of K.C. Douglas’, (an American rural blues singer and guitarist) 1948 hit, “Mercury Blues” while Tim & Al hop inside his vintage Mercury sedan and pretend to take a ride.

His version of the song also caught the attention of Mercury Vehicle’s parent corporation, Ford Motor Company.  Ford purchased the rights to the song and used it in many television commercials throughout the early ’90s. Jackson’s 1950 customized Mercury was showed off in the sitcom which made for the perfect segway to jump into a performance of “Mercury Blues.”

“Mercury Blues” was written by the Blues musicians K.C. Douglas and Robert Geddins in 1949. It was originally titled “Mercury Boogie.” The song was popularized two generations later by Alan Jackson whose 1993 cover peaked at #2 on the Country chart. The song has also been covered by the Steve Miller Band (is an American rock band formed in 1966), David Lindley (is an American musician who founded the band El Rayo-X) and Meat Loaf (is an American singer and actor).

The series (Home Improvement) ended after eight seasons in 1999. Richardson was offered $25 million to do a ninth season; Allen was offered $50 million. The two declined the offer and the series came to an end as a result.

Alan Jackson

Alan Eugene Jackson is a popular American country singer and songwriter of the ‘90s. He was known for blending customary honky-tonk and ordinary country sounds and penning many of his own hits.  He already recorded 14 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Christmas albums, 2 Gospel albums, and several compilations, all on the Arista Nashville label.

He was born on October 17, 1958, in Newnan, Georgia. His beloved father, Joseph Eugene “Daddy Gene” Jackson (1927-200), was a mechanic at the Ford Motor Company assembly plant and his lovely mother, Mattie Ruth (Musick), “Mama Ruth” Jackson (1930-2017), was a dietician and school cafeteria manager. Jackson grew up in a countryside Georgia and lived with his parents and four older sister siblings in a house built used for storing tools by his grandfather. He got married to his high school sweetheart, Denise, on December 15, 1979, at Newman Baptist Church. His wife was a flight attendant. Shortly after marrying Denise, Jackson moved to Nashville, Tennessee to go after his career in music.

After a series of refusal, he eventually signed with Artista Records. Artista released his debut album, In the Real World (1990), noticeable Jackson’s arrival among a group of country artists which include Randy Travis, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Garth Brooks, and Vince Gill represented a new brand of upholding tradition in country music that trend in the 1980s because of their synthesized pop music. 

He wrote the songs “Chattahoochee” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” a song honoring those lost in the September 11th terror attacks. The song won multiple awards at the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Awards, including Song of the Year, and also obtains his first Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

 

 

 

Trending

Latest Stories

Jon Pardi, wife Summer, and their two daughters together, before the couple's divorce announcement.

Jon Pardi and His Wife, Summer, Are Divorcing After Nearly Six Years and Two Daughters Together

One of country music’s most grounded couples is calling it quits. Jon Pardi and his wife, Summer, announced their divorce, confirming they’ve decided to part ways after nearly six years ...

Clint Black on stage, before the hospitalization that forced him to cancel his July 3 show.

Clint Black Canceled His July 3 Concert After Being Hospitalized, but He’s Expected to Fully Recover

The good news comes first. Clint Black is going to be just fine. The country icon was forced to cancel his July 3 appearance at Pearl River Resort Casino in ...

An emotional Rhett Akins on the Opry stage, finally getting his membership invitation.

Rhett Akins Finally Got His Grand Ole Opry Invitation After 30 Years and Could Barely Find the Words

A man who has written over 30 No. 1 hits for a living stood on the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night and couldn’t think of a single word to ...

Ella Langley performing live, marking "Choosin' Texas" returning to No. 1 for an 11th week and breaking a chart record that stood since 1977.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Is Back at No. 1 for an 11th Week and Broke a Record That Stood Since 1977

They kept knocking her off, and she kept coming back. Drake bumped her. Ariana Grande bumped her. Taylor Swift bumped her. And every single time, “Choosin’ Texas” climbed right back ...

Shania Twain commanding the Wembley stage in the daring look that divided fans.

Shania Twain Wore a Bold Outfit at Wembley and Fans Can’t Agree If It Was Too Much or Perfect

Shania Twain walked onto the Wembley Stadium stage in front of 90,000 people wearing a see-through black lace dress with a white bra and matching shorts underneath, and the internet ...

Miranda Lambert performing "The House That Built Me," the tearjerker that topped the charts back in 2010.

Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” Hit No. 1 Sixteen Years Ago and It Still Wrecks People

Sixteen years ago, a song that was never supposed to be Miranda Lambert’s gave her the first No. 1 of her career. And every Father’s Day, every homecoming, every time ...

A composite image of Ella Langley and Alan Jackson, tied to her emotional video tribute at his final show.

Ella Langley’s Video Tribute to Alan Jackson at His Farewell Concert Said What Every Young Artist Feels

Every major name in country music showed up to say goodbye to Alan Jackson at Nissan Stadium. But one of the most genuine tributes came from someone who wasn’t even ...

12:00 AMClaude responded: Alan Jackson and George Strait performing together at Alan's final concert, where Strait made a rare appearance and brought his old friend a drink.Alan Jackson and George Strait performing together at Alan's final concert, where Strait made a rare appearance and brought his old friend a drink.

George Strait Made a Rare Appearance at Alan Jackson’s Final Concert and Brought Him a Drink

George Strait doesn’t show up for just anybody. But when Alan Jackson calls last round, the King of Country shows up with a drink in his hand. Strait strolled onto ...

Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift together, after her tribute video got a divided reaction at his Nashville farewell show.

Taylor Swift Got Booed When Her Tribute Video Played at Alan Jackson’s Farewell Concert

It was supposed to be a tribute. The crowd had other plans. Right before Alan Jackson took the stage at his farewell concert at Nissan Stadium on June 27, Grand ...

10:20 PMClaude responded: Alan Jackson on stage during his final concert, taking a bow as he officially steps into retirement after decades in country music.Alan Jackson on stage during his final concert, taking a bow as he officially steps into retirement after decades in country music.

Alan Jackson Played His Final Concert at Nissan Stadium, and Even a Storm Couldn’t Stop Him

The sky opened up over Nashville on Saturday night. Lightning cracked across the horizon, and 50,000 people were told to leave their seats. For about 30 minutes, Alan Jackson’s final ...