With a career spanning over four decades, Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson has a lot to be proud of. The same can be said for his personal life, which sees him happily married to wife Denise since 1983, and a proud father of three. His eldest daughter, Mattie, has shared further cause for celebration, as she announced she is expecting her first child.
Jackson and Denise share three children total, all daughters: Mattie, born in 1990, Alexandra (1993), and Dani (1997). The couple became grandparents when Alexandra and husband Sam Bradshaw had their first child in December 2022. Now, Mattie is excited to welcome the newest addition to the family this very summer!
Alan Jackson’s eldest daughter Mattie is expecting her first child
On Thursday, Mattie took to social media to announce the upcoming birth of her very first child with husband Connor Smith. “I feel like I said so many times last year that 2023 topped the charts with more joy and celebration and redemption than any yet,” she began. “Well, I have a feeling 2024 may give it a run for its money…”
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Her post continued on, “We are absolutely thrilled to share BABY BOY SMITH coming this June!!!” The post is accompanied by photos of her and Smith beaming from ear to ear, showing off Baby’s First Pictures, along with Mattie’s baby bump, and even the family dog looking ready to be the youngster’s best friend when the little one arrives.
Jackson’s family grows
Mattie and Smith first announced their relationship back in an April 2022 Instagram post, in which Mattie celebrated God helping her find her soulmate after a devastating loss. “Other dear widow friends assured me that my heart could heal and expand to love two people equally, though differently,” her post reads. “And I hoped so desperately that would really be true. This man is more of an answer to prayer (mine and countless others!) than I sometimes think he even realizes.”
Mattie had previously been married to Ben Selecman until his untimely death in September 2018. At 28 years of age, Mattie became a widow. While walking on a dock, Ben slipped on a wet patch and hit his head; everything went downhill from there, culminating in a blood clot breaking off in Ben’s brain. His heart started to fail, and then he was gone.
Now, Mattie and the rest of her family are looking ahead while honoring the past. She keeps Ben’s memory alive and cherished in her heart, while also acting as a supportive aunt to sister Alexandra’s baby, Jackson’s first grandchild, a boy named Jack who arrived in the world just days before he and Denise celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
Congratulations to the expecting parents!
