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.

 

 

 

Latest Stories

Josh Turner and Sonya Isaacs performing a heartfelt rendition of Hank Williams' gospel classic 'I Saw the Light' at the Opry, honoring its timeless legacy.

Josh Turner and Sonya Isaacs’ Soulful Rendition of “I Saw the Light” at the Opry

Some songs transcend time, and Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light” is one of those rare gems that feels as powerful today as it did when it was first penned. ...

Ben Haggard performing Merle Haggard's classic 'It's All in the Movies,' honoring his father's legacy while showcasing his own brilliant artistry.

Ben Haggard Breathes New Life into Merle Haggard’s “It’s All in the Movies”

Some songs never lose their shine. Merle Haggard’s “It’s All in the Movies” is one of those timeless tracks, and when his youngest son, Ben Haggard, steps up to perform ...

George Strait and Alan Jackson performing 'Remember When' and 'Troubadour' at the 50th CMA Awards, celebrating the timeless soul of country music.

The Iconic CMA Duet of Alan Jackson and George Strait

Some moments in country music aren’t just performances—they’re living history. George Strait and Alan Jackson took the stage together at the 50th CMA Awards in 2016, and it was one ...

Gene Watson performing his signature hit 'Farewell Party,' a hauntingly beautiful country classic that captures themes of loss and love.

Gene Watson’s “Farewell Party” Is a Heartbreaker for the Ages

Some songs cut straight to the bone, and Gene Watson’s “Farewell Party” is one of them. Released in 1979 as part of his Reflections album, Watson’s rendition of this country ...

Toby Keith’s Stunning Tribute to Hank Williams Jr. With “A Country Boy Can Survive”

In 2007, a remarkable event unfolded at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles when country, rock, and blues icons gathered to honor the legendary Hank Williams Jr. It was a ...

Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge performing their duet 'Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends,' capturing the beauty and heartbreak of love's final moments.

Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge’s Timeless Duet, “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”

When Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge sang together, their voices became an extension of their love story—beautiful, bittersweet, and undeniably real. Married in 1973 after a whirlwind meeting in an ...

Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch performing 'I'll Fly Away,' a soulful masterpiece from O Brother, Where Art Thou?, showcasing gospel roots and timeless harmonies.

How Alison Krauss’ “I’ll Fly Away” Became a Hymn for the Ages

There’s a magic in Alison Krauss’ voice, an ethereal quality that feels wrapped in sunlight and steeped in tradition. When she joined forces with Gillian Welch to record “I’ll Fly ...

Craig Morgan delivering an emotional performance of 'The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost' on The Kelly Clarkson Show, moving the audience to tears as he honors his son's memory.

Craig Morgan’s “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” Moves “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to Tears

In 2016, Craig Morgan faced a tragedy no parent should ever endure: the loss of his 19-year-old son, Jerry, in a tubing accident on Kentucky Lake. Morgan’s heartbreak was profound, ...

Jesse Keith Whitley and his son Jackie performing a heartfelt duet of 'Don't Close Your Eyes,' honoring Keith Whitley's legacy with a touching family tribute.

Jesse Keith Whitley and Son Jackie Duet “Don’t Close Your Eyes” in a Heartfelt Tribute

At Lorrie Morgan’s Spicy Hot Chicken Coop in Panama City Beach, Florida, fans were treated to a magical evening when Jesse Keith Whitley performed his father’s iconic song “Don’t Close ...

Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson brought together through modern technology for a duet of 'Just a Closer Walk with Thee,' blending their iconic voices in a timeless gospel masterpiece.

Willie Nelson Joins Patsy Cline for a Heavenly “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

Patsy Cline’s tragic death in a 1963 plane crash left an irreplaceable void in country music. Her haunting voice, which gave us classics like “Cr𝐚zy” and “I Fall to Pieces,” ...