Did Alan Jackson And Jimmy Buffett Really Get Along While Creating "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"?
Highlights
- "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" was a massively successful duet between Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett.
- The song was originally offered to Colt Prather and Kenny Chesney.
- Jackson and Buffett were more than just successful collaborators.
In 2003, music legends Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett came together and recorded one of the most popular duets of the 21st century, 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." The song, which has enjoyed a lasting legacy, has become a party staple and epitomizes the laid-back fun atmosphere that Buffett was well known for.
Both titans in the music business in their own right, a collaboration between Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson was not shocking. Buffett's beach-style music had a country influence. Jackson and Buffett's combined star power undeniably gave "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" the publicity it needed to become a hit.
According to Country Now, not only did it rise on the charts, but it also received critical acclaim and won multiple awards including the CMA Award for Vocal Event of the Year in 2003. The song was massively successful, but did Buffet and Jackson enjoy making it together?
How Did "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" Come To Be?
Written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" was originally offered to Colt Prather and then Kenny Chesney, who both denied the opportunity to record the song.
After Chesney and Prather refused, Brown presented it to Jackson, who gladly accepted it as he was seeking an opportunity to record a song with "Margaritaville" singer, Jimmy Buffett. To Jackson's good fortune, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" was a smart decision and became one of his signature songs.
In the writing process, Rollins received inspiration from the saying "it's five o'clock somewhere", and thought its message would make a great song. With a title in mind, Rollins still had to explore how to use the saying to tell a story.
Enlisting the help of frequent collaborator Brown, the team aimed to create a song that had Buffett vibes, even without the intention to pitch the song to him. The song was written with Prather in mind, who was looking to record a beach song similar to Buffett's music.
Were Alan Jackson And Jimmy Buffett Friends?
Jackson and Buffett were not only a powerhouse combination for "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", but were friends in real life. When Buffett passed away after a battle with cancer in September 2023, Jackson posted a tribute message on his Instagram account and shared lyrics to "Boats to Build", another collaboration they recorded together in 2004. He then ended his tribute by writing "RIP my friend, @jimmybuffett."
Jackson and Buffett had mutual respect for each other and enjoyed the opportunity to record songs and perform together. Besides "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Boats to Build", they also collaborated on "Hey Good Lookin'" with George Straight, Tobey Keith, and Clint Black in 2004.
Buffett and Jackson appeared on stage together to perform the song live in 2003, which was eventually used in the official music video. In May 2004, Buffett, Jackson, and Straight co-headlined and performed a one-night-only concert together at Texas Stadium. The show was recorded and eventually released as a record in 2007, which earned the 4th spot on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart when it was released.
What Was Jimmy Buffett's Net Worth and Did "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" Have An Impact?
While Buffett only had a limited amount of hits, he became a billionaire from his "Margaritaville" persona. He built an empire around his image and earned millions of fans, affectionately known as "Parrotheads." According to Forbes, Buffett was worth a billion dollars as of April 2023. He even had a friendship with business icon, Warren Buffett, who ironically shared his surname even though they were not blood-related.
Beyond frequent touring which earned him millions, Buffett made a considerable amount of his fortune from his business ventures. In 1985, Buffett founded Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, which owns and operates restaurants, Jimmy Buffett merchandise stores, and resorts. The brand became popular after a Margaritaville store was opened in Key West. According to Margaritaville Resorts' official website, the company oversees 40 resorts in 36 cities around the world.
Margaritaville was not Buffett's only business venture, however. He was a smart investor who amassed an impressive portfolio of stocks and real estate properties. Buffett also had a collection of boats and cars. Even when he was in poor health, Buffett continued to earn tons of money before his passing.
While Buffett's earnings from "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" are not publically known, the song sold millions of copies and Buffett most likely enjoyed a nice share of the royalties. Most of Buffett's iconic hits were from the 1970s and 1980s, and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" helped Buffett stay musically relevant in the 21st century. He often performed the song alongside his classic hits at concerts, and it was always a crowd-pleaser.
How Has "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" Impacted Alan Jackson's Career?
Before "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", Alan Jackson was already a huge name in country music. He had hits with songs like "I'd Love You All Over Again", "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)", and "Chattahoochee" in the 1990s. According to Work + Money, he has sold over 40 million records in the US alone. A two-time Grammy winner, Jackson was inducted into Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Through his consistent hits and touring, Jackson became one of the world's most beloved country music singers. "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" not only fulfilled Jackson's desire to record a duet with Buffett but became one of his most requested and successful songs.
Similarly to Buffett, Jackson most likely enjoyed a lucrative payday from the sales of the record. "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" was among one of Jackson's biggest hits in the 21st century and was a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Country chart for seven weeks.
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