Mattie Denise Jackson Is Alan Jackson's Daughter Who Became a Writer after Her Husband's Sudden Death

Alan Jackson's daughter, Mattie Denise Jackson, has found her path in life as a writer. However, a tragic event led her to pursue her passion. After the sudden death of her husband, Ben Selecman, her life took a different turn, inspiring her to use her experiences as a source of strength and creativity.

Alan Jackson is a country music superstar who has won numerous awards and fans for his timeless hits, including "Chattahoochee," "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," "Where Were You," and more. He was born in Newnan, Georgia, on October 17, 1958.

The musician began his music career in the late 1970s, quickly gaining popularity for his traditional country sound and heartfelt lyrics. Over the years, he has released several studio albums, sold millions of records, and received over 40 awards.

Despite Alan's successful career, music is not his only legacy; his family is also his pride and joy. He has been married to his wife Denise Jackson since 1979, and together they have three daughters: Mattie Denise, Alexandra Jane "Ali," and Dani Grace.

Jackson has often spoken about how important his family is and how they have supported him throughout his career. His first daughter, Mattie, has also made a name for herself. She is a writer who has authored several books, including a cookbook and a novel.

Her journey toward becoming a writer was challenging, and as life happened to her, it caused her to reevaluate her priorities and pursue her passion. However, she has turned her misfortune into a catalyst for personal growth and artistic expression.

Mattie Denise Jackson Is Alan Jackson's Oldest Daughter

Mattie was born on June 19, 1990, followed by her immediate younger sister on August 23, 1993, and the youngest was born on August 28, 1997. She was born when their father began to enjoy the hard work he put into his career a few months after the release of his debut album.

In 2006, her father proved his love for his daughters by dedicating a song to them. Alan Jackson dedicated the single "You'll Always Be My Baby" to his girls from his 2006 album "Like Red on a Rose."

The song is a touching tribute as he sings about how his daughters have grown up and moved on to start their own lives, but they will always hold a special place in his heart. In the lyric video, he had snapshots from their lives as he walked down memory lane.

Mattie inherited her father's creativity and revealed that she was always a creative and hyperactive child. She studied Creative Writing at the University of Tennessee and always dreamt of becoming a writer that would tell meaningful stories.

At 22, her father encouraged her to live life, gain experience, and find something worth writing about, and she heeded his advice. She began working in the hospitality industry, became a Certified Sommelier, and four years later, she became a boss by opening a wine bar.

In December 2022, she appeared on Fox News and demonstrated her ability to mix cocktails. Together with the hosts, she made festive beverages perfect for the holiday season.

Mattie Jackson Lost Her Husband in an Accident Less than a Year after Their Wedding

Mattie married her husband, Ben Selecman, in Tennessee on October 7, 2017. They had met at a mutual friend's wedding but reconnected two years later. She declined his outing requests several times before finally giving in and falling in love with him.

He later proposed to her during a picnic at the Old Historic Natchez Trace. The couple had their dream and fairytale yet personal wedding that included popping a vintage 2006 bottle of Taittinger's Comtes de Champagne. After their big day, they headed to Seychelles and South Africa for their honeymoon.

Unfortunately, barely a month before their first wedding anniversary, tragedy struck. Ben, the Assistant District Attorney of Nashville Davidson County, was celebrating the Labor Day holiday with Mattie and her family on her father's boat when he slipped and hit his head.

The fall caused traumatic head injuries leading to his death on September 12, 2018, at 28. About three weeks after his death, Mattie's father took to Instagram to pay tribute to him, describing him as "a southern boy who loved hunting and fishing and just being outdoors."

For three years, Mattie grieved as she had become a widow at a young age, but her grief also led her to release her book "Lemons on Friday," in November 2021. The book focused on how she trusted God to help her through the trying times. Less than six months later, she had sold over 20,000 copies of her book.

Two months before losing her husband, Mattie had co-founded "NaSHEville" with Brooke Tometich. The philanthropic merchandise brand is a movement bringing together resilient and compassionate women to support each other's achievements, aspirations, and spiritual beliefs with love.

The brand also cares for human trafficking victims, orphans, and widows. The author remarked that she uses the nonprofit platform to leverage her passion for healing broken women through words.

Mattie Jackson Found Love Again after Her Painful Loss

On April 14, 2022, Mattie Denise Jackson took to her Instagram to announce that she had fallen in love again after three and a half years of praying and believing.

When she announced her new relationship, she revealed that he was her best friend's brother-in-law, and they had been together for six months. On their first meeting, she had no expectations, but her new beau constantly surprised her every day.

Less than six months after Mattie showed her man, Connor Smith, off to the world, she was back on Instagram with more good news. She revealed that she had gone to celebrate his 30th birthday with him and ended up getting engaged.

On Valentine's Day in 2023, Mattie, who seems happy after the hard years of grieving for Ben, posted that Connor is her biggest blessing. In the caption of her post, she referred to him as her best friend and future husband, among other qualities she showered on him.