Alan Jackson Leaves Arista Nashville after 20 years

I sure did not see this one coming, but don't worry Alan will be pumping out tunes for years to come!

Alan Jackson has parted ways with his longtime record label, Arista Nashville, and its parent company Sony Music, it was announced Thursday (Jan. 20). He has sold more than 50 million albums during his 22-year tenure at the label.

In late November, Jackson confirmed to CMT.com that his 34 Number Ones completed his contractual obligations to Arista Nashville and that he was exploring all options for his recording career. The greatest hits compilation was released on Nov. 22.

Jackson was the first artist signed when music executive Tim DuBois launched Arista's country division in 1989. Arista was one of the labels involved when Sony Music merged with the Bertelsman Music Group in 2004. Sony's Nashville operations are now headed by Gary Overton, a music industry veteran who managed Jackson in the mid-'90s.

"I've had a great run with Arista, going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois," Jackson said. "I've gotten to work with some real great people along the way, and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next."

Referring to it as "an amicable parting," the label issued a written statement saying, "Sony Music Nashville wishes to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association."

Jackson begins his 2011 tour on Feb. 1 in Sudbury, Ontario, and travels overseas in March for his first tour of Australia. He's currently writing songs for a forthcoming album, but he has not divulged if he has signed another label deal. Check out CMT.com