When Alan Jackson started writing "Small Town Southern Man," he had it in his mind to portray the kind of simple, well-meaning people he grew up around. Alan hadn't intended it to be autobiographical, but he did put some personal touches in the song. He made a reference to his father, who died eight years ago, and he included some of his own parenting philosophies in the lyrics.

"One of my favorite lines in there was 'raised on gentle kindness,'" he told Dial-Global. "I didn't really understand that or appreciate that growing up, and I do now, and I think that's something that I want my children to feel like, you know. We try [not to be] pushy, hands-on parents. We let 'em live and be their own way, but I'm not stern with 'em. I'm funny and light and just try to give 'em guidance and let 'em learn their own ways. And that's something I think my parents did. I think it was accidental, but that's what they did."

Alan and his wife, Denise, have three daughters. His semi-autobiographical song is resonating with fans, too. It's at No. 1 for the second week in a row on two different national charts.