Alan Jackson Honored Lifelong Fan Whose Daughter Went to Him with Beloved Mom’s Ashes

Mary Ann Gallant was one of Alan Jackson’s biggest fans, and one of her dying wishes was to have her ashes scattered at his estate. Alan honored her by hosting a special event at one of his bars.

According to Britannica, country music singer Alan Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia, on October 17, 1958. In the 1990s and the early 21st century, the American singer-songwriter was an immensely popular male country musician.

He grew up in rural Georgia, where he sang gospel music as a teenager and was part of a country duo. Alan didn’t finish school; instead, he married Denise Jackson, his high-school sweetheart.

Alan and Denise Jackson at the 18th Annual American Music Awards on January 28, 1991 | Source: Getty Images

To survive, the star worked odd jobs but continued playing with Dixie Steel, his band. His wife, a flight attendant, came across the famous country singer Glen Campbell in 1985 at an airport.

Her husband’s demo tape got him a songwriting contract with Campbell’s music-publishing company. Alan and his long-term wife moved to Nashville, and the artist won many adoring fans worldwide as his stardom rose.

Alan Jackson on “Home Improvement” on December 5, 1995 | Source: Getty Images

One of those die-hard fans was Mary Ann “Marie” Gallant. She once got to meet and even dance on stage with the country musician, and her dying wish also involved Alan, who paid tribute to her in a unique way.

Mary Ann “Marie” Gallant and Her Last Wish

In October 2022, Taste of Country revealed that Alan had a fan whose dying wish was to have her ashes spread at his Nashville home. The person who wanted this done was Sue Castle for her late mother, Gallant.

Castle, a Maine native, traveled to Nashville that month, hoping to fulfill her mother’s last wish. She went on faith as she didn’t have a solid plan to find the country singer’s home.

Castle was determined to get to the musician to try and convince him to allow Gallant’s ashes to be spread on his property. The late fan’s daughter was willing to do everything necessary to fulfill her mother’s final wish.

Gallant’s wish didn’t just come from nowhere, as she had been a lifelong fan of Alan’s music. In 2015, Castle’s mother attended the country singer’s Portland concert and got to bond with him memorably.

Maine country’s station B98.5 said Gallant was such a super fan that she had his likeness tattooed on her back! While at the concert, Alan noticed the artwork and invited Castle’s mother to watch the show from the stage!

She also had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance with him as he performed the track “Remember When!” Gallant recalled that night as the happiest one of her life before passing away at age 80 in 2021.

When speaking to Central Maine, Gallant’s daughter confessed that she didn’t have a plan for the ash spreading. She told the publication that she’d thought of several scenarios.

Castle envisioned her mother’s ashes being dropped from a helicopter, or perhaps they could be thrown over the fence. She also thought they could be thrown them “out the window as I’m driving by.”

However, the ideal way would be for her to secure Alan’s permission to spread the ashes properly according to Gallant’s wishes. The late fan had allegedly seen the country legend two dozen times in concert!

She was so dedicated to the artist that she even had vanity license plates showing her love for his music. Castle also revealed that her late mother had a cardboard cutout of her favorite singer!

Gallant allegedly took the cutout to different hospital rooms as she fought a losing battle with cancer in her final years. The late fan’s daughter told the publication that if she were given a chance, she’d say to Alan:

“Thank you for giving my mom the best day of her life.”

Castle also said she’d thank him for giving her late mother so much joy over the years. According to The Sun Journal, the determined daughter flew from Gardiner, Maine, to Nashville on October 11, 2022, hoping to convince Alan to honor her mother’s wishes.

Unfortunately for Castle, when she finally met with Alan’s representative, things didn’t go according to plan. The artist couldn’t fulfill Gallant’s dying wish, but his team was willing to reach a reasonable compromise!

How Alan Honored Mary Ann’s Wish in His Own Way

When she got to Tennessee, Castle decided to visit Alan’s Good Time Bar on Lower Broadway to see if she could make her request. The Sun Journal contacted her to discover what was happening and found out how reporting her story had helped!

Gallant’s story had gone viral, leading the country singer’s team to know Castle was coming! The first morning Castle was in Nashville, a Maine native who’d become a music producer contacted her.

He’d read her story in the Sun Journal and offered to help. When she arrived at Alan’s four-story bar, which was also some museum to pay tribute to his career, she had the idea of finding out if it would be possible to show off a display about her mother’s love for the star and his music.

The Gardiner resident started chatting with a bartender, trying to see if a small exhibit was possible as a joint showcase with all the other memorabilia already at the bar. The bartender allegedly squealed excitedly in response, asking Castle:

“Oh, my God, are you the one?”

The bartender had read Castle’s story and discovered the management, and the rest of the staff knew her story! They were even expecting her at the establishment that day!

She received complimentary drinks and food; an arrangement meant to last for the rest of her life! The manager informed her that Alan had also read her story, telling him that Gallant was “a sweet lady.”

The country star remembered the fan from the time they danced on stage and her tattoo of him on her back. Hearing all this, Castle’s nervousness changed to happiness about how she was received.

During her hours there, Gallant’s daughter got a tour of the bar and saw all the display items and the stories behind them. She also received free trinkets and T-shirts, and eventually, Castle got down to why she was there.

[Sue] Castle revealed that her late mother [Mary Ann “Marie” Gallant] would’ve loved the attention, and she did too!

The late fan’s daughter asked about having a display made for her mother featuring a 1965 Mustang, Gallant’s favorite car, and a small figure of her behind the wheel. Images of Alan and other things would surround the vehicle.

The manager agreed to the display instead of having to spread Gallant’s ashes on Alan’s estate and promised to put it up. He’d intended on placing it in an empty area on the second floor, but later it would have its display shelf.

Castle said the experience was “amazing,” and she enjoyed herself but ended up leaving the bar with her mother’s ashes. She was pleased with the arrangement and told the publication that Alan‘s travels between his homes made it difficult for them to settle on a property that would be best as Gallant’s final resting place.

Instead, the ashes would be placed on Castle’s property, and a bench created nearby for her to think about her “fun-loving” mother. The late fan’s daughter said the trip and the compassion she received “helped my heart.”

Gallant’s daughter had been nervous about how things could go down when she turned up with her mother’s ashes, but it turned out better than she expected! A Nashville radio story got in touch with Castle while she toured the city.

She confessed how her story had gone viral, reaching a cousin in Massachusetts and her aunt in Canada! Castle revealed that her late mother would’ve loved the attention, and she did too!