COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

ALAN JACKSON: In Good Company

Alan Jackson will receive ASCAP's Founder's Award in Nashville tonight. The performing rights organization's most prestigious honor goes to songwriters who are "pioneers and innovators." Alan tells Nashville's Tennessean, "When you get honored as a writer, you feel like you're getting honored for the most important part of music."

Previous recipients include Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, James Taylor and Garth Brooks.

GARTH BROOKS: Song Comes to Lifetime

Garth Brooks' 1990 number-one single "Unanswered Prayers" is being made into a movie for the Lifetime network. The Hollywood Reporter says that the movie, starring Samantha Mathis and Eric Close, will follow the story of the song, in which a happily married man must face the return of his high school sweetheart. It's scheduled for a November premiere.

ZAC BROWN BAND: Strap On Your Feed Bag

Zac Brown Band is expanding his signature eat-and-greets to include everyone at next year's shows, instead of a small group of contest winners. He tells Billboard magazine, "We're fabricating a state-of-the-art concessions system for our touring, so we can feed the people and give them everything they need without having to wait on it. We're talking about smack-your-grandmama-in-the-mouth Southern gourmet."

QUICK SHOTS:

• After a short break next month, Alan Jackson will kick off his fall tour on November 4th in Sacramento, California. Chris Young and The Band Perry will open. Alan will release the album 34 Number Ones following the tour.

• Jack Ingram has launched the Acoustic Motel -- a new YouTube series in which he performs acoustic versions of his favorite country songs. First up is a cover of Willie Nelson's "I'd Have to Be Crazy" -- which is the first song Jack ever learned to play.