The singer was unable to make it in-person, but sent in a special message for the country singer’s big show.

Taylor Swift draws cheers — and boos —during surprise appearance at Alan Jackson’s farewell concert

The singer was unable to make it in-person, but sent in a special message for the country singer's big show.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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June 28, 2026 11:34 a.m. ET

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Taylor Swift; Alan Jackson. Credit:

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

- Taylor Swift sent in a special video message for Alan Jackson's June 27 farewell concert.

- The crowd erupted into a chorus of boos and cheers when Swift's face appeared onscreen.

- In her message, Swift thanked Jackson for treating her and other young artists with "such support and encouragement."

Taylor Swift's surprise appearance at Alan Jackson's farewell concert was met with a very passionate response from the crowd.

On Saturday night, thousands of fans and dozens of country music's biggest stars gathered at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., to see Jackson bring his touring career to an end. The event, entitled, "Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale" kicked off with a series of tributes and covers from singers including Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, and more. The second half of the concert saw Jackson take to the stage for his swan song.

But before he stepped out, the announcer told the crowd, "We have one more video."

The onstage screen then played a prerecorded video message from Swift — who got her start in the country music genre — paying tribute to the famed singer.

Taylor Swift performs in Hamburg, Germany.

Gregor Fischer/TAS24/Getty for TAS Rights Management

Immediately, the crowd erupted into a mixture of loud boos and some cheers. In several fan-recorded videos of the moment, it's impossible to hear what Swift is saying over the sound of the crowd's reaction.

Towards the end of the message, she said to Jackson, "I appreciate you so much for the ways that you have just treated me and the other artists and writers with such support and encouragement over the years. And I am so excited for your show."

The farewell concert comes five years after Jackson shared that he is living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects his balance. One dollar of every ticket sold for the Saturday night concert went towards the CMT Research Foundation, an organization that funds research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

Alan Jackson performs in 2021.

Jason Kempin/Getty

Other attendees at the event who honored Jackson with a song include Eric Church, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, George Strait, Lainey Wilson, and Lee Ann Womack.

As for Swift, the video message comes days after she surprised attendees at the annual Tight Ends & Friends concert in Tennessee, an event co-founded by her fiancé, Travis Kelce. Swift stepped out to sing "Love Song" with Lainey Wilson. Before the duet, Swift shared that the song had been requested by a "very special tight end," whom she jokingly revealed to be George Kittle rather than Kelce.

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Fans have already begun speculating that Swift's absence at Jackson's Nashville event is due to her rumored impending nuptials: Kelce and Swift are rumored to be planning a New York City wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden during the Fourth of July weekend, with speculation intensifying after Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to confirm the report in a recent quote to press.

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