Country icon Alan Jackson has found a new record label home in EMI Music Nashville, surprising many - including us - who figured he'd go with either his buddy Keith Stegall and Bigger Picture Entertainment or with Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Label Group.

From Country Aircheck: Alan Jackson and Capitol/Nashville President/CEO Mike Dungan are together again in a joint venture between Jackson's ACR (Alan's Country Records) and EMI Nashville, which will release and market Jackson's new music. The signing reunites Jackson with Dungan, who served as GM of Arista/Nashville for much of Jackson's career. Jackson left Arista in January after 22 years with the label. Capitol launched EMI Nashville one year ago. Jackson will be recording new music soon.

"Mike Dungan and I go way back," Jackson says. "He was right there during my early days at Arista, and it’s going to be great to work with him and his team there at Capitol. I’m happy to be joining the hottest label in Nashville."

Dungan adds, "Everyone here at Capitol/EMI is beyond thrilled to represent Alan Jackson. A true American original, a future Hall of Famer, and an artist whose work to date is not only commercially successful, but is of historical cultural significance. We are honored, and we are jacked!"