Alan Jackson Performs On ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alan Jackson loves tinkering with cars and boats and says he’s even worked on a few houses in his time.

But when a tornado destroyed a Tennessee family’s home and paralyzed a mother as she protected her children, the country singer picked up a guitar instead of a hammer.

“I’m a little rusty now. I thought I’d probably serve them better on the stage,” Jackson said recently.

Jackson performed a private concert in August for the volunteers who helped the Hawkins family of Hendersonville, Tenn., rebuild their lives.

The taped concert will air 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which focuses on the Hawkins’ ordeal.

Last April, a tornado destroyed Jerrod and Amy Hawkins’ house and almost took Amy’s life. She saved her sons, 6-year-old Jair and 4-year-old Cole, by lying on top of them in the basement, but was paralyzed by the falling debris. Her vertebrae and ribs were crushed, her lungs punctured, and she suffered serious head trauma.

Jackson, who learned about the family’s plight from news reports, performed several songs for the army of volunteers who built the Hawkins a wheelchair-accessible home.

“There have been a lot of people and companies and so forth donating their time and money. This is the easy part for me to walk out there and sing. It doesn’t take much effort on my part,” Jackson said.