Introduction
Jeff Cook’s Legacy Lives On: Alabama Fans Flock to Fort Payne for June Jam Revival and Caregiver Tribute
Fort Payne, Alabama is once again the heart of country music, as fans flood the town to celebrate the long-awaited return of June Jam, the iconic concert festival led by country supergroup Alabama. After a 26-year hiatus, the beloved event makes its return not only to reignite the music but also to honor the late Jeff Cook—a founding member of the band—and his enduring legacy of love, resilience, and service.
The festivities began with a deeply personal tribute at Cook Castle, the home Jeff shared with his wife Lisa Cook. Their love story, which began in the early 1990s when Lisa was a flight attendant and Jeff was topping the charts, became one of country music’s most cherished romances. They wed the night before June Jam in 1995, and the event became a permanent fixture in their lives and marriage.
Even as Jeff faced a grueling battle with Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed in 2012, he continued to tour with Alabama until 2017. As the illness progressed, Lisa discovered firsthand the severe shortage of trained, compassionate caregivers. In response, the couple launched the Jeff and Lisa Cook Foundation just over a year before Jeff’s passing in 2022, with a mission to inspire, train, and support caregivers in North Alabama and beyond.
Saturday’s event at Cook Castle raised funds for the foundation, ensuring Jeff’s mantra—“Never let the music stop, or the party end”—lives on through acts of kindness and care. Lisa, who kept her final promise to Jeff to be okay, now pours her strength into helping others walking the same path.
Meanwhile, the June Jam concert, held at the VFW Fairgrounds, featured surviving Alabama members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, joined by a powerful lineup including The Oak Ridge Boys, Jamey Johnson, Neil McCoy, and more. It was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of a legacy, a love story, and a promise fulfilled.
As the music played, fans knew Jeff Cook was still with them—in every note, every memory, and every life touched by the foundation that bears his name.