On Monday (12/10), Jackson is slated to perform at the Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions awards ceremony at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event, which airs on Dec. 15 on NBC-TV, announces the magazine's selection for Sportsman of the Year. (The nominees are Lance Armstrong, Shane Battier, Barry Bonds, Ray Bourque, Jennifer Capriati and Shaquille O’Neal.) Enrique Iglesias is also scheduled to appear.

Jackson's new record "Drive" (Arista Nashville) is expected to hit stores on Jan. 15. The album features live and studio versions of the single "Where Were You," which Jackson wrote in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The track sits at No. 6 on the current Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks, No. 36 on the magazine’s Hot 100 Airplay chart, and No. 39 on its Hot 100 chart.

Produced by Jackson's longtime producer Keith Stegall, the 12-song "Drive" features nine tunes written or co-written by Jackson.

In other Jackson news, his version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" appears on "Country Christmas 2001," an exclusive to Target stores. It sells for $4.99.

The year has been a landmark one for the veteran of the George Strait Country Music Festival. Soon after he released his 10th album, "When Somebody Loves You" (Arista Nashville), Jackson's total sales surpassed the 35 million mark, and the track "Where I Come From" became his 28th No. 1 song, his 20th as a songwriter.