Alan Jackson knows there's plenty of great music to be found on country radio, but he misses the "real roots-y, traditional stuff" -- real country music. The legend admits he's sad about the lack of "country stuff" and finds himself wondering if it'll ever come back.

"I don't know if it'll ever be back on mainstream radio," Jackson tells the Baltimore Sun. "You can't get it played anymore. It's always been that constant pop-country battle. I don't think it's ever going to change."

"It's not that I'm against all that's out there," he assures. "There's some good music, good songwriting and good artists out there, but there's really no country stuff left."

Few will call Jackson anything but country, and his upcoming bluegrass album is said to be "rootsier" than he's ever been before. 'The Bluegrass Album' will be available on Sept. 24. It's his second album on EMI Nashville.

The debate about what qualifies as country and what doesn't has never been more intense, as stars from outside the genre -- like Tom Petty -- comment on an already hot topic. Jackson says he doesn't hate the music that's found on country radio today, but wishes a more traditional sound was better represented.

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