18 Years Later, Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” Important As Ever

It’s hard to believe 18 years have passed since 9/11.

Like many, I remember exactly where I was when I saw the news. These memories still feel fresh and the legacies left by the innocent lost lives and first responders will never be forgotten.

After the attacks, Alan Jackson took some time to reflect and wrote a song that came from the heart and soul, putting the emotions of many into words we couldn’t find. The country great woke up at 4am weeks after the attack with the chorus in his head. Later that Sunday he sat down and finished “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”

The song isn’t some chest-thumping “USA USA USA!” country song you blast while half-canned on July 4th. The song gets to the root of the human spirit. Eighteen years later, with so much hate and anger in the world, those poetic words about love Alan Jackson put on paper are as important as ever.

Never forget the heroes from that day.

Opry performance

CMA Awards performance 18 years ago.

A beer bottle on a dock

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A beer bottle on a dock