There’s a lot of powerful country music songs that mean a lot to many people, but over the last 20 years there’s probably one that touched everyone in a special way – “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson.

Alan wrote the song just weeks after the tragic events of September 11th 2001, and played it for the very first time at the CMA Awards, on November 7th of that year.

While he was hesitant to even record it at first, since then Alan has realized that “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” is a comfort to many, many people…and with the 20th anniversary of 9/11 coming up, the song’s importance is as strong as ever.

During the 2021 National Memorial Day Concert, actor and former firemen Steve Buscemi narrated a segment that reflected on the lives lost on that day in September…

Following that presentation, Alan performed his iconic song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”…

Actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-hosted the 32nd annual National Memorial Day Concert on PBS which honored our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The 90 minute concert included performances from Alan Jackson, Mickey Guyton, Vince Gill, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, Sara Bareilles, and Denyce Graves with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Watch the entire special here…

Photo Credit: Russ Harrington