Teary-Eyed Alan Jackson Honors 9/11 Victims With Performance Of “Where Were You”

Published Sep 9, 2025 By Miranda Raye
Alan Jackson delivers emotional performance of

In 2006, five years after the September 11th attacks, Alan Jackson delivered an emotional rendition of “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) in New York City. (Photo Credit: Vegard Kårvand / YouTube)

Alan Jackson Coped With The Tragedy Of 9/11 By Writing A Song

Country music superstar Alan Jackson was devastated by the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. He eventually channeled those feelings into a song, which we now know as “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”

Jackson sang “Where Were You” for the first time live at the CMA Awards on November 7, 2001, less than two months after the 9/11 attacks.

Alan Jackson performs his 9/11 tribute song "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"Alan Jackson delivers his first live performance of “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” at the 2001 CMA Awards. (Photo Credit: CMA Country Music Association / YouTube)

Years later, in a video filmed for the CMA Awards‘ 50th anniversary, Jackson looked back on that emotional debut performance:

“It was a nervous performance, of course, doing it for the first time live in front of everybody, and television.”

Jackson added, “In retrospect, now I realize it was a good thing for the show and for all people who’ve told me how much the song had affected them.”

Teary-Eyed Alan Jackson Honors 9/11 Victims With Performance Of "Where Were You"

Although the song was a major success and topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for five weeks, Jackson had been hesitant to release it:

“I thought we’d perform it for a little while and then it would just go away, you know, cause I didn’t feel like people would want to keep thinking about that,” he said in an interview on his official YouTube channel.

Reflecting on how the song stuck with American years after 9/11, Jackson said:

“I mean even today I see people waiting on that song in the crowd. Some places they’ll be on their feet several minutes after you finish the song.”

Alan Delivered A Heartbreaking Version Of “Where Were You” Five Years After 9/11

The song continues to tug at Jackson’s heart. Five years later, he got choked up while singing it while visiting The Today Show.

The year was 2006, and Jackson dedicated “Where Were You” to those who died on that tragic September day five years prior:

“I’d like to do this song especially for all the people that died five years ago, the policemen, the firemen, the civilians, Flight 93, and the Pentagon.”

Jackson often had to close his eyes to fight off his tears. The audience, with firefighters and military members in their presence, waved American flags back and forth like lighters at a concert.

Head below to watch Alan Jackson’s powerful 9/11 tribute performance. You may want to grab a box of tissues first, because it’s emotional to watch.