Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Alan Jackson’s Where Have You Gone Is A Heartbreaking Loss

Alan Jackson's 'Where Have You Gone'
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

Alan Jackson’s “Where Have You Gone” is a heartbreaking loss but not of a lover. In the newest song penned by the Country Hall of Famer himself, he mourns the death of the sound of traditional country music – the steel and the acoustic and the fiddle. But at the same time, he was breathing life into it again. 

It was a cleverly written song that will make you think of a long-lost love until you hear the chorus, and it’s definitely old-school country. In an interview, Alan Jackson said that when he visualized home and growing up, real country songs were not just about life and love and heartache or drinking and Mama and having a good time. It was also about the sounds of the instruments, and getting those right make you feel that’s country, too. 

“Where Have You Gone” is the title track of the full album of the same name, his first since Angels and Alcohols in 2015. He dropped the track last April 2 (Friday) alongside two new tracks from titled “Way Down in My Whiskey” and “Things That Matter.” The album is composed of 21 tracks, 15 of which were solely self-penned by Alan Jackson. 

This album also shared a personal side of him with the song “You’ll Always Be My Baby,” which he wrote for his daughter Mattie’s wedding in the summer of 2017 according to his Facebook post. The song was the latest track ahead of his album release due on May 14, 2021. He also wrote a song about the passing of his mother titled Where Her Heart Has Always Been. 

Alan Jackson also covered “That’s the Way Love Goes” as a tribute to country music legend Merle Haggard. He also recorded songs written by Hailey Whitters, Daniel Tashian, and Scotty Emerick. Jackson enlisted the help of his longtime producer Keith Stegall to fully give life to these songs. 

He also shared a story while he was listening to the songs of the new album. According to him, it was just funny because he was driving when he listened to the final mixes that his producer Keith sent him and he just started to tear up. He was surprised that he was overly emotional, but he confessed that he just really loved this kind of music. 

UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe also had some words about the new album. According to her, Where Have You Gone was Alan’s experiences over the last six years, which he implemented in a poet’s perspective weaving together what she called a masterful love letter to country music. It was his story and the story of country music. It was once again a reminder of how Alan Jackson was truly one-of-a-kind. 

The album is currently on pre-order, but while we all wait, we can all take another listen to Alan Jackson songs especially Where Have You Gone in the video below. 

Latest Stories

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...