Alan Jackson Honors His Late Mother with Touching New Track, ‘Where Her Heart Has Always Been’

Alan Jackson pays homage to his late mother, Ruth, in the brand new track “Where Her Heart Has Always Been.”  

The touching song features a recording of Mama Ruth reading from The Bible and was written by Jackson for her funeral. 

Throughout the song, the Georgia native reflects on the day his mother passed and comes to terms with the fact that she’s now in a better place. 

“I could hear the roses sing / A bluebird softly flapped its wings / The sun seemed brighter than it’s ever been,” Jackson sings on the chorus. “And now she’s dancing in the wind with her true love again / Where her heart has always been / Where her heart has always been.”

The just-released lyric video to accompany “Where Her Heart Has Always Been” includes personal family photos of Jackson, Mama Ruth and other members of the family. Mrs. Ruth Musick “Mama Ruth” Jackson passed away on January 7, 2017 at her home in Newnan, Georgia. She was 86 years old. Mama Ruth inspired many songs throughout Jackson’s career, including Precious Memories, a collection of gospel hymns that was originally created as a Mother’s Day gift to her. 

“Where Her Heart Has Always Been” is set to appear on Jackson’s forthcoming album, Where Have You Gone, which will be released on Friday, May 14. The project, produced by Jackson’s longtime collaborator, Keith Stegall, features a total of 21 tracks and serves as his 16th studio release. 

“When I write, I visualize back home and growing up,” the Country Music Hall of Fame member shares. “Real country songs are life and love and heartache, drinking and Mama and having a good time…but it’s the sounds of the instruments, too. The steel and acoustic guitar, the fiddle – those things have a sound and a tone…and getting that right, the way those things make you feel, that’s country, too.”

Also included on the album is the track,  “You’ll Always Be My Baby (Written for Daughters’ Weddings).” The recently-released music video features Jackson’s three daughters, Mattie, 30, Ali, 27, and Dani, 23.