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.”  …

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

May 7, 2021

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Alan-Jackson and Mother, Ruth

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.”

YouTube video

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.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.