But if youāve paid attention⦠in recent years, that walk has slowed. And then, Alan chose to speak out. āI was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth ā a rare disease that affects the nerves and muscles. It makes it hard for me to keep my balance, and walking has become more difficult.ā This wasnāt a complaint. It was a courageous confession ā from a man who once stood tall before millions, now quietly fighting to stay upright on his own two feet.
āScroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.ā

Introduction
Thereās something about hearing Alan Jacksonās voice that feels like home ā like pulling an old denim jacket over your shoulders on a chilly morning. Itās comfort. Itās real. And in āWhere Have You Goneā, Alan taps into something even deeper: the quiet grief of watching the country music he loves slowly disappear.
This isnāt just a song ā itās a lament, a love letter, and a quiet rebellion all rolled into one.
Released in 2021, āWhere Have You Goneā isnāt flashy. Itās not chasing radio trends or trying to impress the streaming algorithms. Itās Alan, stripped down, with a steel guitar crying in the background and lyrics that ache with sincerity.
āSweet country music, where have you gone?
Born of the earth, hearty and strongā¦ā
You can almost hear him whisper it under his breath ā not as a complaint, but like a man staring at old photographs, wondering when the soul left the room.
What makes this song powerful isnāt just its message. Itās the way it makes you feel seen, especially if you grew up on country that was more front porch than pyrotechnics. Itās for the folks who still believe a song should say something real ā about heartbreak, family, faith, or just growing old with grace.
And thatās what Alan does best. He doesnāt just sing about life ā he lives it in every note.
This track may never top the charts like his earlier hits, but it does something rarer: it stops you, makes you think, and maybe even makes you a little proud to still care about the kind of country that raised you.
Video
Lyrics
Itās been way too long since you slipped away
I just canāt forget, I canāt pretend itās okay
No other one could ever replace you
So Iāll keep on believing and dreaming of you
Soft steel guitar, oh, how Iāve missed you
Words from the heart let me hear you again
Sounds from the soul fiddle I need you
Sweet country music where have you gone?
Sweet country music please come back home
The songs from your memory I cling to today
I wonāt let them leave me, I wonāt let them fade
I donāt care what they do, youāre still the one
And Iāll be here in Nashville ātil you return
Soft steel guitar, oh, how Iāve missed you
Words from the heart let me hear you again
Sounds from the soul fiddle I need you
Sweet country music where have you gone?
Sweet country music please come back home
Sweet country music where have you gone?
The airwaves are waiting, please come back home