Alan Jackson has officially released “You’ll Always Be My Baby (Written for Daughters’ Weddings).” The song, from his upcoming Where Have You Gone album, was written for his daughter Mattie’s wedding almost four years ago.

“I wrote the song for Mattie’s wedding the summer of 2017, but it was so hard to do. I told them, ‘I wrote this for all of you,’” Jackson said he told all of his daughters, including Ali and Dani as well.

Mattie married Ben Selecman in 2017. Tragically, Selecman died less than a year later, from injuries sustained in a boating accident.

Where Have You Gone is Jackson’s first album of new material in six years, but the record is still full of the traditional country music Jackson has always loved, and loves still.

“It’s a little harder country than even I’ve done in the past,” Jackson said of the project. “And it’s funny, I was driving and listening to the final mixes Keith [Stegall] sent me, and I started to tear up. I was surprised to get so overly emotional, but I just love this kind of music.”

The 62-year-old has remained consistent in the kind of music he has released for the past 35 years, and vows to never change.

“I never felt the need to chase anything different than I did,” Jackson reflected. “I just did what I liked and was lucky enough to connect with people who love the same kind of country music I do. My heart was in the real country music, that was what I wanted to do, and I thought if my career lasts three or four years, I’d be happy.”

Jackson performed “You’ll Always Be My Baby” at the 2021 ACM Awards, along with one of his earlier hits, “Drive (For Daddy Gene).” Watch his performance here.

Where have You Gone will be released on May 14. Pre-order the album here.*

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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Schmidt Relations / Russ Harrington