<P> The day before the show, CMT had a brief note on its web site that Jackson would be introducing the new song during the awards telecast . The next night, after an introduction from the show's host, Vince Gill, Jackson performed "Where Were You" seated on a stool, with an orchestra and backing singers behind him . At the conclusion of the five - minute - long song, the audience gave him an immediate standing ovation . This performance, along with the Vince Gill introduction, is used as the song's music video . </P> <P> The next morning, many stations already were playing Jackson's new song after taping it from the broadcast . Several pop - oriented stations, including one in New York, started to play it as well . Based almost entirely on that unsolicited airplay, "Where Were You" debuted at number 25 on the Billboard country chart the week ending November 24, 2001, the highest debut since "The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks debuted at number 19 in 1991 . A week later, with Arista finally having serviced a promotional single to radio, it jumped to number 12 . On the December 29 country singles chart, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" was the number 1 song . It had taken only six weeks to get there, the fastest rise to the top in four years . The song spent five weeks at the top, and it also became a Top 40 pop hit, peaking at number 28 . At the time, it was Jackson's biggest country and pop hit . </P> <P> Jackson's record label determined that it could not manufacture a commercial single fast enough to meet demand . Instead, Arista pushed up the release date for the new album, Drive, from May to January 15 . Arista also chose to include both the studio version and the live CMA Awards version on the new album . The pent - up demand for "Where Were You" helped propel the album to the top of both the Billboard country and pop album charts, becoming Jackson's first number 1 on the main album chart . It spent five weeks at the top . </P> <P> The song was never sold as a benefit song, and it is unknown if proceeds from the song's success were contributed to 9 / 11 - related benefit organizations . Management for Jackson only claimed at the time of the song release that Jackson "has no official ties to any nonprofit group," and he preferred "to make his donations privately ." </P>

Where were you were when the world stopped turning lyrics