<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> <P> As of September 2015, the song has sold 395,000 digital copies in the United States . </P> <P> Critical response to the single was positive . Deborah Evans Price (with Billboard) remarked "A multitude of songs have been written and recorded in the wake of September 11, but none captures the myriad emotions unleashed by the terrorist attacks on an unsuspecting nation more perfectly than Jackson's eloquent ballad". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of the All Music Guide remarked, "Given the enormity of the subject--it's simply not something that can be summarized in song--it's a surprisingly effective and moving tune". Jackson's reaction to "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" was this: "I think it was Hank Williams who said,' God writes the songs, I just hold the pen .' That's the way I felt with this song ." He considered the song's success personally overwhelming and uncomfortable due to its subject matter . </P>

Where were you when the world stopped turning