In September 2018, the country music community was shaken by the tragic loss of Ben Selecman, the 28-year-old son-in-law of renowned artist Alan Jackson. Selecman, an assistant district attorney in Nashville, suffered a fatal head injury after slipping while assisting a woman onto a boat in West Palm Beach, Florida. This unforeseen accident not only devastated his family but also left a profound impact on Jackson, who had welcomed Selecman as the son he never had.

For years, Jackson remained private about his grief. However, in a candid interview, he revealed the depth of his sorrow and the unique bond he shared with Selecman. “When he died, I was kind of pissed off at the world,” Jackson admitted. “I grew up with four older sisters, then Denise and our three girls. So having a son-in-law was having a boy I could fish with, work on cars and stuff with. It was tough losing him so suddenly—so jarring to all of us. I lost something I’d never had before.

This tragedy profoundly influenced Jackson’s music. During the grieving process, he shelved an album he had been working on, feeling disconnected from his art. It wasn’t until later that he found solace in creating again, leading to the release of “Where Have You Gone.” This album features deeply personal tracks, including “You’ll Always Be My Baby,” written for his daughters’ weddings, and “Where Her Heart’s Always Been,” a tribute to his late mother. Reflecting on the album, Jackson shared, “It’s even a little harder country than what I’ve done, but it’s what I’ve always dreamed about doing.”

The sudden loss of Selecman also had a profound effect on Jackson’s daughter, Mattie. Married for less than a year, she faced the unimaginable pain of losing her husband. In the years following the tragedy, Mattie channeled her grief into writing, authoring the book “Lemons on Friday,” which details her journey through loss and healing. She expressed, “I don’t believe God chose to inflict this pain on me. I think the world is broken and it’s sinful and bad things happen, and docks get wet, and people fall. That’s the way that it is.”

The Jackson family has shown remarkable resilience in the face of such heartache. Their openness about their experiences offers comfort to others navigating similar paths of grief. Through their candid reflections and creative expressions, they honor Ben Selecman’s memory, ensuring his legacy endures in their hearts and through their art.

For a more personal insight into Alan Jackson’s reflections on this loss, you can watch the following video: