25 Years After 9/11, Darryl Worley Asks America: “Have You Forgotten?”

When Darryl Worley performed “Have You Forgotten?” at the Grand Ole Opry during a Friday night salute to veterans in January 2003, radio stations began airing the live performance. The response helped carry the song from the Opry stage into the studio and, eventually, to the top of the country charts.

More than two decades later, Worley is revisiting the song as the nation marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks. A new recording arrives Friday, September 11, 2026, through Big Machine Label Group.

Alongside the release, he is asking radio stations across the country to play the new version at exactly 9:11 a.m. on September 11. The invitation extends to country, news/talk and stations of every format, giving listeners an opportunity to pause and remember together.

Written by Worley and Wynn Varble in the aftermath of 9/11, “Have You Forgotten?” was officially released in March 2003. It spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song has taken more than one form. In June 2023, Worley released “Have We Forgotten”, a rewrite with Wynn Varble and Noah Gordon that replaced the original lyrics with a call for Americans to find common ground despite political differences. The 2003 song focused on remembering 9/11, while the 2023 version addressed how Americans treat one another. The 2026 recording returns to “Have You Forgotten?” for the attacks’ 25th anniversary, pairing its tribute to those lost and those who serve with a nationwide invitation to remember together.

“The song ‘Have You Forgotten?’ has become an authentic piece of American history that I believe will stand the test of time,” Worley says. “In my opinion, it may be more relevant now than it ever has been.”

“It was never meant to be any kind of political statement. The song is a tribute written to honor those who serve. We hoped it would call attention to the intense sacrifices made by the amazing men and women of the U.S. military and our dedicated first responders across this great nation.”

Worley’s support for service members has also taken him overseas through USO and other military tours. A native of Savannah, Tennessee, he has built a catalog that includes “I Miss My Friend,” “Awful, Beautiful Life,” “Second Wind” and “A Good Day to Run.” His performances for troops have extended that connection beyond the radio and concert stage.

“We are honored to join with Darryl Worley to shine light on 25 years since our country was attacked with his amazing song, ‘Have You Forgotten?’” says Big Machine Label Group president Scott Borchetta. “We will never forget and this song is the perfect reminder of how our country came together, indivisible, as Americans.”

For Worley, the anniversary brings the focus back to the people the song was written to honor.

“We also created the song in remembrance of those lost in the carnage of 9/11,” he says. “It is a simple reminder not to forget where we have been and what we’ve been through.”

The new recording of “Have You Forgotten?” will be available for streaming and download September 11.

For more information, visit darrylworley.com. For radio airplay information, contact George Briner at [email protected].