Kane Brown Reveals the Heartbreaking Family Story Behind His New Song, “When You Forget”
Kane Brown’s much-anticipated album The High Road is a powerhouse collection of 18 tracks that showcase his signature blend of country, pop, and R&B. While the album is packed with hits, fans are discovering that its final song carries a uniquely emotional weight. Titled “When You Forget,” this deeply personal ballad is, as Kane himself revealed, the only track on the record that brought him to tears during the writing process.
A Tribute to the “Hardest Working Man I Know”
In a candid and heartfelt Instagram post, Kane Brown opened up about the inspiration behind the song: his grandfather’s ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Sharing a treasured photo of his grandparents, he spoke movingly about the man who shaped his life and the painful experience of watching his memories slip away.
“The hardest working man I know and will ever know! I hope I can be half the man he is today,” Kane wrote with deep admiration.
He went on to describe the emotional toll of turning this personal struggle into music. “This is the only song on the album that brought some tears writing. He’s been forgetting some things lately. It’s a terrible disease (Alzheimer’s), and I hope everyone going through the same thing my family and I are can relate to this song.”
His message ended with a simple, powerful declaration of love: “I love you, pepaw.”
A Song That Resonates with the Whole Family
Kane Brown has long woven his family life into his music, and The High Road features beautiful duets with his wife, Katelyn, underscoring the central role his loved ones play in his artistry. But “When You Forget” strikes a particularly raw and vulnerable chord—not just for Kane but for his entire family.
In a recent interview with Holler, Kane shared how deeply the song touched his grandmother. “Getting to call my Nana and tell her that we were going to write a song about him… you could hear her tearing up over the phone,” he recalled. The song’s power lies in its ability to serve as a tribute that the whole family can share, even amidst the sadness.
Already, the track’s raw honesty and emotional depth are making it a standout on the album, which dropped just last week. Fans are connecting with its message on a profound level, as it gives voice to the difficult, often unspoken heartbreak that countless families endure when a loved one battles Alzheimer’s or dementia.
It’s real, it’s powerful, and it’s a beautiful reminder that music can provide comfort and connection in our most challenging moments. Grab a tissue and listen to this moving tribute below. Let us know in the comments how this incredible song touched you.
