Jay Allen reminisced on a moment he shared with his mother that proved the power of music.

The Iowa-born singer-songwriter – who said he’s from a “blink and you miss it” town – brought his parents to a since-closed bar and music venue when they visited him in Nashville, Tennessee. His mother had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 51, and Allen said he noticed she appeared less present than usual. But when she saw the band performing on stage at the old saloon, Allen noticed a change.

“I experienced the power of music for the first time when that glossy look in her eyes went away. I pulled her to the front of the venue right in front of the stage, and we started slow dancing to a fast song. And for a second, I felt my mom come back,” Allen said in a recent conversation with iHeartCountry. “She took a deep breath and leaned in, and she said, ‘Jay, I miss you. It’s so good to be here.’ Right then, I saw the power of music. I saw the power of love.”

Allen has since become an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness and raised more than $100 million in an effort to fight the disease. His mother lost her battle with Alzheimer’s two years and nine months after her diagnosis in 2019. Next, Allen is part of a star-studded lineup at the 27th annual Power of Love gala, hosted on Friday (May 10) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Keep Memory Alive announced the lineup last month, including Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox and Cassadee Pope. This year’s philanthropic event – which supports the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and its efforts to support those affected by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis – will honor country megastar Blake Shelton, who also mentored Allen on The Voice and has remained a steadfast supporter of his career.

“What’s really powerful is when people come together to share their stories, share how they’ve been affected and share what they’ve done personally and what you can do to help fight against it and raise awareness for it. I am more than honored to open up this event and share my story and share this song,” Allen said, referencing the heartfelt ballad he wrote in his mother’s honor. He added, “I truly believe she’s much happier now. Healed, and in a better place. I sense her — as cheesy as it sounds — I sense her almost every day, even in the little things. In my marriage, in my career. It’s cool just to feel like I got an angel with me every day.”

Allen wrote “Blank Stares” for his mother after receiving a voicemail from her on his birthday. He noticed that about halfway through the message, “she’s fumbling through her words,” and “forgets why she even called.” Allen kept the voicemail and brought it to a songwriting session with writer Jason Nix. Allen played that voicemail for Nix and explained that he wanted to write a song for his mom. It was “off to the races.” Allen said it “was an eye-opening experience,” beginning “from a painful place, and then started spider-webbing into something beautiful.” He noticed how his story and “Blank Stares” connected with others who have lived through similar experiences.

“Everyone just stood up and embraced each other and cried, and that night, a couple million bucks was raised,” Allen said as he remembered the first gala he ever played to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s. “That’s when I realized this is a purpose for me. It was truly personally healing to me to see, if I’m brave enough to share what I’ve gone through, what I’m going through, then that can make other people feel not alone. It creates a safe place. And so, I’ve just done that ever since.”

Now, Allen believes “the point of music” is to use personal experiences and art “to affect the world in a positive way.” He observes it, too, when he watches his wife, fellow singer-songwriter Kylie Morgan, perform and make an impact on the girls in the crowd. “I’m really inspired by her and her songwriting ability. …Now, Kylie and I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and we’ll write a song on the couch, and you never know where that song’s gonna go, (or) whose life it’s gonna touch.”\

Lori