Country artist performs emotional song about Alzheimer's to Lakeville memory care facility

A song written by a country music artist is making waves on the internet and raising millions of dollars for Alzheimer’s in the process.

The Moments Memory Care in Lakeville, Minnesota extended the musician a thank you for all he’s doing and, to their surprise, he responded in a huge way.

The song is moving and even more so when you see he’s helping make a difference. Saturday, he’ll be singing a private performance for those who, like his mother, are suffering from the disease.

His name is Jay Allen and his mother’s diagnosis at 51 years old was one of the hardest moments of his life.

“You can’t prepare yourself for your own momma to walk in the door and look right through you and not know who you are really,” he said. “That crushed me. That broke my heart.”

Allen did not let it break him, and he knew that country music was the one thing that could help.

“We were slow-dancing to a fast song, and two steps in she takes a deep breath, she looks at me and she says ‘Jay, I’ve missed you. I love you so much.’ I was just like, ‘What?’ That look that was in her eyes, she was there. It was gone. That inspired me to write that song.”

That song about his mother called “Blank Stares” has blown up on social media. Among the hearts it stole was Robyn Johnson of The Moments Memory Care in Lakeville.

“There is so much emotion and passion in Jay when he sings that song that it just stirred me,” Johnson said. “And I found myself – and I think of myself as relatively hardened – I found myself with tears in my eyes watching it and moved by his message.”

That is why Johnson extended the invitation to Allen for if he’s ever nearby. Allen said he would stop by and sing.

“The fact that Jay is shining a light on this disease and helping broaden the lens so more people can be aware of how important it is that we as a country come together as a country to support the individuals going through this is amazing,” she said.

“The coolest thing I hear, messages on Facebook or whatever, is thank you for putting into words what I can never say,” Allen said. “I feel like we’re part of a community. A lot of hurting people out there feel like I’ve just become a mouth piece. You’re not alone.”

Allen is from Iowa, and when his family heard he was going to be singing at The Moments Saturday, they said they’d be there. His mom, dad and siblings are on their way to Minnesota Friday night to hear him sing.