Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Joshua John “JDub” Waldrop—a young boy that Alan Jackson befriended in 2015—who passed away on Jan. 24 after battling cancer.

Alan met JDub, who was 5 years old at the time and one of his biggest fans, in 2015 when he became aware that the little boy was battling Stage 4 hepatoblastoma—liver and lung cancer. The superstar arranged for little JDub to be picked up and driven to the Country Music Hall of Fame where the two met and sang together.

Alan took to his Twitter account to say goodbye to the little guy with a video post of the two jamming to the song “I’ll Fly Away,” and a caption that read, “My little buddy JDub flew up to heaven. We will always remember this day. Sending his family prayers for peace & comfort.”

My little buddy JDub flew up to heaven. We will always remember this day. Sending his family prayers for peace & comfort pic.twitter.com/ifVZM9Ae9z

— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) January 26, 2017

Nash Country Daily was there when Alan and JDub met at the Hall of Fame in June 2015 and we offer a look back at that special day in remembrance of JDub.

NCD offers our deepest condolences to JDub’s family and friends, including Alan.