What a tribute to the Possum.
After the legendary George Jones passed away on April 26, 2013, a memorial service was held at the Grand Ole Opry House a few days later, on May 2, featuring an all-star lineup to salute one of country music’s most iconic voices.
Speakers that day included former First Lady Laura Bush and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. And legends like Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, the Oak Ridge Boys and Ronnie Milsap all performed tributes to Jones.
Then of course there was Alan Jackson performing an emotional cover of Jones’s biggest hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
But one of the most emotional performances of the day came from Vince Gill and Patty Loveless, who took the stage to perform Vince’s heartbreaking “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”
An already personal song for Vince, who started writing the song after the death of Keith Whitley in 1989 but didn’t finish it until his brother passed away in 1993, Gill fought back tears during the performance and had to lean on Patty Loveless to help him make it through the emotional tribute.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the building as the audience rose to their feet during the heartbreaking tribute to a country music legend – and you’ll probably want to have the tissues handy if you’re watching it again today.
Jamey Johnson Pays Tribute To George Jones With Cover Of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”
I think Jamey Johnson may have answered his own question with this one…
While it’s obviously impossible to fill the shoes of somebody like the legendary George Jones, Jamey Johnson proved once again that he’s one of the best voices in country music last night while paying tribute to the Possum.
An all-star lineup came out last week to Huntsville, Alabama for Still Playin’ Possum: Music and Memories of George Jones, to honor the country music icon on the 10-year anniversary of his death.
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Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, Lorrie Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Justin Moore and a ton of others were on hand to pay tribute to the Possum.
But Jamey Johnson stole the show from the very beginning.
Jamey opened the show with a jaw-dropping cover of Jones’ 1985 hit “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” a song that mourns the irreplaceable legends of country music like Waylon, Willie and Johnny Cash. It’s a refrain that’s often used today as country music has strayed more and more from its traditional roots:
“Who’s gonna fill their shoes?Who’s gonna stand that tall?Who’s gonna play the OpryAnd the Wabash cannonball?Who’s gonna give their heart and soulTo get to me and you?Lord, I wonder who’s gonna fill their shoes”
Well obviously George Jones is another one whose shoes nobody will ever be able to fill. But when it comes to incredible voices in traditional country music, there’s nobody better than Jamey Johnson to step up and fill the void left by the loss of so many legends.
Luckily we have guys like him to keep the sound of real country music alive and well.
Gotta think the Possum would be proud of this one.
