Making her return for a very special performance.
Last February, Kyle Jacobs, the singer-songwriter husband of country singer and former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler, was found dead at the couple’s Nashville home in February, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
His death was ultimately ruled a suicide, with no drugs or alcohol found in his system, though the autopsy report did note that Jacobs had a history of “pseudoseizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, elevated liver enzymes, and chronic alcohol use.”
The 49-year old songwriter, originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, has written hits like “More Than a Memory,” which was recorded by Garth Brooks, and Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” along with songs that have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Clay Walker, Trace Adkins and many others.
In 2014, he won an ACM Award as a producer on Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck.”
Jacobs married Kellie Pickler in 2011, and the couple starred together in the CMT reality show I Love Kellie Pickler.
Understandably, Pickler has remained largely out of the public eye in the wake of the tragedy, sharing only a short statement with People a few months after her husband’s death:
“One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still.’ I have chosen to heed his advice.
Thank you to my family, friends, and supporters, for the countless letters, calls, and messages that you have sent my way.
It has truly touched my soul and it’s helping me get through the darkest time in my life. As many of you have told me, you are all in my prayers.”
But now, she’s returning to the stage for a very special reason.
It was announced this week that Pickler would be joining the lineup for Walkin’ After Midnight: An All-Star Tribute To Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on April 22.
Along with Pickler, the show will include performances from names like Wynonna, Ashley McBryde, Tanya Tucker, Pam Tillis, Kristin Chenoweth, Natalie Grant and many more performing the music of the country music legend.
And it’s not really surprising that Pickler is willing to return to the stage to honor the legendary Patsy Cline: She’s often spoke of the influence that Patsy had on her, and she even performed “Walkin’ After Midnight” during her time on American Idol.
And who can forget the time she brought a bartender to tears over in Japan singing one of Patsy’s classic hits?
It’s good to see that Kellie’s getting back to what she loves to do. As somebody who lost my fianceé a year ago, I unfortunately know how hard it can be to keep going through things like this. But it will be great to see Kellie back on stage once again – and what better occasion than to pay tribute to one of country music’s finest?
