George Jones Released “He Stopped Loving Her Today” In 1980
On April 14, 1980, George Jones released the first single off his album I Am What I Am. Truthfully, he was hesitant to record it at all.
The song’s producer, Billy Sherril, was once quoted saying, “[Jones] thought it was too long, too sad, too depressing and that nobody would ever play it. He hated the melody and wouldn’t learn it.”
But after two years, he finally recorded and released it. It quickly became his first solo No. 1 in six years.
The song revitalized Jones’ career, with his record label renewing his contract, winning a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, taking home the ACM Awards for Single and Song of the Year, and became the CMA Awards’ Song of the Year in 1980 and 1981.
In 2007, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and a year later was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Industry.
Jones’ song is highly considered by countless people as the best country song of all time.
Following Jones’ death in April 2013, the song re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 21.
Alan Jackson Performed “He Stopped Loving Her Today” At Jones’ Funeral
Jones passed away on April 26, 2013 and his funeral was held at the Grand Ole Opry, a stage The Possum loved, on May 2, 2013.
There, many tributes were performed including Vince Gill and Patty Loveless’ incredibly emotional rendition of “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” where Gill could barely finish the song after breaking down in tears.
Other performances were given by Wynonna Judd, Charlie Daniels, Randy Travis, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and the Oak Ridge Boys.
One of the most memorable moments of the funeral was when Alan Jackson performed “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He closed out the service and brought a tear to nearly every person in the iconic venue.
Jackson and Jones were friends for 25 years before The Possum unexpectedly passed away. Jackson even performed “He Stopped Loving Her Today” at his concert the day Jones died.
Hear George and Alan Sing The Song On One Track
Although they never got the chance to perform this song together, the Grand Ole Opry put Jones’ June 12, 1993 performance and Jackson’s rendition at his funeral on one track for a once-in-a-lifetime track.
They used Jones’ version first and showed off the now-vintage look of the Opry with the red barn backdrop. Nearly two minutes in, they perfectly spliced Jackson’s vocals in a long note, so you couldn’t even tell a different person was singing until he began solo.
We wish they would have sung this together on stage at some point, abut we will take this instead. Watch George Jones and Alan Jackson perform “he Stopped Loving Her Today” together for the first time, thanks to technology.
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