Singer George Jones knew that his final show was his very last one. It was filled with his marvelous classics like "She Thinks I Still Care" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today." His devoted fans were in the dark about Jones' worsening condition, however. The beloved country music star passed away at age 81 in 2013 from respiratory failure. Per Taste Of Country, "When he left the Knoxville Coliseum stage on April 6, he knew he was finished, but fans anxious for the remaining 18 dates on his ambitious 2013 tour had no idea."
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His wife, Nancy, reportedly asked him why he said yes to all those tour dates. Jones said, "''Cause I'm not going to be here. I'm going to agree to anything they ask. Promise me you'll make a tribute show out of it, and I'll see it from heaven.'"
What a heartbreaking and poignant reply from the legendary singer.
George Jones Got His Wish For A Posthumous Tribute Concert
Nancy Jones abided by her husband's wish for a tribute concert. Dozens of performers took the stage in his memory. Sadly, some of them are themselves no longer with us. After Jones' last show, few people realized that he was not doing well physically. Even another legend, the amazing George Strait, had no inkling about the actual state of Jones' health. Maybe that is in part because despite how he felt, Jones was a real trouper to the very end.
Per Taste Of Country via Secret History of Country Music, Jones' robust spirit never flagged. "'I just did my last show," Jones told his wife on the bus after that Knoxville show. "And I gave 'em hell.'"
The Singer Was Deeply Mourned By Country Music Stars And The Public Alike
There was a memorial for George Jones at the Grand Ole Opry. It was truly sincere and heartfelt. Vince Gill gave in to his emotions. He and Patty Loveless were singing "Go Rest High on That Mountain," and he just could not help himself. Countless others in and beyond the music industry shared Gill's grief.
George Jones left a legacy of great country music that fans will cherish for generations.
