Some songs in country music are as legendary as the people who sang them. One of those classics is "He Stopped Loving Her Today." Per the Library of Congress, it is considered "the 'quintessential country song' and the 'greatest country song ever.'" Penned by Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock, the two songwriters had a tough time getting the final version down. Then George Jones had difficulty singing it.
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According to the outlet via Jones' autobiography, "For some reason, the melody to 'Help Me Make It Through the Night,' the Kris Kristofferson classic, stuck in my head. So I sang Curly and Bobby's lyrics with Kristofferson's copyrighted melody. Billy [producer Billy Sherrill] had a fit and we had a fight.... It was a long time before I sang the right melody."
George Jones was mired in problems at that point in his life and career. Substance abuse, failing to appear for concerts, and financial and marital woes were getting the best of him. But this song seemed to transform the gifted singer's fortunes. Released in 1980, it soared to number one. It was honored by the Grammys, ACM, and CMA.
Now it is being reissued with the voices of Jones and Alan Jackson to mark the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry.
The New Version Underscores the Song's Emotional Theme
Per Country Now, this poignant new cover "begins with Jones' stirring 1993 live performance of his signature hit ...and transitions seamlessly into Jackson's emotional rendition from Jones' 2013 funeral...." What could be sadder and more memorable than that?
The song is steeped in melancholy to begin with. It's about a man who says he will love the woman in his life until the day he departs this earthly existence. Even though she leaves him, he never forgets his eternal love for her over the years. In fact, he cherishes the memory of this woman to his final dying moment.
The track exemplifies country music storytelling at its finest. It also showcases heartache and romantic disappointment, two common country themes.
Album of Classic Country Songs Marks Grand Ole Opry's 100th Anniversary
Opry 100: Country's Greatest Songs will drop on Friday, November 7. The album commemorates the centennial of this revered country music institution. Per the outlet, it contains "20 never-before-released live recordings from its legendary stage." They include "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash, "Tennessee Whiskey" by Luke Combs, and "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. plus many more.
