The lasting friendship of Alan Jackson and George Jones
Alan Jackson said that George Jones’ song “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was possibly one of the most influential songs of his own career, calling it “as near a perfect country song as you could ever imagine.” Shortly before his death in 2013, Jones wrote a letter to Jackson that Jackson later shared with “Taste of Country.” In the letter, Jones thanked Jackson for the bond that they shared. “You have been a true friend and I love you for that. All these years of you and Denise spending time with Nancy and I is so much appreciated,” he wrote. “Thanks for always being there for me.” Along with his appreciation, Jones also extended an invitation to Jackson to perform with him in a show slated for November of 2013. And while Jackson would have surely accepted, Jones tragically died before the opportunity arose.
In 2018, Jackson shared a sweet photo of the two together on Facebook to celebrate his late friend’s birthday. “‘He stopped loving her today’ but we’ll never stop loving him,” he captioned the touching tribute. Jackson has continued to mourn the loss of his dear friend in the years following Jones’ death, often taking the opportunity to post on Jones’ birthday. While they may not have gotten as much time together as they would have liked, the time they shared sure was sweet.
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