PHOTOS: Remembering The Possum • George Jones Dead at 81 |
Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and other living legends of country music are taking George Jones’ death hard, an unsurprising reaction to the loss of an artist who many, including Dolly Parton, call the finest singer of all time.
“My heart is absolutely broken,” Parton, who paired with Jones on the song “The Blues Man,” said on her website. “George Jones was my all time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world. My heart goes out to Nancy and the rest of his family.”
Lynn called it a sad day for country music in a statement released by her rep.
“It’s a sad day for country music and a great loss for those of us who knew him,” Lynn. “I was blessed to call George my friend. He was one of the best country singers there ever was… It’s a sad, sad day.”
Haggard called Jones the “greatest singer of all time” and posted photo of him and his friend.
The world may have lost the greatest country singer that ever lived. twitter.com/merlehaggard/s…
— Merle Haggard (@merlehaggard) April 26, 2013
Mel Tillis remembered his old friend as well. “I met George when he came to Nashville and we became good friends,” he said. “I’m really going to miss him. The world has lost the greatest singer to have ever lived.”
Kenny Rogers, another country star known for pumping out hit duets, posted a note along with Jones’ most famous song.
Sad morning losing the great George Jones. He will always be one of the most amazing singers who ever lived. youtube.com/watch?v=CYQViY…
— Kenny Rogers (@_KennyRogers) April 26, 2013
Alabama called Jones an “amazing friend… George was an all time great in country music and it won’t be the same without him. We’re thankful for his life and we’ll miss him very much.”
Reba McEntire sent her prayers out to Jones’ family as well. “My prayers go out to Nancy Jones today. Her partner and husband George Jones passed this morning. We’ll miss George very much. RIP.”
Vince Gill, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, posted a photo on Twitter.
.@vgcom & @gjpossum ow.ly/i/1YLtu
— Vince Gill (@VGcom) April 26, 2013