“He Stopped Loving Her Today,” recorded in 1979 and released in April 1980 as the lead single from George Jones’s album I Am What I Am, is widely regarded as one of the greatest country songs ever. Initially, Jones was hesitant about the song—he felt the melody was too mournful and the lyrics too bleak. But producer Billy Sherrill believed in it, pushing forward until it reached the airwaves.
The song soared to No. 1, becoming Jones’s first chart-topper in six years and earning him the 1980 Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Its lasting impact has been recognized by its preservation in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry and countless polls naming it country music’s finest.
Fast forward to May 2, 2013: during George Jones’s funeral at the Grand Ole Opry, Alan Jackson stepped up to honor the legend with a stirring tribute. Removing his hat in a moment of solemn respect, Jackson began singing the opening lines—“He said, ‘I’ll love you ’til I die’…”—and instantly, the room fell silent.
His clear, heartfelt delivery echoed the deep connection he and so many felt to Jones and the song’s timeless story of love and loss.
In that quiet chapel, Jackson reminded everyone why country music’s heart beats strongest through storytelling and shared emotion. By choosing Jones’s signature ballad, he paid tribute not only to the man himself but to the universal themes of love, grief, and remembrance that resonate with every listener.
Years later, that performance still moves people, a lasting testament to George Jones’s legacy and Alan Jackson’s heartfelt homage.
