George Jones celebration concert in Alabama adds 2 more country legends

George Jones celebration concert in Alabama adds 2 more country legends

Travis Tritt and Wynonna have been added to a star-studded, sold-out concert celebrating one of country music’s biggest legends, “Still Playin’ Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones.”

Set for April 25 at Huntsville, Ala. arena Von Braun Center, the lineup also boasts previously announced artists Brad Paisley, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, Justin Moore, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Michael Ray, Sam Moore, Trace Adkins, Tracy Byrd and Tracy Lawrence.

Jones is perhaps country’s greatest balladeer. The Texas native’s classic hits include “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Tender Years” and heartbreaker supreme “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

The “Still Playin’ Possum” concert takes place 10 years after Jones died, at age 81. The title is a reference to Jones’ nickname, Possum. At the show, each artist will cover two of Jones’ songs onstage. The concert, which sold-out two weeks after being announced, is being filmed for a TV special to be broadcast later.

Nancy Jones, the singer’s window, was married to him for 30 years. She says at the concert, Wynonna and Jamey Johnson will team-up for one of George’s iconic duets with Tammy Wynette. The brilliant “Golden Ring” perhaps? We’ll just have to wait and see.

In addition to being successful musical collaborators, Wynette and George Jones were married back then. That relationship is depicted in Showtime’s TV series “George & Tammy,”

In a statement regarding the “Still Playin’ Possum” concert, Nancy Jones says, “I cannot believe the love that everyone has shown me since making this announcement. I have been reading comments on Facebook and the fans truly loved George. People are coming from Scotland, Canada and from all over the United States to hear these great artists and friends singing George’s songs. So thank you to the fans for showing up and showing Nashville and the world that George’s music will continue to live on.”

Country singer George Jones is shown with his wife, Nancy Jones, in Feb. 1984 (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nancy personally called up each artist to ask if they’d perform at the concert. She’s also currently working on a book about her life with George.

The night before “Still Playing Possum,” Nancy Jones will host a VIP dinner at the VBC Ballroom. Tickets are $200 via ticketmaster.com and include a sit-down meal and photo op with Nancy as well as “some surprises,” she says.

“I want to see all the fans. I want to thank them. I want to shake their hand. Without them, George’s career would never have been the same,” Nancy says. “They were loyal, and I want to show the loyalty back.”

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