Click here to see a photo gallery of "Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show" at Bridgestone Arena on Friday.Here, Dierks Bentley performs. (Photo: John Partipilio/The Tennessean)
11:11 p.m.: A tribute concert to George Jones would not be complete without “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Alan Jackson does the honors.
Then he invites Nancy Jones on stage and invites the audience to sing along.
“This is the greatest country song by the greatest country singer, Mr. George Jones,” Jackson says, as he again launches into the chorus of “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
“Thank you all so much,” he says, “George, we love you.”
Leaving the stage, his arm around Nancy Jones’ waist, Jackson stops to set the rocking chair on stage in motion. As the chair meant for Jones rocks slowly back and forth, the crowd claps and cheers begging for more.
But it is, indeed, the end.
George Jones (photo: Peyton Hoge).
George Jones’ tribute is complete, after almost four hours.
The audience has made it clear that, like his chair, it truly rocked.
11:09 p.m.: Stacy McCloud returns to the stage and invites the audience to recognize Nancy Jones.
“Everybody put your hands together, and let her feel that love,” McCloud says. “Ladies and gentlemen, George Jones’ better half, Nancy Jones. We love you.”
11 p.m.: We are nearing the end. Next up is George Strait. He sings one song – “Grand Tour” – by himself before being joined by Martina McBride for a duet of “Golden Ring.”
10:54 p.m.: Now on stage, Vince Gill says the hardest thing he ever had to do was sing “Go Rest High on That Mountain” at Jones' funeral.
Tonight he sings tribute again to Jones, this time in a black T-shirt that says “Sweet Pea.”
“That’s what he always called me,” Gill says. “I didn’t know why. I didn’t know if it was good or bad, but I didn’t care because I loved that old man.”
Gill’s rendition of “Bartender’s Blues” brings the house to its feet in a standing ovation.
“You lived it while he sang it didn’t you,” Cody says.
10:52 p.m.: Matassa returns to the stage to sing “Walk Through This World With Me.”
“Someone backstage said, this is like the biggest Grand Ole Opry cast ever,” says Bill Cody, who has taken over emcee duties.
10:46 p.m.: “To me, George Jones was the greatest vocalist ever,” Patty Loveless says before singing “Color of the Blues”
10:41 p.m.: “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me” with Shooter Jennings and Jessi Colter.
10:35 p.m.: Another group number including Greg Bates, Mandy Barnett, Linda Davis with a lovely rendition of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”
10:31 p.m. Thompson Square sings two of the famous duets by George Jones and Tammy Wynette: “Two Story House” and “We’re Gonna Hold On.”
Nancy Jones and Keith Bilbrey at the 'Playin' Possum: The Final No Show' in the Bridgestone Arena on Friday, November 22nd, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: John Partipilo/The Tennessean)
10:27 p.m.: Montgomery Gentry entertains with a high-energy version of “Race is On.”
“The only way to describe this night is historic,” says former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is the new emcee.
The last Beatles concert may have rivaled it, he said. Or not.
“After tonight I am thinking that was nothing,” he said. “This is historic.”
10:22 p.m.: Lorrie Morgan, bedazzled in a sparkly white suit, brings her guitar onstage for “A Picture of Me Without You.”
10:18 p.m.: Song No. 29 (and we just realized they are actually counting group performances as one song, not the three that each group has sung. There have been four group numbers, we will let you do the math from there). So, song 29-plus is Rodney Atkins “When the Grass Grows Over Me.”
10:13 p.m.: Jamey Johnson returns to the stage – this time without Megadeth – for a very moving rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
10:04 p.m.: Bill Anderson, who has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961, takes the stage for a short story about a few house boats in the 1970s. Tied up on Old Hickory Lake boats owned by Anderson, Jones, record producer Billy Sherrill and others. Jones’ was the only one that had a small dinghy boat tied to the back.
One day, Anderson said, he was trying to dock his boat and the wind blew his boat into Jones’.
From that day on he was known as “the man who put the dent in George Jones’ dinghy,” Anderson said with a laugh.
After groans and chuckles, Anderson is joined on stage for another historical group number with Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Jimmy C. Newman, John Conlee, Larry Gatlin, Ray Stevens, and Stonewall Jackson. Pioneers who paved the way for so many, the group sings “When the Last Curtain Falls,” and “Still Doin’ Time.”
The boys still clearly have a few good jokes in them. “I fell down but I’m good,” Jackson said from his seat on the stage, before their final number “Some Day My Day Will Come.”
9:59 p.m.: Another duo takes the stage – perhaps a little less dramatic than Megadeath. Jim Lauderdale and The Roys sing “Why Baby Why.”
9:53 p.m. Another emcee change as Stacy McCloud takes the mic. The FOX17 entertainment reporter was the last to interview George Jones before his death.
“I will never forget he walked out and said, ‘Hey there, young lady. I think I’ve been dreaming about you.’”
Not only country fans loved Jones, she said, “and that’s why this next act is going to rock the house.” She’s not kidding.
Next up is Jamey Johnson and Megadeth. Yes, heavy metal band Megadeth.
“And now for something entirely different,” they say as psychedelic lights flash across the stage for a unique version of “Wild Irish Rose.”
Not every day we get to have Megadeath at a country show.
“Heavy metal is all about rebellion and George was definitely a rebel,” said Dave Mustaine, Megadeth guitarist and vocalist. “Thank you for welcoming us into this beautiful family,” he said.
It truly was a moment from the show to remember: “I’m really not sure you will ever see that again,” McCloud said. “It may be a first and only.”
Brad Paisley performs at "Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show" at Bridgestone Arena on Friday. (Photo: John Partipilio/The Tennessean)
9:48 p.m.: Brad Paisley “The One I Loved Back Then (The Corvette Song).” He blows a kiss to Nancy Jones before he exits and just before he’s off stage Bilbery grabs him for a short conversation about Paisley and his son fishing with Little Jimmy Dickens. Before Paisley steps away, he notes: “No one was more generous to me than George Jones.”
9:44 p.m.: On stage next is Travis Tritt, who sings “The Door.” The 1974 single was Jones’ sixth No. 1 on the country chart as a solo artist.
9:32 p.m. And we’re back. Act II begins with an introduction of the Jones Boys Band. Then comes another group number. This time it’s Eddy Raven, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Greenwood, Mark Collie and Ken Mellons.
Together they sing three numbers: “Cold Hard Truth,” “The Right Left Hand” and “She’s My Rock.”
9:17 p.m. Even intermission has entertainment. Modeled on stage is a custom coat signed by every artist at tonight’s show. It is being auctioned off and right now Garth Brooks is the highest bidder at $25,000. The proceeds will go to the George Jones Memorial Scholarship, which was announced earlier this week by Nancy Jones. The scholarship benefits students at Middle Tennessee State University.
Operation Troop Aid, which provides care packages for U.S. service members, also makes a $5,000 check presentation to MTSU.
“This will never happen again in your lifetime, so just enjoy it,” Bilbery says.
9:10 p.m.: Whew, intermission finally came. But before we go to break, Academy award-winning actor Jon Voight takes the stage for a tribute to someone other than Jones: Randy Travis.
Randy Travis
“I’m so deeply honored to be in the church of Jones with you all,” Voight said. “George Jones had a good friend who was really all of our good friend and that is Randy Travis.
“And Randy is going through a great challenge as we speak,” Voight continued, “and he’s making great strides. And as we know the most important thing, the most important thing to a person’s recovery is their will to recover, and I feel that with all our love and prayers Randy will receive that energy and perhaps, perhaps a miracle may be shown.
“I know Randy is going to be listening to this. He’s going to be watching this so we have an opportunity to speak to him.”
Then Voight asked the audience to stand up, hold each other’s hands.
“Let’s make a human chain of love for Randy,” he said. “Hold the hand of the person next to you, and … we’ll shout Randy’s name. He’s not too far away from here, he can probably hear us from this building.”
Then, counted to three and asked the audience to shout “Randy.”
“Wonderful, once again,” he said.
And they repeated it – again and again. Then Voight asked the crowd to say, “We love you.” Again, they did several times. Then came the crowd shots of the audience waving.
“We all love you, Randy, and we wish you a speedy recovery,” Voight said before leaving the stage. “God bless.”
9:05 p.m.: “During the funeral we mourned George, tonight we celebrate him,” Keith Bilbrey said.
We have arrived at song No. 21 – a group number of “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.” Adorably, Little Jimmy Dickens is part of the group. He sits in a wooden, leather-covered rocker that was placed on stage as a symbol of Jones’ place at his concert. A smile on his face, he slowly lifts his hat from his head as a way of saying hello to the crowd.
9:01 p.m. “He’s the ultimate man and the ultimate artist,” Bilbrey says as he introduces Craig Morgan for “Finally Friday.” When Morgan finishes his performance, he hops off stage to give Nancy Jones a hug.
8:59 p.m.: Josh Turner gets deep, and not emotionally, with his baritone voice for “One Woman Man.”
8:57 p.m.: Our emcee for the night changes yet again, with Emery introducing Keith Bilbrey – who was a weatherman on “The Ralph Emery Show” for 21 years, as well as an announcer on the Grand Ole Opry, and the host of TNN’s Grand Ole Opry Live.
8:54 p.m.: “In this very auditorium just a few weeks ago these two people were crowned king and queen of country music,” Emery says.
Then enters Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert for “These Days (I Barely Get By.” At the CMA Awards several weeks ago, Shelton was named the Country Music Association's male vocalist of the year for the fourth time. His wife, Lambert, extended her streak in the female vocalist category with her fourth-consecutive win.
8:44 p.m. Part of the evening events include an occasional group performance. This one is made up of some stellar sounds: Suzy Bogguss, T Graham Brown, T.G. Sheppard, Lisa Matassa, Jett Williams, Tracy Lawrence, and Collin Raye. Together they sing group renditions of “The Love in Your Eyes,” and “Wine Colored Roses,” with each artist stepping forward for a part.
“Wow what a show,” Ralph Emery says. “Back stage we’ve got a movie star and we’ve got a former governor, and we have all kinds of entertainment here as we salute George Jones.”
8:39 p.m.: We are now on song No. 16, and it is “Good Year for the Roses,” a performance by Larry Gatlin.
“Thank you, Mr. Jones,” Gatlin says as he leaves.
8:35 p.m.: Enter the Oak Ridge Boys for “Same Old Me.”
8:33 p.m. Dierks Bentley is next with “I Always Get Lucky With You.”
“One of my favorite singers,” Ralph Emery says, shaking his hand after the performance.
8:30 p.m.: Another change of emcee comes as Black passes off to Ralph Emery, a television host who gained fame hosting syndicated music series “Pop! Goes the Country” and “Nashville Now.”
“When was the first time you met George?” Larry Black asks.
Well, Emery says, when he was a late-night disc jockey at late-night disc jockey on Nashville's WSM 1957 the three new Grand Ole Opry acts were Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers and George Jones.
“Wow,” Black says.
8:27 p.m.: “Are you proud of yourselves, you are part of a piece of history right now,” Black says before introducing Tommy Shaw, who is best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In another acoustic performance, Shaw sings “She Thinks I Still Care,” a No. 1 hit for Jones.
8:22 p.m.: “We’re about ready to go to church,” Black says. “You ready to go to church?” And there he is, country star Eric Church with an acoustic tribute.
All it takes are the words “I’ve had choices,” for the crowd to roar. “Choices” was one of Jones most popular songs in his later years. It was the first single from his 1999 album “Cold Hard Truth.”
The song was a perfect fit for Jones, who lived every word of it. “I love you, Nancy,” Church says looking out at Jones widow in the audience, before leaving the stage.
Eric Church performs at "Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show" at Bridgestone Arena on Friday. (Photo: John Partipilio/The Tennessean)
8:20 p.m.: “We got more. It just keeps on coming,” Larry Black says. And it does, the pace is frenetic – even with slower songs, like Clay Walker’s “Things Have Gone to Pieces.”
8:16 p.m.: Kathy Mattea takes it back up again with “I’m a Long Gone Daddy.”
8:12 p.m.: Southern soul singer Sam Moore receives a standing ovation for his touching rendition of “The Blues Man.” The crowd clearly connected with this performance, throwing up cheers mid-performance. It is easily the most emotion-filled of the night so far.
8:07 p.m.: Country rock band Kentucky Headhunters jams with “High-tech Redneck,” a track from an album by the same name released by Jones in 1993. The album went gold in 1994.
8:05 p.m.: An MC switch is now in order. Radio and television personalities Crook and Chase hand the mic to Larry Black of “Larry’s Country Diner” – a down-home variety show.
Black takes the time for a super short story. When he came on TV, he said, “George would go into his man cave and yell, ‘Nancy come on. That fat boy’s on television.’” Now on with the show.
8:03 p.m.: Bluegrass duo Dailey and Vincent is up next with Baillie and the Boys – a country group that gained prominence in the 1980s. Together they sing “I’m Ragged But I’m Right.”
Charlie Daniels performs at "Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show" at Bridgestone Arena on Friday. (Photo: John Partipilio/The Tennessean)
7:58 p.m.: Mt. Juliet’s own Charlie Daniels walks on stage with a white brim hat, a hefty belt buckle and his signature fiddle for a foot-stomping performance of “Me and Jesus.” Daniels displays some fancy fiddle work, working up the crowd. Daniels lost his hat leaving the stage, but there’s not even a moment to stop and pick it up. Keep it movin’, Charlie.
7:55 p.m.: With more than 100 artists on the concert bill, there isn’t much time for chatter or remarks between songs. Moving right along, Lee Ann Womack takes the stage for “Once You’ve Had the Best.”
7:47 p.m.: A lovely group of historic country ladies takes the stage to sing “If My Heart Had Windows,” the title song from Jones 1967 album. The six greats -- Leona Williams, Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett, Janie Fricke, Jeannie Seely, and Emmylou Harris – followed with “Tender Years” and “I’m Not Ready Yet,” the second single from Jones 1980 album “I Am What I Am.”
7:43 p.m.: Sharing a mic, Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks take the energy down just a little with a sweet rendition of “Take Me.”
7:35: The show opens with John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich on John Deer tractors singing “Lovebug.”
“God bless George Jones, you have a good night,” the said, before introducing Kid Rock.
Keeping with the up-tempo jams, Kid Rock then exploded into a “White Lightning” – Jones first No. 1 hit single.
Big & Rich perform at "Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show" at Bridgestone Arena on Friday. (Photo: John Partipilio/The Tennessean)
7:30 p.m.: As we prepare for what proves to be a marathon tribute concert tonight for well-loved country legend George Jones, Bridgestone Arena already is bopping.
Lines to get inside are growing and the bowels of the arena are packed with stars.
More than 100 artists will pay tribute at the sold-out “Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show.” The show was designed to be Jones’ final concert of his farewell tour before his retirement, but it became a tribute after the Country Music Hall of Famer died in April.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on a video screen outside Bridgestone – so if you didn’t get tickets, bundle up and head downtown. Folks are already sitting in their lawn chairs outside waiting for the show to begin. Some estimates suggest the concert could go three-plus hours, so you have plenty of time to get here.