Introduction
In November 2013, the Grand Ole Opry stage at the Country Music Association Awards became the setting for an unforgettable musical homage. Alan Jackson and George Strait united in a stirring duet of “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” honoring the incomparable George Jones, who had passed away earlier that year . Introduced by Brad Paisley—who described Jones as both “the greatest country singer of all time” and his friend—the performance began with Strait gently strumming and Jackson delivering the first melancholic verse . As the two legends’ voices intertwined, vintage images of Jones—highlighting his highs, lows, and his enduring love with wife Nancy—flashed behind them, deepening the emotional impact .
Originally written in 1979 by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, “He Stopped Loving Her Today” tells a heartrending story: a man who can’t move on from lost love until the day he dies . Released in April 1980 as the lead single from George Jones’s album I Am What I Am, the song not only marked his return to the top of the charts after six years—it also earned him CMA and ACM Song of the Year awards, a Grammy, and even preservation in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry . It remains widely celebrated as the greatest country song of all time .
The 2013 CMA tribute was particularly poignant: two titans of modern country, both deeply influenced by Jones, offered a duet that felt organic and heartfelt. Jackson—who had famously performed the song at Jones’s funeral in May 2013—echoed that intimacy on stage, while Strait provided steady, respectful accompaniment . Their unified voices served not just as a cover, but as a collective salute: a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, assuring that Jones’s legacy would resonate far beyond his lifetime.