PHOTOS BY GLENDA S. PARADEE

Performances Include Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna, Travis Tritt, Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Justin Moore, Jamey Johnson, Joe Nichols and so many more with Special Appearances By Randy Travis

 'Still Playin' Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones' was promoted by Mike Smardak of Outback Presents. The television special was produced by Kirt Webster; Luke Pierce and Ben Haley of WORKS Entertainment; Greg Hall of TH Entertainment, and executive produced by Nancy Jones and Kirk West for No Show Productions. 

“I want to send out a big thank you to my dear longtime friend Kirt Webster, producer of the show, for this opportunity and honor to come and be a part of and to photograph this historical tribute to George Jones,” says Glenda S. Paradee of Thanks For The Music. 

'Still Playin' Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones' was recorded for national broadcast to premiere on GREAT PERFORMANCES on PBS. Filmed in front of a live audience at Propst Arena at The Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama on April 25, 2023. The all-star lineup includes Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna, Travis Tritt, Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Justin Moore, Jamey Johnson, Joe Nichols, Aaron Lewis, Michael Ray, Uncle Kracker, Lorrie Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Tracy Lawrence, The Isaacs, Dillon Carmichael, T. Graham Brown, Gretchen Wilson, Sam Moore, Janie Fricke, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke and special appearances by Randy Travis. For more information, visit pbs.org/gperf.

“Thank you to the fans and artists who traveled from all over to be in Huntsville, Alabama, for this incredible tribute to George,” says Nancy Jones. “Everyone from the producers to the performers created an evening we will never forget and for those who couldn’t be there in person, this is your chance to have your own front-row seat. I hope everyone that attended or gets to see it on television will enjoy it and remember their favorite George song.”

The concert, which pays tribute to the legendary George Jones, will bring many of Jones’ greatest hits to the stage. With their incredible voices and exceptional musicianship, these performers entertained the audiences with their renditions of classic songs such as “The Grand Tour,” “Tennessee Whiskey,” “White Lightning,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and many more! The “Still Playin’ Possum” event was a fitting tribute to the man who was once dubbed the “greatest living country music singer of all time.” George Jones was known for his powerful voice, emotional lyrics, and charismatic performances, and his influence can be heard in the works of so many of today’s biggest country stars. This concert event was a chance to celebrate his legacy and to hear some of the best country music around.

'Still Playin' Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones' was sponsored by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms, Joe From Texas, Breland Companies, Turner Beverage, Fourth Capital Bank, The Broadway Group, Blaster Chemical, Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse, All Access Coach Leasing, Encore, Coca Cola, Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe, Sweet Sensational, and Biscuit Belly.

'Still Playin' Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones' was promoted by Mike Smardak of Outback Presents. The television special was produced by Kirt Webster; Luke Pierce and Ben Haley of WORKS Entertainment; Greg Hall of TH Entertainment, and executive produced by Nancy Jones and Kirk West for No Show Productions.

 “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was George Jones’ signature hit, and after the epic arena concert celebrating him, it’s clear country music will never stop loving George Jones. Never ever. A cosmos of stars classic and new, including Brad Paisley, Wynonna Judd, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and Jelly Roll, covered more than 30 songs Jones is known for, in front of an electric sold-out crowd at Huntsville, Alabama’s Von Braun Center. George’s widow Nancy Jones watched it all from the front row. Understandably, watching her late husband’s material, many of the lyrics about true love’s enduring power, performed again was bittersweet for Nancy, who executive produced the concert. 

The concert, titled “Still Playin’ Possum,” was held 10 years after Jones died at age 81. The charismatic crooner’s essentials include songs like “The Race Is On,” “She Thinks I Still Care” and “The Grand Tour.”

“Still Playin’ Possum” nods to one of Jones’ nicknames, Possum, inspired by the singer’s distinctive facial features.

Another Jones nickname, “No Show Jones,” from a period when personal demons resulted in concert cancellations, was referenced in announcer Keith Bilbrey’s intro. “He ain’t gonna be here tonight either,” Bilbrey quipped.

“Still Playin’ Possum” was three hours of highlights. All of it. But Wynonna Judd and Jamey Johnson’s rousing version of ‘Golden Ring,” Jones’ 1976 hit with then-wife Tammy Wynette, was an apex. Judd’s big pipes and Johnson’s gravitas were great together.

Wearing a fringed black ensemble, her red locks sprinkled with glitter, Judd oozed star power the moment she strode onstage. Before they launched into “Golden Ring,” Judd said into her mic, “It’s about to get country in here!” After she, Johnson and the concert’s ace backing band finished the song, Judd said, “I want to do it again!” After a performance like that -- of a song like that, by a singer like that -- no one would’ve objected.

The Jones tribute concert ran about as long as a college football game. But it never dragged. Besides all the talent and great songs, the performers switched up pretty much every song. That kept things brisk and moving.

Jamey Johnson got the night rolling with “Who’s Gonna Fill Your Shoes?,” as images of Jones and other departed country greats flashed on the stage’s video screen. As he sang, the longhaired Johnson played an old acoustic guitar covered with autographs, from the likes of Jones, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.

The evening’s first set also featured: Janie Fricke, Tracy Byrd, Dillon Carmichael and Michael Ray swaggering on “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”; Jones’ former fiddler Tim Watson tearing up “One Woman Man”; vocal quartet The Isaacs’ gospel-tinged “Right Left Hand”; and post-grunge-singer-gone-country Aaron Lewis doing “Choices.”

Sara Evans, her luxe-gypsy look evoking Stevie Nicks, belted “She Thinks I Still Care.” (Evans swapped the pronoun with “He.”) Travis Tritt duckwalked across the stage during a spirited “The Race Is On.” Trace Adkins bellowed “Same Ole Me” while looking like Gregg Allman rebooted as an NFL tight-end. Dierks Bentley aced “Why Baby Why” while looking like a grunge frontman. Recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker filled “When The Grass Grows Over Me” with soul.

One of the night’s many emotional moments came during Justin Moore and Joe Nichols’ version of “A Few Old Country Boys.” Country legend Randy Travis, who’s endured health challenges in recent years, was led on stage. Travis flashed his star’s smile. Everyone in the arena flashed back to memories of growing up to Travis’ hits, like “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

The concert paused for an intermission roughly the length of a “Dukes of Hazzard” episode. Second set gems included: Tracy Byrd pouring everything he had into “Once You’ve Had the Best”; Evans and Tracy Lawrence’s impassioned take on “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”: and 86-year-old soul singer Sam Moore wowing the arena on “The Blues Man.”

A sequined Janie Fricke summoned ‘90s vibes with “You’ve Still Got A Place in My Heart.” Lawrence returned to romp through “The Corvette Song.” Gretchen Wilson brought grit to the ballad “I Always Get Lucky With You.”

Tucker came back for a spellbinding “The Grand Tour,” possibly the greatest sad country song ever. Jamey Johnson and Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr did an outlaw-cool version of “Yesterday’s Wine.” T. Graham Brown put on a country-singing clinic during “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Lorrie Morgan, clad in a sharp suit, held the crowd in the palm of her hand. Twice. First, on a soul-wrecking “A Picture of Me Without You” and later duetting with Jamey Johnson on “Near You.”

Face-tatted singer Jelly Roll sauntered onstage for the night’s penultimate song. Country’s hottest new star displayed why he connects, while singing “Bartender Blues.” Other featured performers at “Still Playin’ Possum” included John Berry, Anita Cochran, Heath Wright, Ty Herndon, Billy Yates, Sara Helberg, Uncle Kracker and Lisa Matassa.

Throughout the Jones tribute, several country music truths were evident. The genre’s great songs are filled with stories and emotions everyday people relate to. The genre’s great singers inhabit songs they sing like they live inside them. The genre’s great performers never forget people paid money to watch them tonight.

At “Still Playin’ Possum” a 10-piece band supported the big names. It was the best kind of backing band for a concert like this. Their music and vocals, perfect. Yet they were purposely invisible onstage, happy to cede the spotlight. Evans and Morgan made it a point to bring attention to the band, all clad in black.

While the band was acknowledged, they were announced individually. So we’re gonna do that now. Hats off to backing vocalists Cherie Oakley and Monty Allen; pianist Brent Rader; acoustic guitarist Tim Galloway; drummer Josh Hunt; bassist Mark Fain; steel guitarist Eddie Dunlap; electric guitarist James Mitchell; and fiddler Dan Hochhalter. They were the night’s unsung heroes.

If you weren’t there last night, you’ll get another shot at experiencing the Jones tribute. “Still Playin’ Possum” was filmed for a TV special. The channel and broadcast date have yet to be announced. During the show, a remotely operated camera moved back and forth in front of the stage on a dolly. It looked like some kind of “Star Wars” droid. A couple of Steadicam operators filmed closeups of the musicians onstage. A boom mounted camera orbited overhead.

Clad in purple, TV chef and author Paula Deen hosted the concert. Her sassy personality engaged the crowd before both sets.

The arena’s audience had some Nashville-imported blondes and bling in the mix. But fans there were mostly salt-of-the-earth types. This was a country concert, not a pop-country concert or country-rock concert. Most fans were clad in things like Bass Pro Shop caps, Atlanta Braves T-shirts or blouses purchased at big-box retailers. I didn’t see a single AC/DC or Def Leppard shirt. But I saw plenty of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard tees.

In the arena’s entry area, a merch table selling George Jones gear was nearly sold-out by the end. Acoustic guitars the concert’s stars had autographed were auctioned off to benefit local police officers recently killed and injured in the line of duty.

“Still Playin’ Possum” concluded the only way it could, with “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” For the closer, the concert brought in a ringer. Cowboy-hatted superstar Brad Paisley strode onstage, acoustic guitar in hand.

If “The Grand Tour” isn’t country’s greatest sad song, then “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is. Spoiler alert: The lyrics describe a love that only death can halt. Paisley sang a celestial take on “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Images of night sky flashed on the video screen behind him.

Meanwhile, Nancy Jones, who was married to George Jones for more than 30 years, clasped a tissue. She smiled through her tears. Seated beside her, the widows of Charlie Daniels and guitarist Jimmy Capps, Hazel Daniels and Michelle Capps, both visions of Southern grace, clearly related too.

Maybe more than any other genre, country’s the music of families. “Still Playin’ Possum” proved country music is a family too. Within a family or otherwise, it means more to say “I love you” with actions than with words. The musicians and fans who celebrated Jones again last night did just that.

About George Jones:
George Jones is regarded among the most important and influential singers in American popular music history. He was the singer of enduring country music hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Walk Through This World With Me,” “Tender Years” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the latter of which is often at the top of industry lists of the greatest country music singles of all time. Born in Saratoga, Texas, Jones played on the streets of Beaumont for tips as a teenager. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before returning to Texas and recording for the Starday label in Houston, Texas. In 1955, his “Why Baby Why” became his first Top 10 country single, peaking at number four and beginning a remarkable commercial string: Jones would ultimately record more than 160 charting singles, more than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music. His first number-one hit came in 1959 with “White Lightning,” a Mercury Records single that topped the Billboard country charts for five weeks. He moved on to United Artists and then to Musicor, notching hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Race Is On,” “A Good Year for the Roses” and “Walk Through This World With Me.”

Jones signed with Epic Records in 1971 and worked with producer Billy Sherrill to craft a sound at once elegant and rooted, scoring with “The Grand Tour,” “Bartenders Blues” and many more. Sherrill also produced duets between Jones and his then-wife Tammy Wynette, and in the 1970s they scored top-charting hits including “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Golden Ring” and “Near You.” By the time “Golden Ring” and “Near You” hit in 1976, Jones and Wynette were divorced, and Jones was battling personal demons. His solo career cooled until 1980 when he recorded “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” a ballad penned by Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock that helped Jones win Country Music Association prizes for best male vocal and top single. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” revived a flagging career, and Jones won the CMA’s top male vocalist award in 1980 and 1981. He also earned a Grammy for best male country vocal performance. He signed with MCA Records in 1990 and began a successful run, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. His guest vocal on Patty Loveless’ “You Don’t Seem To Miss Me” won a CMA award for top vocal event in 1998, and it became his final Top 20 country hit.

About Kirt Webster:

A funny thing happened to Kirt Webster on the way to his own unexpected notoriety…
Like the Wizard of Oz. Kirt Webster has masterfully worked the dials behind the screens to illuminate his chosen land of the fantastic and the fanciful with bombastic bursts of eventful and often awe- inspiring sound and lights. So has been his approach to the land of entertainment. Webster has been nothing if not the skilled ringmaster of the artistic—a man in charge of directing the sequence of the three-ring circus that is show business.

He came by his flair for the business of entertainment quite naturally. His early absorption in music and his relationship with his uncle, Murl “Doc” Webster, who was successful in the carnival trade, left the young Kirt with a fascination for the artistry and ‘smoke and mirrors’ skill it takes to entertain an audience, or successfully direct the business careers of those that do. 

Growing up in Arizona he chose the inroads of country music radio and live touring concerts to provide access to the fringes of his dream of working with major artists in Nashville. As a teen, Kirt would dummy fake “all access” backstage passes to get closer to the pulse beat of the music industry and to the performers he was listening to on radio and now meeting on tour. Worthy to note that several of these “road built” relationships were destined to become his earliest publicity clients. Associations that would become long-term business relationships and friendships included major name artists of the day such as Janie Fricke and Freddy Fender who met him initially on tour when Kirt was still too young to vote.

In 1995, and just breaking 20, Webster packed his Chevy S-10 Blazer with dreams and determination to reach for the stars and headed for Nashville. Setting up Webster Public Relations — first in his small apartment and soon after in a cramped space on Music Row, he soon became “the buzz” in the small town music click of Nashville. His reputation of working 24/7 in pursuit of news placement for his clients combined with his innate ability to create “events,” that made news, quickly positioned Webster PR as a fast runner.

Throughout the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Webster PR grew into a nationally known and respected creative home-turf for major country artists such as The Bellamy Brothers, Carl Perkins, The Little River Band, Lee Greenwood, Crystal Gayle, and The Gatlin Brothers, With Carl Perkins’ passing in January 1998, it was his young publicist who helped orchestrate the top names in music — names such as former Beatle George Harrison, Ricky Skaggs, Billy Ray Cyrus, Wynonna — and even former Beatle Paul McCartney on video — to gather in Jackson, Tennessee, and celebrate a legend they had loved in a star-studded final tribute. 

In 2002, Webster scored a major move into representing the iconic with his signing of Hank Williams, Jr. A year later, at the request of Johnny Cash’s longtime manager, Lou Robin, Webster was asked to help stage the now memorable Cash Memorial event held at the historic Ryman in Nashville. Webster worked with Robin on several Cash projects and it was even noted in the book, “The Man

Called Cash,” how Kirt became a valued personal friend of Johnny and June . Orchestrating press that flew in from around the world and major artists that flocked to Nashville from literally every genre of music and performing arts, Webster’s help in staging the tribute event for Johnny Cash proved to be a labor of love as well as a flawless movement of people and creativity.

With his gift for “creating media magic” for the legendary careers as well as his own personal astute sense of the entrepreneurial, Webster’s reputation and client roster exploded exponentially. By the mid 2000’s Webster PR was the principal major publicity agency in Nashville to specialize in television and facilitate major network TV ties for their clients — CMA Awards and ACM Awards — across genres to the Today Show, Ellen, Oprah, Good Morning America and strong weekly presentations of his artists on the Fox News Channel — all were familiar turf for Webster’s clients. From late night network staples to across the dial on a wide new region of cable syndication, Webster clients — both new artists and legends, abounded on national TV.

Named one of the most successful business men in Nashville under the age of 40 in 2009 by the Nashville Business Journal, Webster was on a well-deserved roll with clients in Nashville, Los Angeles, and around the globe. Serving on the boards of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD), his PR firm was now not only the media destination for the legendary names in country music, but also the new media address for mainstream music — names such as Meat Loaf, Kid Rock, Kevin Costner, Pat Benatar, Kenny G., Don McLean, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Gloria Gaynor, Kiefer Sutherland, Tower of Power, Cyndi Lauper, Megadeth, Seether, 3 Doors Down and Sam Moore, to mention only a few, were onboard for national media.

In a creative growth spirt, Webster PR established their own production studio in-house to facilitate video and satellite functions for clients and began taking on corporate entities associated with the industry. Time-Life, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, StarVista Live and the NRA were among the notables.

Working in tandem with management, Webster had the opportunity to display his flair for creative news and opportunistic events that propelled media energy and new audiences for both new artists and name clients who needed a re-introduction into the “today” aspects of music. Webster had mastered the art of “career re-development,” as notably evidenced in the career of the legends such as George Jones. It was Kirt, in fact, who worked tirelessly with Nancy Jones in handling the planning and production of George’s historic one-hundred star “final show” extravaganza at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 22, 2013 — unveiling a stage studded with top names such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Megadeth and Alan Jackson listed among the Jones fans paying homage. The concert, aptly dubbed “Playin’ Possum—The Final No Show.” sold-out needless to say.

A strong ally of the Country Music Association, Webster personally found great satisfaction in designing Hall of Fame “induction campaigns” for the legends he loved, and whose music had drawn him to Nashville. Successful campaigns included those targeted for Webster clients including Charlie Daniels, The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis, and Kenny Rogers. For Jim Ed Brown and The Browns induction, Kirt arranged a special early Hall of Fame medal presentation ceremony while Jim Ed Brown was hospitalized, just a week prior to his passing and months before the official medallion ceremony was to be held. 

Moving into the mid-teens of the 2000’s, the re-uniting of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers onstage fulfilled yet another personal dream for Kirt Webster. Brought into the Parton team by Dolly’s manager, Danny Nozell, Webster cast a broad publicity/marketing strategy to enhance Dolly’s global tour, new music, and re-introduction to yet another iconic rung on her decade’s long ladder of unparalleled success. Teaming with Nozell, Kirt engineered a campaign that resulted in her latest CMA, ACM, Grammy and Clio Awards in recognition of a lifetime of career achievements.

When wild fires ravaged Parton’s beloved East Tennessee in the fall of 2016, Webster co-created and executive produced her ground-breaking Emmy Award winning telethon, Smoky Mountain Rise: A Benefit For My People, which raised more than $10 million dollars for those affected by the tragedy.

As homage to his stable of legacy artists, the “Legendary Lunch” was conceived in 2015 as a Webster PR produced promotional vehicle to bring radio and established career hit-makers together at the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. It proved to be a fast “must do” industry event at the yearly gathering. Since the pandemic, Webster has been producing television specials including the award-winning opening to the Tyson Fury/Dillian Whyte heavyweight championship fight from Webley Stadium, the award-winning Helping A Hero telethon hosted by Paula Deen and Lee Greenwood, and most recently the Still Playin’ Possum: Music and Memories of George Jones, which will air as a PBS “Great Performances” special.

About Great Performances:
Throughout its 50-year history on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, the series has earned 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The Great Performances website hosts exclusive videos, interviews, photos, full episodes, and more. The series is produced by The WNET Group. Great Performances is available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, and VIZIO.