Latest news with #HeStoppedLovingHerToday
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
George Jones honored with statue on Ryman's Icon Walk
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member George Jones is the latest genre icon to be memorialized with a bronze statue on the "Icons Walk" at the Ryman Auditorium's property. "One of the most influential and revered voices in country music history" joins statues of Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride to represent "legacies that continue to inspire generations of performers," the Ryman said in a statement. Colin Reed, executive chairman of the Ryman Hospitality Properties board; George Jones' widow, Nancy Jones; and Grand Ole Opry cast member and frequent Jones collaborator Jamey Johnson attended a June 3 unveiling ceremony. Johnson noted that as much as Jones was renowned for his love of singing and country music, he was "a dear friend who was more like a distant relative, who was always good for a warm hug and a bright smile." Sculptor Ben Watts took about one year to complete the statue of Jones. It is similar to ones he created of Dickens and Monroe in 2017, Lynn in 2020 and Pride in 2023. "George was an icon to people who saved their last dime to appreciate the same incredible yet relatable things that made me love and stay with him. He and his fans, much like myself, were flawed people who lived real lives and deserved strength and love," Nancy Jones said in a 2023 Tennessean interview. The statue unveiling continues a year of celebrations surrounding the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary. Jones' 160 charting singles included 'He Stopped Loving Her Today and 'She Thinks I Still Care". He "left an indelible mark on music and culture" and "contributed to the Opry's rise as a cornerstone of country music," the Opry said in a statement. "His voice remains a benchmark of authenticity and excellence in country storytelling," added the Opry. Jones' figure joins those of Grand Ole Opry star Dickens (who died in 2014); bluegrass music's founding father Monroe (who died in 1996); groundbreaking country legend Pride (who died in 2020) and legendary female country star Lynn (who died in 2022) alongside the bronze figure of Capt. Thomas Ryman on the Ryman Auditorium plaza. Reed had the idea for the Icon Walk in 2015, after Dickens died. Thinking it unimaginable that he would never see the diminutive country performer at the Ryman again, Reed wanted to honor him and his presence there. Jones is depicted in the statue as the artist he was in his early 60s, around the turn of the 21st century. Nancy Jones, who aims to revive another George Jones Museum in Nashville — the original closed in Dec. 2021 — still maintains ownership of many of "The Possum"'s performance gear and stagewear. Watts wanted to create a lifelike portrayal of the singer, so she was able to outfit one of his assistants in the country legend's personal effects to help the creative process. "George would've wanted to have (his iconic) haircut and sideburns — he was so proud of that hairdo," Nancy Jones said. "And we had to have his favorite guitar strap there, too." When asked what she wanted the millions of tourists who may see her late husband's statue in the coming years to take from his presence, she paused, nearly teary-eyed, and said, "I don't want anyone to forget him and the fantastic music he released." Jones died in 2013. "To many country music fanatics, the Saratoga, Texas native's ability to weave authenticity so soulful that it could cause the warmest smile or chill you to the bone — sometimes in the same three-minute song — makes him, regardless of genre, the greatest singer that ever lived," The Tennessean wrote in April 2024. "As elegant as a vocalist as he was humble as a man, his uncanny ability to navigate between the two via magnificently crafted songs peerlessly marks a legacy that will perpetually inform country music's fundamentals and progression." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: George Jones honored with statue on Ryman's Icon Walk
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lainey Wilson engaged to former NFL quarterback after four years of dating
Lainey Wilson is officially engaged to Devlin Hodges. The country singer posted a photo on her Instagram just before Valentine's Day on Wednesday showing off her new ring. '4x4xU forever,' the post's caption read, referencing the title of her hit 2024 song. The 'Heart Like A Truck' singer was pictured wearing a long red coat, cowboy hat and bell bottom jeans outside George Jones's $5.95 million manor in Franklin, Tennessee. PageSix reports that Hodges proposed to Wilson — who is a huge fan of the late 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' crooner — at the property. Wilson first confirmed that she was dating Hodges in 2023 during an episode of The Bobby Bones Show. At the time, she told the radio show host that she and the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback had been together for the last two and a half years. 'He's a good dude. He knows what it's like chasing a dream because he's done that for himself,' she said at the time. 'He is good as gold, supports me, would never come in between anything that I'm trying to do.' 'But I guess I'm gonna have to propose to his ass 'cause he ain't proposed to me,' Wilson joked about an engagement at the time. 'I think [an engagement] needs to be during a season of our life where we really have the time to, like, enjoy it.' Wilson also revealed during that episode why Hodges answers to the nickname 'Duck,' telling Bones that it came from his college football coach at Samford University in Alabama. 'His college football coach was like, 'You're one of the best quarterbacks I've ever worked with. And you remind me a lot of one of my favorite quarterbacks I got to work with years ago, and we called him Duck,'' Wilson said. 'And so he and the team just kind of started calling him Duck.' Wilson seemed to predict that the proposal was coming, as she joked last month that this might be the year it would happen. 'No pressure, brother! No pressure,' she said during an interview with Bunnie XO for CMT. 'I might have to propose to him. We waiting!' Bunnie replied: 'No, Duck's going to do it. I could feel it.' Wilson then responded, 'I like that.' On Thursday, many people were quick to congratulate the couple on their engagement. 'OKAYYYYYYY massive congratulations Lainey,' Taylor Lautner commented on Instagram. 'He gave a rock to a rolling stone, and the rolling stone let her heart free! Congrats to both!' another comment read.
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lainey Wilson engaged to former NFL quarterback after four years of dating
Lainey Wilson is officially engaged to Devlin Hodges. The country singer posted a photo on her Instagram just before Valentine's Day on Wednesday showing off her new ring. '4x4xU forever,' the post's caption read, referencing the title of her hit 2024 song. The 'Heart Like A Truck' singer was pictured wearing a long red coat, cowboy hat and bell bottom jeans outside George Jones's $5.95 million manor in Franklin, Tennessee. PageSix reports that Hodges proposed to Wilson — who is a huge fan of the late 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' crooner — at the property. Wilson first confirmed that she was dating Hodges in 2023 during an episode of The Bobby Bones Show. At the time, she told the radio show host that she and the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback had been together for the last two and a half years. 'He's a good dude. He knows what it's like chasing a dream because he's done that for himself,' she said at the time. 'He is good as gold, supports me, would never come in between anything that I'm trying to do.' 'But I guess I'm gonna have to propose to his ass 'cause he ain't proposed to me,' Wilson joked about an engagement at the time. 'I think [an engagement] needs to be during a season of our life where we really have the time to, like, enjoy it.' Wilson also revealed during that episode why Hodges answers to the nickname 'Duck,' telling Bones that it came from his college football coach at Samford University in Alabama. 'His college football coach was like, 'You're one of the best quarterbacks I've ever worked with. And you remind me a lot of one of my favorite quarterbacks I got to work with years ago, and we called him Duck,'' Wilson said. 'And so he and the team just kind of started calling him Duck.' Wilson seemed to predict that the proposal was coming, as she joked last month that this might be the year it would happen. 'No pressure, brother! No pressure,' she said during an interview with Bunnie XO for CMT. 'I might have to propose to him. We waiting!' Bunnie replied: 'No, Duck's going to do it. I could feel it.' Wilson then responded, 'I like that.' On Thursday, many people were quick to congratulate the couple on their engagement. 'OKAYYYYYYY massive congratulations Lainey,' Taylor Lautner commented on Instagram. 'He gave a rock to a rolling stone, and the rolling stone let her heart free! Congrats to both!' another comment read.
