Brad Paisley joined a heartfelt celebration of country music legend George Jones in the PBS special “Great Performances – George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum.” Filmed on April 23, 2023, at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center, the tribute took place just two days before the tenth anniversary of Jones’s passing.

The special, which aired on PBS on February 23, 2024, brought together a star-studded lineup of country icons, including Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, and many more, each paying homage to Jones’s legendary career.

Paisley had the honor of performing one of Jones’s most celebrated songs, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Originally released in 1980, the song had met with some doubt from Jones himself, who jokingly remarked, “Nobody’ll buy that morbid son of a bitch.” But it went on to become a classic, marking his return to the top of the charts after six years.

When Paisley opened with the song’s iconic first line, the audience was instantly captivated. His performance not only honored Jones’s enduring legacy but also reminded fans why “He Stopped Loving Her Today” remains one of country music’s most timeless and powerful songs.