Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood paid tribute to the late George Jones and Tammy Wynette while celebrating 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry.
“100 years of country music, that’s some rich history right there. You talk about the history of country music there is going to be a question coming up in the first five minutes, ‘Who is the greatest singer in country music?’ You’re going to ask 100 different people you’re going to get 100 different answers. But for me, it’s who it always was and who it always will be: George Jones,” Brooks, 63, told the crowd during the Wednesday, March 19, Opry 100: A Live Celebration special at the iconic venue in Nashville, Tennessee. “When you talk about great country music someone’s going to ask, ‘What’s the greatest country song ever?’ People, be right there in the magic moment when fate actually paired what could possibly the greatest country song ever written with teh greatest voice to ever grace country music.”
Brooks then jumped into a cover of Jones’ “He Stopped Lover Her Today” before welcoming Yearwood, 60, on stage to sing Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.” Brooks and Yearwood then proclaimed that Jones and Wynette were better when they were “together” and finished the medley with a passionate performance the pair’s famous duet “Golden Ring.”
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Blake Shelton hosted the live event, where Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Carly Pearce, Keith Urban and more also took the stage to pay tribute to country music icons such as Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Crystal Gayle.
Brooks and Yearwood are both Opry members, with their inductions taking place in October 1990 and March 1999, respectively. Like Jones and Wynette, Brooks and Yearwood, who have been married since December 2005, are considered one of the most notable couples in country music history.
Jones and Wynette were married from 1969 to 1975 and shared daughter Georgette. Throughout their decades in the music industry, the pair collaborated on nine albums together and released hits including “Take Me,” “The Ceremony,” “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “We Loved It Away,” “Golden Ring,” “Near You,” “Southern California,” “Two Story House” and “One,” with their work partnership enduring for 20 years after their divorce.
In April 1998, Wynette died from cardiac arrhythmia at age 55. Jones later died of hypoxic respiratory failure in April 2013 at age 81.
Brooks and Yearwood’s Opry 100 performance comes five months after he was accused of sexual assault and battery by a woman identified as Jane Roe, who previously worked as his hairstylist and makeup artist. Roe filed a lawsuit against Brooks in October 2024, alleging that he raped her during a 2019 work trip, sent her sexually explicit text messages, repeatedly exposed his genitals and buttocks to her and discussed his sexual fantasies in front of her.
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At the time, Brooks denied the allegations in a statement to Us Weekly.
“For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars. It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face,” he said. “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of — ugly acts no human should ever do to another. We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.”
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In December 2024, a judge denied Brooks’ request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Roe.
Amid the headline-making ordeal, a source exclusively told Us in October 2024 that Yearwood “completely believes Garth and has complete faith that the allegations are false,” adding that she “is supporting him 100 percent.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
