!['Can only imagine how beautiful the heavens sound': Laura Bush, stars pay tribute at George Jones funeral [pics]](https://media.townhall.com/cdn/hodl/tw/images/up/2013/05/laura-bush-jones-780x456.jpg)
Country music stars and fans gathered in Nashville this morning for the funeral of Grand Ole Opry member, singer George Jones. They paid tribute to the country music legend, who died on Friday at the age of 81.
First Lady Laura Bush was in attendance as well and provided comfort to George Jones’ widow Nancy.
https://twitter.com/burtdw1/status/329984991171858432
Twitter users are sharing photos and touching moments from the funeral.
Photo from George Jones' funeral at the Grand Ole Opry House. pic.twitter.com/BmB3ryguLw
— Bean Counter (@TNBeanCounter) May 2, 2013
This is the hearse that will carry George Jones to his final resting place. #foxnash pic.twitter.com/vQ26tKWrp8
— Scott Couch (@Scott_Couch) May 2, 2013
Devoted fans line up to pay tribute to late country legend George Jones at his funeral at Nashville's… http://t.co/fp3JEbpXDw
— People (@people) May 2, 2013
End of the line for thousands hoping to get into George Jones service at Opryhouse. Watch at 10 @WKRN Ch 2 pic.twitter.com/o6UA9AbKQP
— Chris Bundgaard (@bundgaard2) May 2, 2013
Country stars spoke tenderly about the late George Jones and performed in his honor.
Randy Travis performed “Amazing Grace”:
Remembering George Jones: Randy Travis singing Amazing Grace in tribute to the Possum. Live on Fox 17 right now. pic.twitter.com/tH0BLUDkTO
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) May 2, 2013
Randy Travis singing Amazing Grace at the funeral of George Jones. #RememberingJones http://t.co/fI3760Q7yK
— Casey Powell (@capncasey) May 2, 2013
http://instagram.com/p/Y0GoUJE4Kc/
Randy Travis now performing at #GeorgeJones memorial at the #Opry. Live on Channel 4. pic.twitter.com/FaI5PaatCy
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
The Oak Ridge Boys:
https://twitter.com/TonyThomas/status/329983228674973697
Oak Ridge Boys on now singing Farther Along. #georgejones pic.twitter.com/k2v9fv2tD6
— Stephanie Beecken (@StephBeecken) May 2, 2013
Charlie Daniels:
https://twitter.com/dmhindman/status/329992387856318464
Charlie Daniels is singing Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling…such a beautiful sound. #Ilovehymns #rememberingjones
— Kerri P. (KP) (@KerriPotts) May 2, 2013
Kid Rock:
Kid Rock talking about how he wrote a chorus for a song he never got to give to Jones. About getting over drinking pic.twitter.com/MVRhSX0Xkj
— Stephanie Beecken (@StephBeecken) May 2, 2013
So awesome @KidRock performing at funeral for George Jones http://t.co/KACjQ7nhNQ
— Lisa Giles-Shubel (@LisaNewz) May 2, 2013
Kid Rock singing: Now that you're here it seems so clear. Where you end is where I begin. #georgejones pic.twitter.com/FdYAviptpw
— Stephanie Beecken (@StephBeecken) May 2, 2013
#NowOnNC5 – Kid Rock at #RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/CdHinZhExL
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
Kid Rock is making me cry right now. His speech is so touching. @Opry #RememberingJones @gjpossum
— Jason Scott: Hey All You Cool Cats + Kittens! (@JasontheScott) May 2, 2013
Patty Loveless and Vince Gill:
Not a dry eye in the house after that one. "Go Rest High On That Mountain" Vince Gill & Patty Loveless #RememberingJones
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) May 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/Infidelzfun/status/329993978990718976
We're now hearing from Vince Gill before his performance at #GeorgeJones memorial at #Opry. pic.twitter.com/LNwxhHXOi1
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
#NowOnNC5 – Vince Gill and Patty Loveless to perform next.
#RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/2hphU7LKtA— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
"Brother George taught us all how to sing with a broken heart." -Vince Gill, who George Jones nicknamed "Sweet Pea." #RememberingJones
— Cody Alan (@CodyAlan) May 2, 2013
First Lady Laura Bush spoke movingly and included this touching thought, written by her husband President George Bush to Nancy Jones: “We can only imagine how beautiful the heavens sound.”
Laura Bush recites part of a letter husband George wrote to Nancy. "We can only imagine how beautiful the heavens now sound" @gjpossum
— Stacy McCloud (@stacymccloud) May 2, 2013
Former First Lady Laura Bush heading to podium to speak at #GeorgeJones memorial. pic.twitter.com/IBUmygfuyZ
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
#NowOnNC5 Frmr First Lady Laura Bush #RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/N9Q4R9pxfG
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
@laurawbush Beautiful words from a true First Lady pic.twitter.com/w05E0se0nT
— Cindy Tschorn Stokes (@cyndergator) May 2, 2013
"We're left with the gift of his songs on earth and we can only imagine how beautiful the heavens sound." -Laura Bush pic.twitter.com/aApjiMfNqE
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/Infidelzfun/status/329995451929620481
"Nobody made music like a man from east Texas named George Jones." – Former 1st Lady @laurawbush #RememberingJones
— cmt (@CMT) May 2, 2013
Laura Bush says in the White House gym she often heard George W walking the treadmill listening to George J.
#RIPGeorgeJones— Chris Cannon (@_ChrisCannon_) May 2, 2013
"I heard White Lighnin' as George W. worked out on the treadmill to George J." – Laura Bush #rememberingjones
— Kelly Sutton (@thekellysutton) May 2, 2013
Former First Lady @laurawbush graciously shared a comforting tribute to George Jones @gjpossum family and friends #RememberingJones #RIP
— Lori Maldonado (@LoriGGFilmz) May 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/RightWordWriter/status/329996257667997697
Laura Bush is so classy . What a beautiful speech she made . #rememberingjones
— Whiskey Girl ??❤️ (@whiskeygirl73) May 2, 2013
Complete vision of class and a lovely tribute to @gjpossum by @laurawbush…thank you for sharing your stories! #RememberingJones
— GreatAmericanCountry (@gactv) May 2, 2013
Brad Paisley reminisced and offered up a stirring performance of “Me and Jesus”:
Brad Paisley speaking now about how his horse was on Jones' land. Paisley will sing Me & Jesus. #georgejones pic.twitter.com/cJGM9jIhw2
— Stephanie Beecken (@StephBeecken) May 2, 2013
#NowOnNC5 – @BradPaisley to perform next tribute.
#RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/AkXET2K3SU— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
Brad Paisley on #GeorgeJones "I encourage people to get Jones' music to see what the ruckus is all about." pic.twitter.com/556XW2n477
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
#NowOnNC5 – @BradPaisley to performing #RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/H58s4izb6c
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
I'm going to save this one. Brad Paisley is singing "Me and Jesus" at the George Jones memorial right now. #foxnash pic.twitter.com/z2uCqwInzI
— Scott Couch (@Scott_Couch) May 2, 2013
' @BradPaisley advised those who don't know @gjpossum's music to go discover it now. He says "I'll miss him forever." #RememberingJones
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) May 2, 2013
And Gov. Huckabee gave the eulogy. We suspect there were no dry eyes in the (Grand Ole Opry) House.
#NowOn5 Gov. Mike Huckabee at the #RIPGeorgeJones pic.twitter.com/Oqb1iMslG7
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) May 2, 2013
Gov. Mike Huckabee now giving eulogy. Jones understood feelings & pressures & he sang the songs that cried for us pic.twitter.com/slyZ6VCZqa
— Stephanie Beecken (@StephBeecken) May 2, 2013
Gov. Huckabee on #GeorgeJones: "You didn't just listen to his voice, you felt like you were living it." pic.twitter.com/IirdpJKVZQ
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/bmd/status/330002863231225858
Mike Huckabee's eulogy for George Jones was fantastic… Very powerful. #rememberingjones
— Clint Tomerlin (@ClintTomerlin) May 2, 2013
Gov. Huckabee "If my dad ever thought I got to stand on stage & make music with #GeorgeJones he'd say 'son you made something of yourself.'"
— Ian Reitz (@IanReitz) May 2, 2013
"He had a song for the Saturday night honky tonk and for Sunday Morning church". – Gov Huckabee #rememberingjones
— Kelly Sutton (@thekellysutton) May 2, 2013
"Jesus would have been at the honkytonk on Saturday night. Not to live the life, but to love the people."-Huckabee #RememberingJones
— Olivia Luse (@olivialuse) May 2, 2013
"He wasn't just singing songs, he was painting pictures of life." – Governor Mike Huckabee #RememberingJones @gjpossum
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) May 2, 2013
Amen. Rest in peace, George Jones. We’ll miss you, Possum.