About the song
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest country songs of all time. Released in April 1980, the song marked a pivotal moment in Jones’s career, revitalizing his status as a leading figure in country music. Written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, the song tells a heartbreaking story of a man who never stopped loving a woman, even though she had left him long ago. The emotional weight of the song is revealed when it becomes clear that the man’s love only ends with his death.
This poignant ballad was featured on Jones’s album I Am What I Am, released the same year. The song’s success was monumental, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, where it stayed for 18 weeks. It also won multiple awards, including the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in both 1980 and 1981, a rare accomplishment. The song earned George Jones his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1981.
The production, helmed by Billy Sherrill, paired Jones’s rich, expressive voice with a simple yet powerful arrangement, allowing the song’s narrative to take center stage. Jones’s delivery of the lyrics, filled with raw emotion, resonated deeply with listeners, and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” became synonymous with his legacy. Despite Jones’s initial doubts about the song—he famously thought it was too morbid to be a hit—it went on to become his signature song and is often cited as a pinnacle of country music storytelling.
Even decades later, “He Stopped Loving Her Today” remains a standard in country music, admired for its storytelling, emotional depth, and the way it showcases the unique talent of George Jones. For many, it stands as the definitive country music tearjerker, a song that exemplifies the genre’s ability to capture heartache and love lost.