Randy McDaniel Admits Committing Country Music’s Ultimate Sin, Says ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ Is NOT Greatest Song Ever

Okay, let me just open up my arms wide right now so you can take your best shot.  I'm going to make a statement here that will rile a lot of Country Music fans, or at least Classic Country Music fans.  But what the heck, here's goes....get ready for the explosion.

George Jones 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' is not the greatest Country Music song ever recorded.

Hold on just a moment, let's let the smoke clear a bit.

According to survey after survey after survey, the George Jones smash 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' is the greatest Country song ever.  And it has the statistic's to back it up.  A Grammy Award in 1980.  The Country Music Association's Song Of The Year in 1980 and 1981.  And of course, sung by the acknowledged greatest country voice ever, George Jones (Ah, for me that honor goes to Merle Haggard, but we'll argue about that another day).

But if I met a person who had no idea what Country Music was, some guy that was from another planet and asked me 'Hey, skinny bald-headed stranger, what is this thing called 'Country Music', and I only have about 3 minutes?'....well, I would play for him...

'Don't Close Your Eyes' by Keith Whitley.  The song was written by legendary songwriter Bob McDill, and topped the Country Chart in August of 1988.  And no, I readily admit it doesn't have the 'credentials' of 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' or many other songs.

But to me, it is the essence of what country music is' or compared to the stuff put out these days, what country music should be.  Heart touching....and simple.

So if 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' is your greatest song ever, Bless Your Heart, you're right.  For me it's 'Don't Close Your Eyes' and I'm right, too.

That's the beautiful of this great music that we all love.