Alabama was honored with a star-studded show, as part of the TV special, CMT Giants: Alabama, with numerous artists performing in tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame members, including Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and more.
It was a bittersweet moment for the two remaining members, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, who mourned the loss of Jeff Cook, the third member, who passed away in 2022 from Parkinson’s disease.
“We miss our cousin,” Owen said during the concert. “I wish Jeff could be here tonight … Thanks for taking the time to acknowledge the blood, sweat and tears that we have been through. Me and Teddy have been through a lot together.”
Gentry also spoke out about the loss of Cook, and the unlikely way the three cousins began their now-legendary career.
“Me and Randy, we haven’t gotten to spend a lot of time with our family over the years, but that don’t mean that we don’t love them more than anything in the world,” an emotional Gentry said from stage. “It ain’t been the same since Jeff passed away. The three of us, we put our beds in the same bedroom, down in Gadsden, Alabama. We’d turn out the lights, and we’d sing until one or two o’clock in the morning. It wasn’t too good then, but it was getting better.
“But this is a very special evening for us,” he continued. “I’m humbled by all the artists that have gotten here and performed Alabama songs. I remember walking across the field after getting in from school, and Randy said, ‘Hey, I found a new chord on this Beatles’ song here.’ I said, ‘Well, show it to me.’ He did. And that was our connection to the world, from a little cotton field in Northeast Alabama, was the music.”
The loss of Cook was understandably devastating to both Owen and Gentry, who had spent their entire adult lives performing as a threesome.
“He lived to play our music we created together,” Owen said at the time. “He could play any instrument he chose, but his harmonies I’ll miss the most. I’m thankful we got to create music together for over 50 years! Wish we could play ‘My Home’s in Alabama’ one more time. I’m hurt in a way I can’t describe! … Play on, Jeff. Love you!”
“Closer than brothers, we lived together more than with our immediate families,” added Gentry. “Don’t think I’ve known anyone who loved playing more. Jeff, along with me and Randy, experienced the highs of undreamed success, as well as some very tough early years. None of us were perfect, but together we had something so special it will never die. No other guitar player I’ve known had the range of styles Jeff had. No one can take your place. Ever. Rest in peace till we get to jam again.”
Several encore performances of CMT Giants: Alabama will air on CMT, MTV and CMT Music throughout the month.
Find all of Alabama’s music and upcoming shows at TheAlabamaBand.com.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for CMT