George Jones photo courtesy of Bandit Records
March 20, 2007 — George Jones surprised his audience during a show at the Ryman Auditorium Sunday night with some special surprise guests, the9513.com reports. Joe Nichols was backstage, waiting for his hero to go on when George asked if he'd like to come onstage for a song or two. George introduced Joe as "the future of traditional country music" before Joe performed "Workin' Man Blues" and joined George for "Yesterday's Wine."
George also brought up one of his favorite singers, Lee Ann Womack, to accompany him on "Golden Ring." But the biggest surprise of the evening came when Tanya Tucker bounded onto the stage unannounced for the chorus of the final song, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," along with George and Joe.
After finishing the song, George turned to Tanya and said, "Don't you think we ought to tell these people who you are?" Tanya proceeded to sing "The Window Up Above" and, after prodding from George, performed her signature song, "Delta Dawn," while George donned her hat and danced in front of the drum set.
Joe called the experience "one of the coolest, most exciting moments of my life." He added, "George Jones is to country music what oxygen is to life — one simply cannot exist without the other, and I am honored beyond words that I have been given the gift of performing with this man."