How Eddie Montgomery Faced Troy Gentry's Funeral
The surviving half of Montgomery Gentry released a new song by the duo at the service.
By Courtney Campbell
Following a tearful goodbye to Troy Gentry at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House last Thursday, the other half of Montgomery Gentry, Eddie Montgomery, paid tribute to their musical legacy by releasing a new song by the duo, called "Better Me," at the end of the memorial service.
The pair was working on their forthcoming album when Gentry died in a tragic helicopter accident on Sept. 8. "Better Me" was meant to be the first single from that album, initially set to be released in 2018, according to Rolling Stone, though it's now unclear if the album will be released at all.
In the song, Gentry sings of wilder days and his attempts to become a better man: "I've turned the page on wilder days, I'm writing all this down hoping you see. I ain't sayin' I'm perfect, but I'm working on a better me." (Listen to the full song in the video above.)
As friends, family, and fans are still coping with the loss of the country music star, "Better Me" shows what kind of legacy Gentry will leave behind as a great storyteller. Montgomery has been grieving quietly since his partner's death, but was showered with support at the funeral service.
At the memorial, Gentry's casket was placed in the famous circle in the middle of the Opry stage, where he often stood to sing with Montgomery, and was surrounded by sprays of white and red roses.
The members of Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels and Trace Adkins were among the country music stars who gathered at the service to sing songs of tribute. Gill encouraged Montgomery, who was seated in the audience, to lean on the Opry family and to return to the stage as he deals with the grief of losing his musical partner.
Gill teared up as he performed his own song, "Whenever You Come Around," which was the first song that Gentry sang for his wife, Angie.
Mike Glenn, senior pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church, talked about how Gentry's faith had deepened in recent years and he was a better person for it.
"Now he was the best Troy we had ever seen," Glenn said. "His music was better; his writing was better."
Vince Gill Teared Up At Troy Gentry Memorial
Courtney Campbell Courtney is a web editorial fellow for CountryLiving.com and WomansDay.com.
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