George Jones‘s funeral Thursday morning at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville will be open to the public.  The service will begin at 10 a.m. Central time.  Fans who can’t make it to the service can watch the funeral live on GAC and CMT at 11 a.m. Eastern.

Several more stars have shared their feelings for and memories of Jones since his passing last Friday at age 81:

Brenda Lee: “George has been my friend all these years and I was thinking the other day about a song that he had out called ‘Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes?’ And that’s never more poignant than right now.”

Barbara Mandrell: “He was always the most loving and fun as well as being the most gifted, talented singer that…ever existed.”

William Lee Golden: “There was no generation gaps in his appeal. He appealed to every generation. I don’t really know of many people that’s had that appeal.”

Joe Diffie: “He was the best country singer ever. And I mean I’ve heard Merle Haggard say that. Saw it on a tweet actually. And you know I remember Waylon Jennings, to quote him, said, ‘If everybody could sound like they wanted they’d sound just like George Jones.’”

Former first lady Laura Bush and Kenny Chesney are among those scheduled to speak at today’s funeral.  Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Kid Rock, Wynonna, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt and Ronnie Milsap are scheduled to perform musical tributes to Jones.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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