Little Big Town, Vince Gill Honor Troy Gentry at Emotional Memorial Service

Family, friends, fans, and colleagues of the late Troy Gentry poured into the Grand Ole Opry House to pay their respects to the singer. 

Written by Lauren Jo Black
Little Big Town, Vince Gill Honor Troy Gentry at Emotional Memorial Service
Little Big Town; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

On Thursday morning (Sept. 14), family, friends, fans and colleagues of the late Troy Gentry, of award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry, poured into the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to mourn the loss of the beloved father, friend, philanthropist, and musician.

As attendees filed in, batman signals lit up the room as photos and videos of Gentry’s life scrolled across the screens. His casket was placed center stage, surrounded by white roses, his guitar, and his prized Batman costume.

The 90-minute memorial service was filled with tears and laughter as everyone came together to pay their respects to Gentry and to remember the man whose smile could light up any room.

Celebration of Life For Troy Gentry at Grand Ole Opry House; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

Celebration of Life For Troy Gentry at Grand Ole Opry House; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

Several members of the country music community, including Keith Urban, Randy Owen, Ricky Skaggs, Michael Ray, and Travis Tritt were on hand to mourn the loss of Gentry and support his duo partner Eddie Montgomery.

To begin, Little Big Town took the stage, at the request of Gentry’s wife Angie, to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Honoring Gentry’s love for the USA, the quartet stunned with their pristine harmonies.

A visibly emotional Storme Warren, who was a longtime friend of Gentry’s, welcomed attendees to the service. As he shared memories and stories of Troy, Warren challenged everyone to live like Troy did and to be better at loving people and loving God.

Vince Gill; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

Vince Gill; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images

A number of fellow artists paid tribute to Gentry throughout the ceremony, including Halfway 2 Hazard, who performed “My Old Kentucky Home,” Trace Adkins, who sang “Wayfaring Stranger,” and Charlie Daniels, who performed “How Great Thou Art.”

Vince Gill brought everyone, including himself, to tears when he took the stage. Before his performance of  “Whenever You Come Around,” which was the very first song that Troy ever sang to his wife, he took a moment to acknowledge Montgomery. Gill urged him to lean on his Opry family during this difficult time. “Don’t disappear,” he told him as several artists, including Urban, got up from their seats to offer Montgomery a hug.

As Gentry’s friends took the stage to remember him, there was one common theme among their speeches: love. Gentry was a man who loved his family, his friends, his fans, his country, music, and God. He meant so much to so many people and he will never be forgotten.

Gentry died on Friday (Sept. 8) in Medford, New Jersey after a helicopter he was riding in crashed before the duo’s concert at the Flying W Airport and Resort. The 50-year-old singer is survived by his wife Angie and daughters Taylor and Kaylee.