As expected, tributes from fellow artists honoring the late John Anderson are beginning to pour in, with a few taking to the stage and social media to pay their respects to the country music legend.
The Apopka, Florida, native and “Seminole Wind” singer left behind an incredible legacy of timeless hits and one of the most distinctive voices in country music when he passed away on Wednesday, October 21, at just 71 years old. The outpouring of tributes, prayers, and heartfelt messages for the Anderson family speaks volumes about just how deeply his unexpected passing has shaken the country music community.
“Loud and Heavy” singer Cody Jinks decided to pay his respects in the way he knows best, sharing a stripped-down acoustic cover of Anderson’s 1993 hit, “I Wish I Could Have Been There.” He posted a snippet to his social media pages, with the full-length rendition shared to his YouTube channel, in which he starts out the video saying, “Yesterday we lost one of my all-time favorites, John Anderson. I couldn’t tell you how many John Anderson songs I’ve played through the years int he Honky Tonks and bars.”
Delivering the tribute while out on the road, straight from his tour bus couch, the Texas native continued giving a teaser of his upcoming unreleased project, “I’m gonna play one of my favorite John Anderson songs which I actually cite this sing in a new song on my new record called Daddy’s Don’t Cry, yet to be released, next year 2027.” Before kicking off the tune on his guitar, he adds, “Rest in peace, John Anderson. Thank you for all of the great songs; thank you for the uniqueness, a true troubadour man.”
The song itself is a true heart-tugger, and one Jinks admitted he often thinks about while out on the road. Throughout the track, Anderson reflects on missing some of life’s biggest milestones while touring, from the birth of his daughter and his son’s first home run to watching his children grow up and leave home. And as if the song wasn’t already enough of a gut punch, hearing Jinks’ raw, stripped-down rendition just days after Anderson’s passing makes it hit that much harder.
Check out the full performance below: