It’s always cool seeing some old footage of country music superstars, before anybody even knew who they were. It’s also crazy to me how many stars competed in these singing competitions, trying to get their name out there, and didn’t even win.

Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves both got their start on Nashville Star – and neither of them won. Morgan Wallen was on The Voice and didn’t make it out of the playoff rounds to compete on the live shows. And the list goes on and on.

It just goes to show how these “competitions” really don’t mean all that much when it comes to finding the next big thing. But every once in a while, somebody comes through one of these shows and ends up going on to become a superstar… and I guess that’s what keeps us all watching.

For example? Mr. Alan Jackson.

Alan was featured on the Tennessee News Network’s show You Can Be A Star, a daily talent show featuring amateur country singers, way back in 1985. But Alan wasn’t a contestant, he actually worked in the mailroom at TNN and was sitting in the audience at the time. He performed a little rendition of George Jones’ hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today” as the show was headed to a commercial break. Little did everybody in that room know they were getting to watch a country mega-star in the making.

As is turns out, Glen Campbell saw that performance and hired Alan as a writer with his publishing company, and he went on to become the first act ever signed to Arista Records. Alan’s longtime producer, Keith Stegall, was also a judge on the show, who saw this brief performance, and the rest was history. He produced just about every album Jackson has ever released.

Talk about the right place at the right time.

Alan Jackson Sings At George Jones’ Funeral

Alan Jackson would later go on to perform at George Jones’ funeral, many years later.

A video resurfaced on YouTube of Alan Jackson singing at country legend George Jones‘ funeral back in 2013, covering one of Jones’ all-time classics: “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Fighting back the tears, Jackson delivers an incredible rendition to the crowd, the auditorium at the Grand Ole Opry erupting with claps and cheers as he hits the crescendo of the ’80s classic.

You can tell Alan was doing his best to keep from breaking down, as Jones was an inspiration to himself as well as tons of other country music singers. But as he approaches the final notes, he just can’t quite fight it any longer.

He pulls off his cowboy hat for one last goodbye, and with a tear in his eye, works up the strength to say, “We love you, George.”

Talk about cutting DEEP.