Joe Nichols recorded a cover of George Jones' 1999 hit "Choices" as the final installment in his Never Gets Old: Traditional Country Series.
It's a bold move to cover one of the greatest singers in the genre, but Nichols does so with confidence, explaining in a video that the song's message about living with the decisions one makes — for better or worse — resonates with him. Like countless other country singers who've followed in the Possum's footsteps, Nichols has always looked at Jones' life and career with great respect. "I've always been a fan of George Jones," Nichols said in a video introducing the song. "I love his voice, I love what he did for country music and I love his story."
His traditional vocal style matches Jones' richness, making it a respectful ode to the singer that deviates just enough to make it original.
Read More: Hear Joe Nichols' Nostalgic Cover of Don Williams' 'Good Ole Boys Like Me'
This isn't the first time Nichols has paid tribute to Jones. Following Jones' death in 2013, Nichols joined Randy Travis for the duet "Tonight I'm Playin' Possum," which explored how lifelong fans dealt with the loss of one of the greatest singers of all time.
The "Billy Graham's Bible" singer has recorded several classic country songs over the course of 2018, beginning with "Good Ole Boys Like Me" by Don Williams and covering a range of country music artists like Merle Haggard, Ronnie Milsap, Keith Whitley and more. The entire series is available for stream and download.
"Choices," which won Jones a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, was originally released as part of The Cold Hard Truth and quickly became a career-defining hit.
