Now every cowboy gets the movie’s happy ending, when they ride off into the sunset after saving the day. Nor does every country star get to go out on their own terms; Nashville’s “Music Row” is littered with heartbreak over careers that ended prematurely, or never took off in the first place.
And so,John Michael Montgomeryhas remained grateful while embarking on his final tour this year. The country star, who topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart seven times in the 1990s, announced he will retire at the end of 2025, with his final show set for Dec. 12. And while out on the road, Montgomery delivered a special message to those fans who may not get to see him before he hangs up his hat for good.
“Well, I appreciate everything [during] all these years,” said Montgomery, 60, when speaking with Country Minute. “It’s all about the fans. It ain’t about Nashville. It ain’t about any of that stuff. For me, it’s always been getting on stage and watching the people enjoy what I do.”
“To be able to do this as a living, for as long as I’ve been a kid—y’know, growing up in the music business—and to be where I am today, it’s only because there were people out there who came to see me,” he said. “Or, I’d be without a job. From the nightclubs, all the way to where I am today.”…