Understandably, Eddie Montgomery has been keeping things low-key after the tragic death of his Montgomery Gentry partner Troy Gentry in a helicopter crash on Friday, September 8th in Medford, New Jersey.
According to the band’s record label, Average Joes Entertainment, Montgomery Gentry had been working to complete an album to commemorate their nearly twenty years as a country music duo. Following Troy’s passing, a track from the project titled “Better Me” was released to the public in honor of the late musician’s memory.
In a message sent to radio programmers and obtained by Taste of Country, Eddie Montgomery shares his feelings publicly for the first time since Troy’s death.
“I want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. Our world was turned upside down in an instant, and nothing could have prepared us for this,” Montgomery expressed.
“Over the past few months me and T-Roy have been working on what I think is the best record of our career. In the last few weeks we had been talking about what our first single would be. Then on September 8, none of that mattered.”
“‘Better Me’ is a song we all loved,” Montgomery continues. “It speaks volumes about his life and who he had become and everybody he touched and how much he loved his family. I am so proud of this song and also to call him my friend, my family, my brother for 30 years.”
In the tune, Gentry takes the vocal lead and sings of crazier times and his attempts to become a better man: “I’ve turned the page on wilder days/ I’m writing all this down hoping you see/ I ain’t sayin’ I’m perfect, but I’m working on a better me.”
Listen to “Better Me” below.
On September 15th, Eddie Montgomery’s wife, Jennifer, offered the first public statement from the extended Montgomery Gentry family via Twitter, sharing, “We want to thank you for the outpouring of love, comfort, and prayers. Friends like you have helped us get through this difficult time.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report on the crash, which expands upon initial reports that the helicopter pilot, James Evan Robinson, experienced mechanical issues prior to the fatal accident. The final report could take up to a year to produce.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Troy Gentry’s loved ones.
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