It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since country music lost one of its greatest and most legendary voices-George Jones. And while his passing was marked with an all-star tribute concert last November with Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Eric Church, Charlie Daniels and more, George's widow, Nancy, has something more intimate planned to mark the one-year anniversary of his passing.

On April 26 at 1 p.m., Nancy has invited friends and fans to join her at Nashville's Woodlawn Cemetery, where she will plant two dogwood trees at the "He Stopped Loving Her Today" monument.

"This day is going to be bittersweet," said Nancy in a release. "I know how much people loved George and the love has continued even a year later. I am so fortunate for the friends and fans that George and I made through the years. I want everyone to come celebrate with us, not because he is no longer with us, but to keep his legacy alive."

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Collin Raye soared to the top of the charts in the '90s, with powerful songs like 'Love, Me' and 'My Kind of Girl.' One of the most successful country artists of his generation, Raye has released more than a dozen albums, as well as over 40 singles, 22 of which landed in the Top 10.

 

The 53-year-old says he is disappointed with the direction country music is currently heading.

"I'm really depressed at how it has dumbed down to basically just a one dimensional 'let's party in the truck, gonna drink some cold beer," he admits to Fox News.

Raye acknowledges that he misses the way country music used to be.

 

"I grew up at a time when Merle Haggard was writing stuff like 'Mama's Hungry Eyes' and 'Sing Me Back Home' and [Kris] Kristofferson was writing 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' and 'Me and Bobby McGee,'" he says. "It was poetry. Country music has never been about chord progression or the complexity of the music. It's always been about lyrics and stories and real slices of life."

Not that the Arkansas native blames the artists that are currently storming up the charts and selling out arenas. He says the fault lies with those who never even stand behind a microphone.

 

"I'm not begrudging anybody their living," he says. "They're just trying to make a living. It's the 'gatekeepers' that we used to have in Nashville, which are the label heads who used to decide what was good enough to put out and what was not. And now they have just totally given in to that."

Raye, who released his latest album, 'Still on the Line...The Songs of Glen Campbell' last year, says he has always had a deep appreciation for the music that made him a household name.

 

"I'm passionate about it because I love our genre," he concedes. "I got into country music not to make a buck. I did it because I love it."

 

This year's festival will feature a great mixture of local and regional artists like Jarrell Smalls, The Sam Dennis Singers, Bishop Brian D. Moore and the Life Center Cathedral, Extreme Praise, and Nyki Smalls. Attendees can expect a variety of Lowcountry foods, family fun and more. Organizers have designed and new play area for the children called Kids World. This fun zone is packed with inflatable jump castles, colossal games and its own stage. This year kids ages 5-17 have the opportunity to display their talents during the

 

Amazing Kids with Talent Showcase.

The annual music celebration started 20 years ago as a way to create shared experiences between parents and children. This year the festival will feature a diverse multi-cultural lineup of regional and local artists who have supported the event over the years.

 

"We think of it as an annual family reunion," says Executive Director Creola Washington. "Twenty years is a long time and we are looking forward to another 20 years of celebrating with the families that come out to support this event each year."

 

"For those concerned about the walk from the parking area to the park, we will provide a shuttle and bus service from our parking lots directly onto the park," says Tony Washington, event organizer. "We want to make sure that everyone enjoys themselves, especially our elderly and special needs guests. Bring your lawn chair and come get your praise on with us."

 

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