Troy Gentry killed in helicopter crash

[rsandcm1]

Posted on the Montgomery Gentry website:


"It is with great sadness that we confirm that Troy Gentry, half of the popular country duo, Montgomery Gentry, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash which took place at approximately 1:00pm today in Medford, New Jersey. The duo was scheduled to perform tonight at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford. Troy Gentry was 50 years old.

Details of the crash are unknown.

Troy Gentry's family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers, and asks for privacy at this time."

[Deleted]

I saw this on the Internet, but couldn't find any other articles, so I wasn't sure if it was real. I was never really a fan, but I am shocked and really saddened by this. It's so tragic, and I can't imagine what his family is going through. God, this is so horrible! Rest in peace Troy.

[phil1996]

I'm in disbelief. Montgomery Gentry is all I ever listened to growing up. I'll never forget being 12 years old and seeing them for the first time....will always remember Troy telling the audience "you guys are more than just fans....you're friends". That really sums up the kind of guy he was. Not to mention all of the work he did with the troops over the years. "Something To Be Proud Of" is the song that made me realize what life's all about. He truly lived a life he could hang his hat on.

Thoughts and prayers going out to the other half of the duo, Eddie Montgomery, along with Troy's family. Can't imagine what they're going through right now. You'll be missed, Troy. Your music will live on forever. Thank you for playing such a big role in my childhood. Rest in peace.

[countrymusicjunkie]

Man, I just heard about the passing of both Troy and Don Williams. I'm still in shock, what a terrible tragedy. I've been a fan of Montgomery Gentry ever since I heard their second single "Lonely And Gone". I've seen them live a couple of times and they put on a great show with a lot of energy. I like most of MG's music but I've always preferred Troy's voice to Eddies.

My heart hurts for Eddie and especially for Troy's family.

[phil1996]

Man. I thought this song was gut wrenching before. Written and sung by Eddie. Good lord does this one hit the heart.

[Andy]

Awful news. Montgomery Gentry's music was absolutely instrumental in me becoming a country music fan as a kid in the late '90s and early '00s. I regard songs like "Lonely and Gone", "Cold One Comin' On", "Speed", "She Couldn't Change Me" and several others as among the finest country music of that era. I was shocked and saddened to learn of Troy's death. Gone way too soon.

[Deleted]

MG was a frequent sound coming through my speakers when I first became a fan of country music. I had the pleasure of seeing them live at a small venue after all their major hits had already been released. Hands down one of the best shows I have seen--the chemistry between Eddie and Troy was phenomenal to witness.

What an awful tragedy. Based on social media he clearly made a lasting impression on every soul he met. May the Lord be with Troy's family, friends, and fans.

[castleoblivion26]

never got to see MG live unfortunately because I have not been to that many concerts but I've been a fan ever since I first heard "Hillbilly Shoes". I think throughout their entire career there has only been like 2 songs I wasn't a fan of. Just a huge fan and absolutely heartbroken over this and the news about Jo Dee Messina

[George Strait Junkie]

anyone have a list of songs from their albums of the songs Troy sang lead on i want to make a playlist thanks

[justin5545]

MG was an act that I've always wanted to see live but never did. Unfortunately they never came around my neck of the woods in recent years

[hank0629]

can't stop listen to their songs right now.....

[someguy]

So tragic. They're an act that got into country music after I was already a big fan. So sad what's happened. I hope his wife and daughters are at peace.

[sabre14]

Montgomery Gentry was supposed to release a new lead single off Average Joe's in a few weeks to radio. No idea if they still will but it would make sense if they decided to change plans.

[LBTrocks]

I still can't believe that Troy is gone. It has sunk in by now, but still seems so surreal. This is really hard to accept. I was lucky enough to see them live several times and they always put on one of the best shows. The thought of no more Montgomery Gentry is truly unfathomable to me right now.

And then I heard about their new album and how it was going to be released for fans. It was extremely bittersweet. Sad to know that it will be there final album and that Troy isn't here for it's release, but it also made me feel good to know there is still an album from them waiting to be heard. I am so glad it exists and that fans will be able to buy it and enjoy it.

[phil1996]

I'm glad they're releasing the album. Wouldn't be right to never hear another MG song again

[Cody Wants Out...]

Sept 10, 2017 19:54:30 GMT -5 LBTrocks said:

I still can't believe that Troy is gone. It has sunk in by now, but still seems so surreal. This is really hard to accept. The thought of no more Montgomery Gentry is truly unfathomable to me right now.

I echo this sentiment, except that it has not sunk in my head yet.

[LBTrocks]

Sept 10, 2017 20:49:03 GMT -5 Cody Wants Out... said:

Sept 10, 2017 19:54:30 GMT -5 LBTrocks said:

I still can't believe that Troy is gone. It has sunk in by now, but still seems so surreal. This is really hard to accept. The thought of no more Montgomery Gentry is truly unfathomable to me right now.

I echo this sentiment, except that it has not sunk in my head yet.

I feel like the fact that it happened has sunk in, but it still doesn't seem real at all to me. I was contracting myself like crazy in my post because I'm all over the map with this, but that's what I was trying to say. 

Details of Troy's memorial service have been released. It will be at the Grand Ole Opry on Thursday, 11:00 AM Central Time. There will be a live stream of it on the Opry's website. I hope it's archived afterwards, because I work during the day and won't be able to watch live. But I want to see it. I have to. 

Here's an article about it + his obituary 

www.lex18.com/story/36337904/funeral-arrangements-announced-for-troy-gentry

[phil1996]

My love for MG started in 2005. I was 9 years old eating a kid cusiene watching the CMT Top 20 Countdown with Lance Smith because my parents had it on. Wasn't really into music at all outside of The Beatles at the time. I saw Lance interviewing these 2 dudes who looked and sounded like the most hilarious and totally awesome people. Then they showed their video "Something to be Proud of", and I loved it. Something clicked.

I went back every week to see how the video would do on the top 20, and eventually after a long wait at #2, it reached the top. I wanna say it was "Like We Never Loved at All" by Tim and Faith that was blocking it for a while. But I kept tuning in.

Next came "She Don't Tell Me To" and after that, my mom had bought me their Greatest Hits album that had just been released. Every single song I loved, and shortly after, my mom took me to FYE music store where we got all of their CD's released to date. For the next year or so those were the only CD's I listened to. I became hooked.

When I saw online that "Some People Change" album was getting released, I made a countdown on the family fridge with a bunch of pieces of paper with numbers, to count down til release date. I've NEVER been so excited to buy new CD's like I was with Some People Change and Back When I knew it All. No previews, I just had to wait. It was some of the best I've ever felt in life listening to those albums for the first time. I first heard "Some People Change" from "CMT Power Picks". I was hoping like hell it would beat "My oh My" by the Wreckers, because at the time I had no idea MG had new stuff out. First heard "Back when I Knew it All" on Sirius 60 with Storme Warren; and again I had no clue they had new music til that just happened.

Every CMA/ACM show, I was rooting like crazy for them to take home those Duo of the Year awards. It made me HATE Sugarland and Brooks and Dunn, let me tell ya. Once I got older I learned to respect just how talented Sugarland/B and D were, lol. I was hooked on them until I matured more (2010), then I started to focus on more things.

Radio started to ignore them for a bit in 2010-2011 and that's when Eric Church burst on to the scene for me. But I still loved MG, and the Rebels on the Run album. Then their radio career was officially over after that gem of an album and I kind of realized it, but wasn't upset because of how many amazing songs they've cut. "Folks Like Us" outside of maybe 1-2 songs was really mediocre, and you could tell they were kinda just in it for the tour and fun at that point.

It's devastating what happened to Troy, but I'm truly thankful for all of the great memories MG gave me over the years. They were my childhood. Eddie and Troy lived life to the absolute fullest in their 20+ years of music, and it was really inspiring. Nobody had more fun than those guys. No one.

********This is my all time favorite MG video. This is them in their primes. The most fun, energetic concert video I've EVER seen. For those who want to know how much fun and how exciting MG was, here you go. There's nobody in the genre who puts together energy and fun like these two did. Not even close.

/

[onebuffalo]

A celebration of Troy Gentry:

www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/169656/public-celebration-of-life-held-for-troy-gentry

[LBTrocks]

I just watched the memorial service/celebration of life...

Not even a minute into the actual service, I stared crying like a baby. I cried all the way though Little Big Town's performance of the National Anthem. The tears didn't end there, that's for sure. Multiple times throughout the service I completely lost it again. I knew there were going to be tears, but I had no idea to what extent until I started watching. Troy and Eddie and their music truly touched my soul. It's a part of me and a part of who I am. Troy and MG will be greatly, greatly missed. I'll never listen to their music the same way again, but I am so glad that we have it and that Troy will live on through it. I will cherish it, and them, forever.

It was a beautiful service and so many beautiful things were said about Troy. Listening to stories from his closest friends made me feel closer to Troy than I ever had before. I knew he was a good man, but I truly feel like I know who he is after watching the service. As hard as it was to watch it, and as hard as I'm sure it will be for other fans as well, I strongly suggest you take the time to do so. I will provide a link to the YouTube video of it I watched.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrk_2ycV8h4

Rest easy, Troy.

[phil1996]

Sept 14, 2017 20:43:36 GMT -5 LBTrocks said:

I just watched the memorial service/celebration of life...

Not even a minute into the actual service, I stared crying like a baby. I cried all the way though Little Big Town's performance of the National Anthem. The tears didn't end there, that's for sure. Multiple times throughout the service I completely lost it again. I knew there were going to be tears, but I had no idea to what extent until I started watching. Troy and Eddie and their music truly touched my soul. It's a part of me and a part of who I am. Troy and MG will be greatly, greatly missed. I'll never listen to their music the same way again, but I am so glad that we have it and that Troy will live on through it. I will cherish it, and them, forever.

It was a beautiful service and so many beautiful things were said about Troy. Listening to stories from his closest friends made me feel closer to Troy than I ever had before. I knew he was a good man, but I truly feel like I know who he is after watching the service. As hard as it was to watch it, and as hard as I'm sure it will be for other fans as well, I strongly suggest you take the time to do so. I will provide a link to the YouTube video of it I watched.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrk_2ycV8h4

Rest easy, Troy.

It was rough. It's hard to hold back tears when you watch videos of them together on stage, and how much they loved what they did. Eddie always twirling that microphone stand, always doing some inexplicably hilarious sh*t during their rowdy songs. Troy always cracking some one liners in there. They were not only a ton of fun, but also funny. I'm glad I got to see them a couple of times...was supposed to see them this past Sunday :(

I just can't imagine being Eddie right now. I truly have never met, or seen 2 dudes with a tighter connection. They loved eachother more than a good amount of married couples in the world. More than friends, more than brothers, you can't really come up with words to describe how tight those two were. Damn. Eddie was always so happy, and now I don't know if he'll ever see that happiness again. I really hope the people in his corner give him all the love in the world. It hurts to imagine Eddie not being the hilarious hillbilly we all know and love. I don't even know what anyone could possibly do for him at this point. A part of him is gone now. Same goes for the Gentry family.

Can Eddie, John Michael, and John's son please keep Montgomery Gentry going? Ala Lynyrd Skynrd? Can Eddie and his wife join Angie and her daughters and create a Full House type of family? I just want these guys to heal so bad it hurts. And it's truly difficult to think of how you could possibly heal after something like this.

[George Strait Junkie]

the new single is up on iTunes now man what a song

itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-me-single/id1282616597

[codyj100]

Sept 14, 2017 22:16:47 GMT -5 George Strait Junkie said:

the new single is up on iTunes now man what a song

itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-me-single/id1282616597

This song is great. It gives me chills listening and knowing this is the beginning of the end for them as a duo. This is the last lead single we will get from MG. It's bittersweet. Hopefully he's looking down, smiling because Troy should be proud of this. He will continue to live on.