Buck Owens Laid To Rest

Bakersfield, California played host to one last big Buck Owens show on Sunday. Country music stars Garth Brooks, Dwight Yoakum, Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley showed up to pay their last respects to the man that shaped Bakersfield-style country music with his patented honky-tong twang.

More than 2,000 friends, family and well-wishers showed up at Bakersfield's Valley Baptist Church to remember Buck Owens, who died just more than a week ago (See Country Music Great Buck Owens Dies at 76). The funeral began with a photo montage of Buck Owens, set to Owens' tunes, including "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail", "Act Naturally" and "Love's Gonna Live Here".

Dwight Yoakum, Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins all performed at the ceremony. E Online quoted Paisley as saying " Buck gave birth to a movement. At the time when he came through, his music was so different. He was a maverick in the true sense of the word. A larger than life music legend who reinvented country music, epitomized musicianship and was the inspiration for countless artists." Paisley went on to say " If any good can come from his passing, I hope that it's a renewed interest in his achievements...He deserves to be remembered as one of the most important artists in all of music history." Paisley sang his song "When I Get To Where I'm Going" of his newest album, Time Well Wasted. According to The Mercury News, Paisley said "I never thought I'd be singing this for my friend."

Trace Adkins also performed at Buck Owens' funeral, singing "Wayfaring Stranger". Adkins went on to say about Owens, " I don't think most people are aware of what a contribution to the sound of country music Buck had," as E Online reports.

As well as Dwight Yoakum's performance of the hymn "In The Garden", George Jones wanted to lend his celebrity to the event. However, since Jones was unable to make the funeral due to his own health problems, he released a statement, saying "I am glad Buck and I got to spend some time together on his recent West Coast tour. He was a wonderful friend and he will be dearly missed."

Buck Owens' three sons, John, Buddy and Michael spoke at his funeral. They remembered Buck as a stern father figure, but a loving one with good advice. The BBC quoted Buddy Owens as saying "My father told me opening the door to success is the easy part. Staying there with pride is the challenge."

After the funeral service, which featured flowers arranged in his trademark red white and blue guitar shape, Buck Owens' body was moved to the Crystal Palace, Buck's museum and restaurant, where nearly 6,000 mourners were able to view Owens' open casket. Yesterday, in a private ceremony, Buck Owens was finally laid to rest.

Buck Owens died in his sleep on March 25th of an apparent heart attack. He had just finished performing at the Crystal Palace, and had one of his favorite dinners, a chicken-fried steak dinner. Owens leaves behind a legacy of music including "Act Naturally", "Streets of Bakersfield" and 15 other #1 hits. Buck Owens was also the co-host of Hee-Haw for 24 seasons.

[Additional Sources: E Online, Mercury News, BBC]