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Country stars paid tribute to Jeff Cook as they mourned the loss of the legendary musician, who co-founded the band Alabama and released smash-hit songs for decades. Cook died peacefully on Monday (November 7), “with his family and close friends by his side at his beach home in Destin, Florida,” as confirmed on Alabama’s social media channels on Tuesday (November 8). He was 73.
Cook founded the ban, a trio of cousins, with Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, and went on to release classic country anthems like “Dixieland Delight,” “I’m in a Hurry,” “My Home’s in Alabama,” and many, many others throughout his career. Cook stopped touring with Alabama in 2018 because of his health — he revealed in 2017 that he’d been battling Parkinson’s disease, which he faced for about the last 10 years of his life — though he encouraged the band to continue performing because he never wanted “the music to stop or the party to end,” according to a statement shared on the band’s social media on Tuesday.
Brad Paisley was among the first country artists to honor Cook, sharing a throwback photo and writing in a heartfelt caption: “One of the highlights of my life is getting to record and jam with you guys. You fought this terrible disease with grace, Jeff. My heart goes out to your wife and the boys and the band. We will miss you.”
Jason Aldean recently released his first-ever Christmas song as a nod to the the band, deeming them “my musical heroes,” when he debuted his version of “Christmas in Dixie” on November 4. He said in a tribute on Tuesday: “So sad to hear of the passing of Jeff Cook. I spent a lot of my life listening to him play guitar, what an iconic sound he had. I got a chance to perform with him multiple times over the years and I will never forget it. RIP Mr. Jeff, you are a legend to many of us and your influence will be felt forever in country music.”
Others, including Kenny Chesney, The Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt and more — as well as organizations like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association — also took a moment to remember Cook. See some of the tributes to the late Alabama star below: