It’s always amazing when singers bring a new twist to a classic song. That’s exactly what happened when actor and singer Jonathan Jackson appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee a few years back.
He did a cover of the 1965 mega hit that will literally send chills down your spine.
Jonathan’s voice is so smooth and the singer effortlessly transitions through both high and low notes with incredible grace. The performance had us on a rollercoaster of emotions.
You can’t help but smile at how good the singer is, but at the same time, the song itself is actually quite sad.
“Unchained Melody” is a ballad of long lost love and the lyrics are extremely melancholic.
“Oh, my love, my darling,
I’ve hungered for your touch,
A long lonely time,
Time goes by so slowly,
And time can do so much”
The song is one of the most powerful oldies ever written, yet Jonathan definitely manages to do the track justice, staying true to the original spirit of the song while adding in his own unique flair to the melody as well. His performance is filled with so much passion and soulfulness.
We have to say, we feel like Jonathan’s version is actually even more haunting than the original, if that’s possible.
Part of it might be due to the incredible acting skills he has picked up over the years.
For those who don’t know, Jonathan Jackson actually got his start in the world of entertainment as an actor on the daytime drama series General Hospital. He played the role of “Lucky Spencer” on the series for almost 20 years.
Now, in addition to his music career, he also plays the role of “Avery Barkley” on the hit TV show Nashville, which we imagine likely had a lot to do with his recent Grand Ole Opry appearance. Because of his current acting position, he is already totally linked into the Nashville music scene and we bet he has quite the ability to draw crowds in the area.
Regardless, Jonathan definitely gave it his all out there on the stage, which is part of why we love the Grand Ole Opry so much.
The famous Nashville stage has a way of bringing out the best in people.
There is so much tradition behind it that all musicians consider it a huge honor if they get invited to perform there. It is one of the most classic American venues and there is no better place to sing a cover of a classic American song.
While Grand Ole Opry is generally more geared towards country music, over the years, all kinds of different acts have performed at the venue, from bands to comedians, to skits.
The famous weekly stage concert series has been putting on regular events for almost 100 years now since they first started all the way back in 1925.
Almost all of the shows are broadcast live too. While that originally meant just radio broadcasts, they have since expanded to Internet streams now as well.
However, in case you missed it live, the whole video of Jonathan Jackson’s performance of “Unchained Melody” at the Grand Ole Opry can now be viewed on the venue’s YouTube channel. They posted the epic clip for the entire world to enjoy, and we have to say, the performance has definitely earned a spot in our hearts. We highly recommend checking it out.
Watch Jonathan Jackson’s full performance at the Grand Ole Opry below.
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