John Michael Montgomery Plots His Final Farewell
It’s always prudent to be a little speculative whenever an artist claims they’re playing their final tour or final show. Even someone like Robert Earl Keen who swore up and down it was truly the end suddenly reversed course. A performer like Barbara Mandrell who retired and stayed that way are the rare exception.
But something about this John Michael Montgomery announcement feels like it should be taken seriously, if only because he hasn’t been touring much at all in recent years. Montgomery announced in early 2024 that he’d be playing a final series of shows leading up to turning 60 in 2025, and would call it quits for good. Now he’s officially announced his farewell show.
Set for December 12th at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, John Michael Montgomery’s final show will be a family affair, with John Michael’s son Walker Montgomery also performing, along with his brother Eddie Montgomery of the duo Montgomery Gentry, and his son-in-law Travis Denning.
With all the retrospective praise for ’90s country these days, you would expect the appreciation for John Michael Montgomery to be even greater than it is. “I Love the Way You Love Me,” “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident),” “I Swear,” “I Can Love You Like That,” “If You Got Love,” and “Be My Baby Tonight” all hit #1, and deservedly so for one of the era’s greatest singers. “I Swear” was the top song in country overall in 1994 according to Billboard, and “Sold” was the top song in country in 1995.
John Michael Montgomery got his final #1 in 2000 with “The Little Girl,” and the song also gave him his first crossover Top 40 hit. Multiple other pop stars took songs Montgomery popularized and made them pop hits as well, including the R&B group All-4-One who covered “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That.” None of this mentions the eighteen Top 10s Montgomery had, including signature songs such as “Life’s a Dance.”
Unfortunately though, like we see so often with country legends, Music Row gave John Michael Montgomery about a 10-year shelf life before shuffling him out to pasture. And for whatever reason, even though many of his top songs are as cherished as any in country, his legacy was always overshadowed by Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and the other big artists who emerged in the ’90s decade.
Nonetheless, with the kind of legacy John Michael Montgomery forged and the longevity his songs have enjoyed, you would think he would be in the conversation for the Country Music Hall of Fame eventually.
Originally from Danville, Kentucky, John Michael Montgomery is also a major part of the Bluegrass State’s musical legacy, though he doesn’t always get mentioned in those conversations either. His dad Harold was also a country singer. John Michael grew up playing music, including in a group with Eddie called Early Tymz. Returning to Lexington for his final show is a full circle moment since this is where Montgomery got his start in the honky tonks.
“I stepped on a tour bus for the first time in 1992 and haven’t looked back since, but now it’s time to bring it all back home for my last concert and I can’t think of a better place than Rupp Arena. I wanted to celebrate this occasion with my family, so I invited some of them to perform with me. We are going to have a lot of fun and end this ride in a big way,” Montgomery says.
The final show is being promoted by Outback Presents, who is known for doing these kinds of special event concerts. The presale starts Wednesday, July 30th at 10am and runs through Thursday July 31st at 10pm. The presale code is “MONTGOMERY.” General sale starts Friday, August 1st at 10 am. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
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July 29, 2025 @ 6:26 pm
Oh Hell no.
July 29, 2025 @ 6:28 pm
Wow! What a career! How is he not in the HOF yet?
July 30, 2025 @ 8:09 am
Clint Black isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet.
July 29, 2025 @ 6:59 pm
very very cold winter’s night, Chicago, 2013: dinner at Brazilian cafe, down the block to a decaying theater for Joe Diffie -> John Michael Montgomery -> Tracy Lawrence -> cross the street to apartment building DIY venue for 2 noise rock bands in the basement laundry room. #goodtimes
July 29, 2025 @ 7:35 pm
I think the lack of releases over the past almost 20 years didn’t help with his legacy.
I’ve always wondered why he didn’t put anything new out during that time. I know some others have gone that long without new music but they don’t usually remain as active on touring as he did. Maybe just no inspiration?
July 30, 2025 @ 8:04 am
I doubt it. He was a 90s B-lister. A couple more albums that would have summarily ignored doesn’t change his status.
If I had to guess, he, like many of his generation, grew up during the time where country radio generally played the best. (Yes, I know exceptions existed). JMM probably didn’t want to release music that either embarrassingly pandered for a hit or was completely disregarded by radio.
After taking a quick look through his discography, I discovered the true reasoning; he doesn’t write much. He didn’t have a writing credit until his fourth album. The top-of-the-line songwriters started sending the meaty cuts once his star faded and he lacked the writing talent to make up the difference.
I checked his setlists and it is his hits with a few covers peppered in. His fans are likely satisfied with hearing the 90s hits.
July 30, 2025 @ 9:47 am
There’s something to be said for artists who remained artistically active and continued producing new material after their “major league” (hit-producing) careers concluded.” The icons, of course–Cash, Jones, Dolly, Loretta–and true musicians–Marty, Ricky, Vince–and also journeymen like Gene Watson and Moe Bandy. Of course, they need to hook up with a record lable that is insterested in them and believes in them.
July 30, 2025 @ 10:20 am
Agreed.
By the lack of writing credits, it strikes me that JMM just doesn’t have much to say.
He enjoys performing but his soul doesn’t feel the yearn to proclaim.
July 29, 2025 @ 7:40 pm
As someone who is a big fan of 90’s Country. A lot of his songs are some of my favorites from that era. I just saw his son, Walker during the 4th of July Holiday at my local festival. He puts on a great show too! Wish I could have seen John Michael in concert. He was a few hours away from me a few years ago but I went to see Michael Martin Murphey the same day.
July 29, 2025 @ 10:33 pm
I’d have done the same thing.
July 29, 2025 @ 8:00 pm
Letters From Home is a real heartbreaker of a country song, more than his love songs, in my view, and a classic example of how a great country song can compress a whole novel into three verses. If JMM is retiring I hope he’s peaceful and happy and rolling in the royalties.
July 29, 2025 @ 11:48 pm
…hands down one of the best soldier songs ever.
July 30, 2025 @ 7:07 am
I always thought that John should have teamed up with his brother Eddie Montgomery, especially after Troy Gentry’s untimely death in 2017. The brothers could have staged a joint album project and tour. This would have been a musical reunion for the brothers and allow them to present new and old material to the country music fans.
July 30, 2025 @ 8:31 am
John is on local radio show right now and said it’s his final show for his final tour and if he does any more shows after this it will be more like one offs because he has the itch to do a show. Hell of a career and reading his accolades hopefully at some point he gets in the HOF
July 30, 2025 @ 9:56 am
I wasnt the biggest fan of his big hits but lifes a dance and letters from home are top notch to me. Letters from home is a great song. To me his best regardless of chart position. The best country songs have something to say and that song says a lot to the right ear.