During a special night aboard the Country Music Cruise 2023, country legend Jimmy Fortune took a break from the music to share something even more personal — the true story of how he met his wife, Nina. And by the end of it, the crowd was smiling through tears, touched by a love story that sounded like something straight out of a country song.
He then shared how fate brought Nina into his life during one of the most unexpected seasons. After years of performing with the Statler Brothers and navigating the ups and downs of life on the road, Jimmy admitted he wasn’t looking for love — but love had a way of finding him when he needed it most.
They met through mutual friends, and what started as a simple conversation quickly became an unshakable bond, filled with laughter, shared faith, and mutual respect. Jimmy spoke of how Nina stood by him, encouraged him, and became his partner not only in life but in spirit.
As he told the story, Nina sat in the front row, her eyes fixed on Jimmy, and the connection between them was unmistakable. The crowd gave a soft, knowing applause when Jimmy closed with this: