‘Incredibly Nervous’ Kellie Pickler Returns To Stage For First Time Since Losing Her Husband

Nearly 14 months after the untimely death of songwriter Kyle Jacobs, his wife made a triumphant return. An emotional Kellie Pickler performed on stage for the first time since losing her husband, Kyle. Monday night's performance from Kellie was part of a special tribute and held a special significance, as you will find out about, below.

Kellie and Kyle started dating in 2008, according to ABC News. The couple married in 2011, and you may remember they even had a CMT reality TV series together called I Love Kellie Picker. In a 2014 interview with ABC, Pickler said, ""I love my husband, but I actually like him too. We actually really like each other. We are doing great, can't complain in that department."

Kellie Pickler performed in what was a night filled with all kinds of emotions. She was there at the Ryman Auditorium to be part of a special tribute to Patsy Cline. It was quite a star-studded affair at Walkin' After Midnight: The Music of Patsy Cline. However, this night had much more significance than Kellie's return to performing. As she shared on stage, and reported in People. her last date with her husband was there, at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for Kellie to take that first step, and in a place that meant so much to her. In typical Kellie fashion, she used humor to help get her through the nerves. She looked and sounded amazing, and spoke honestly and openly with her fans in the audience. She's always had such a great connection with people, which is a big reason she did so well on American Idol. The singer finished 6th on the competition show in 2005.

Music Mayhem Magazine caught Kellie's emotional moments in this Instagram post. She started with a song she and Kyle wrote together, that was also the title track of her 2013 album, The Woman I Am.

Kyle Jacobs was just 49 years old when he took his life in February of 2023.  If you or someone you know is suffering with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

Jacobs left behind a legacy of amazing songs he had a hand in writing. Take a look at these works of art from the late songwriter.

Songwriters are those quiet geniuses most of us never really get to know. They "write the songs that make the whole world sing," but we rarely see them. One songwriter we got to know a little was Kyle Jacobs. The highly respected Nashville songwriter married Kellie Pickler in 2011. The gentle genius of words and the sweet and sassy, high- profile singer who stole America's heart on American Idol, seemed to be a perfect pairing. The couple even had a reality TV show in 2015 called, I Love Kellie Pickler on CMT. The series gave fans a day-in-the-life glimpse at the couple's personal and professional lives.

Tragically, last week, Kyle's life was cut short when he reportedly took his life at home at the age of 49. Family, friend, fans and fellow country music artists are still reeling with the loss of Kyle. He was so well loved and respected. Jacobs leaves behind a legacy of his art. Here are 19 remarkable songs written by Kellie Pickler's late husband, Kyle Jacobs.

Kyle and Lee have been long time collaborators and close friends. Lee has been hit especially hard by this loss. The 2 worked on this 2018 gem with songwriter Ashley Gorley and Lee took it to #1.

This Kellie Pickler cut was one of many cowrites with her husband. She really evolved as a songwriter, working with Kyle. This song was the title track of Kellie's 4th studio album from 2013.

This Garth Brooks #1 made history in 2007 when it became the first song to DEBUT at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This song also became the first #1 for the songwriters, Kyle Jacobs, Lee Brice and Billy Montana. It had been 9 years since Garth's previous chart -topper "To Make You Feel My Love," proving what a powerful a song this was. 

Conjuring up images of the Wild West, Kyle Jacobs wrote this with Ben Glover and Joe Leathers. It was released as a single in 2010, from Clay's She Won't Be Lonely Long album. 

This critically acclaimed Kyle Jacobs co-write became a top 15 hit for Eli Young Band in 2014. Kyle wrote it with his friends  Jon Jones, James Young and Josh Osborne. 

Kyle wrote this one with Lee Brice, and Joe Leathers. “Still” was released in 2010 as the 3rd single from McGraw’s LP, Southern Voice. Tim McGraw took this song about remembering a favorite place, if you just stay still and let the memories happen, to the top 15.

Charlie Worsham released this funky, spirited title track in 2013, from his debut studio album. Kyle Jacobs wrote this with Ryan Tyndell and John Ozier.

What an honor it must have been for Jacobs to have the great George Strait record one of his songs. Kyle co-write this one with Randy Montana and Steve Board. It served at the closing track to Strait's epic 2013 album, Love Is Everything.

Kimberly Locke, you may remember, was a finalist on Season 2 of American Idol. This Kyle Jacobs song was Kimberly's debut single released in 2004. Kyle wrote it with  Joel Parkes, and Shaun Shankel and it debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Singles Sales Chart and went on to earn a Teen Choice Awards nomination. But wait, there's more. The song spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!

The hit television series, Nashville had original music from some of Music City's top songwriters. The soundtrack featured "I Will Fall" written by an all star team of Kyle Jacobs, Lee Brice, Tyler James, the Civil Wars' Joy Williams and Kate York

In July of 2014, Jerrod Niemann released the Kyle Jacobs, Lee Brice, Phillip Lammonds collaboration, "Buzz Back Girl." It became a top 35 hit. Listening to it today, it feels like it was a song before it's time. It would have fit perfectly in today's more rock-tinged country world.

Last year, Adam Doleac released his debut album, Barstool Whiskey Wonderland. This is where you will find the sweet yet passionate love song, "Another." Kyle wrote this with Doleac.

Parmalee's debut album, Feels Like California, from 2013, featured the rock ballad "My Montgomery." It was written by the hit making trio of Kyle Jacobs, Ben Glover and Randy Montana. 

Craig enlisted the help of Kyle for this good, old fashioned, sad, country drinking song.He wrote with Kyle and Phil O'Donnell for his 2012 album, This Old Boy. 

Kelly Clarkson recorded a Kyle Jacobs song for the deluxe edition of her 2011 Stronger album. Jacobs and Danelle Leverett penned this inspirational rock anthem. A song about finding strenght in sad times, ironically.

A deeply personal song, Kellie wrote this with Kyle before they were married. This touching ballad address the pain Kellie suffers from growing up without a mother. She left the family when Kellie was very young. She came up with the idea after realizing she had never celebrated a Mother's Day. Pickler told Billboard, "When Kyle and I wrote that song we had no intention of playing it for anybody. I needed closure and I needed something to lift me out of a dark place. We wrote that song for that reason. It got heard through the grapevine and now it's on the record."

In 2013 Tim McGraw released this more tradtional track, from his Two Lanes of Freedom album. Kyle wrote this one with Joe Leathers and Ruston Kelly. Listening to it now brings on a whole new meaning. Nashville will not be the same without the gifts of Kyle Jacobs.