Brad Paisley joins mourners at Dickens memorial

Los Angeles: Brad Paisley and pregnant Carrie Underwood were among the stars who paid tribute to late country music star Little Jimmy Dickens at a memorial service in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Grand Ole Opry icon died last week, aged 94, and he returned to the Nashville venue for one final hurrah, surrounded by his family and famous friends, reported USA Today.

Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Chris Young and Old Crow Medicine Show also took the stage to perform next to Dickens' coffin as part of an emotional two-hour event, which concluded the lowering of the fabled venue's curtain as the 'May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose' singer's remains were carried away.

Paisley, who often performed with Dickens in recent years, told mourners, "We need to remember that smile, that personality and that one-of-a-kind sense of humour," while Underwood burst into tears as she recalled her hero respectfully kissing her hand every time they met.

The 'American Idol' star joined Gill for a duet of his hit 'Go Rest High On That Mountain', with Gill saying of his mentor: "If they say that only the good die young, well, evidently the greatest of all live to be 94 and sing two weeks before they pass on."

Dickens' performed at the Opry on December 20, five days before he suffered a stroke and was admitted to a local hospital.

An emotional Paisley wrapped up the memorial by leading a chorus of classic hymn 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' - the song Dickens performed at country music funerals.