“He Was the Best”: Country Star Shares Fond Memory of the Brother He Lost in Texas Floods

Like many across Texas, Pat Green is still reeling from the devastating floods that swept the Lone Star State during Independence Day weekend. The “Wave on Wave” singer, 53, lost his brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews when the Guadalupe River rose nearly 30 feet in 45 minutes. In a new interview, a grieving Green shared a lighthearted memory of his late sibling.

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The Time Pat Green Bought His Brother a Car

On Friday, July 18, Pat Green laid to rest his younger brother, John Burgess, along with Burgess’ wife Julia and their two young sons. Ahead of the Houston funeral service, the Grammy nominee, 53, reminisced about buying his sibling a yellow Nissan Pathfinder with “9 million miles on it.”

“But he didn’t have a car, so I helped him out,” Green said.

John returned his elder brother’s generosity by “hawking” the vehicle to pay for “a keg party.”

“He was very young. He was in college,” said the “Dixie Lullaby” singer. “Anyway, long story short, I told him, I’m not buying him two cars, but I’ll come over and have a beer.”

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Pat Green is mourning the loss of his brother, sister-in-law and two of their children in the Texas floods #texasflood #texas #patgreen #texascountry

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Relatable—who among us hasn’t done our sibling a solid, only for them to turn around and squander it? Pat Green clearly harbored no ill will, however. “He was the best—just the best,” the country singer said, adding, “John and I, we were just buddies. We went fishing all the time, stuff like that… None of my family is about me. It’s about us. It’s really not about me.”

[RELATED: Country Music Legend Reveals His Family Suffered a “Heartbreaking and Deeply Personal” Loss Due to Texas Floods]

Country Star Raises More Than $1 Million For Flood Victims

As he copes with the grief of his own unthinkable loss, Pat Green decided to take action. The country singer hosted a livestreamed concert Wednesday (July 16) at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Featuring Miranda Lambert, the Eli Young Band, Jon Pardi, and more, the show raised more than $1 million toward flood relief efforts.

“I’m trying to turn the sorrow into some bright light and, hopefully, bring some resolution for these families that have been decimated,” Green said ahead of the gig.

John Burgess, 39, was vacationing with wife Julia and their two sons, James, 5, and Jack, 1, at a Kerr County RV park when the Guadalupe River broke its banks, causing a furious wall of water that killed 135 people at last count.

Their daughter, Jenna, was staying at a nearby camp and found safe.

Featured image by Omar Vega/Getty Images

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