George Jones has died at the age of 81.
George Jones was admitted to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville on April 18th with fever and irregular blood pressure, and died early Friday morning.
Jones was regarded – not least of all by Elvis Costello – as one of country music’s finest singers. His first No. 1 hit, “White Lightning,” came out in 1959, and the height of his success continued throughout the 1980s. In total, Jones had 14 No. 1 country hits, and his name was attached to 168 charting singles over 55 years. Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and continued to tour and make music until the year of his death.
Much of his personal life was turbulent, as was reflected in his music. He was a notorious drinker and was given the nickname “No Show Jones” because of many missed performances throughout his career. His song “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” stands as one of the more memorable entries in pop music’s expansive booze-and-sorrow canon, informed as much by Jones’ felt pain as his macabre wit.
Jones was married four times, most famously to fellow country singer Tammy Wynette, with whom he had three No. 1 country hits. With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado, Jones was sober for the last decade of his life. He is survived by daughters Susan and Georgette, sons Jeffrey and Bryan, and his musical legacy which has left an indelible stamp on country music.
