George Jones was one of a kind.
Starting his career in early 1950s, Possum landed his first #1 with “White Lightening” way back in 1959. He followed it up with many more hits, spanning six decades worth of country music.
He had the highest highs and the lowest low’s someone can have in a career. From winning many awards to arrests and battles with alcoholism, he’s done and seen it all. However one thing is for sure: He cared deeply for country music.
George Jones was known for hits such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Grand Tour,” but as some up and coming stars also discovered back in the day, he was also well known in the industry for being a total savage.
On an episode of The Justin Moore Podcast, guest Tracy Lawrence talked about his experience touring with George.
In the early ’90s, Lawrence was out with Jones on tour, and they would do a group meet and greet before the concert. When they were walking to the meet and greets, he learned to stay away from Jones.
“I learned real quick not to get to close to him because George, if you were walking beside him, especially if you were on right his side, you would be walking along everything fine having a conversation, he would just take his hand and he would backhand you right down the cod and he would say “take a bow son.”
I mean, it would double you over right there in hall, man. And he’d just laugh.
So you learned to kind of guard yourself when you was close to him because he’d catch you off guard and pop you boy.”
Possum Steals The Show
And another savage George Jones story was revealed in a later episode of The Justin Moore Podcast.
A few years back, when they were flying down to Alabama on Jones’ private jet, Jones told LOCASH a story about the time he was on tour with Buck Owens. As his career started picking up steam, he felt that it was his turn to be the headliner.
He would go to Owens’ trailer every night and tell him that tonight was his night, to which Owens of course told him no.
Justin interjected:
“Which would never happen nowadays by the way. That would never happen.”
Anyways, one night after another rejection from Buck Owens, George had enough.
“George goes back to his bus and learns all of Bucks songs, and then he went out and played the entire Buck Owens set, top to bottom.”
Can you imagine that today? Imagine in 2023 some opener telling a huge act like Eric Church or Garth Brooks that he thinks he should close the show, then after a number of rejections performing all of their hits. Justin is right, it would NEVER happen.
So what happened with George and Buck? Well, he said:
“That there was the last show I ever did with Buck Owens… same thing happened with Elvis Presley; I never did a show after that either.”
Jones ultimately said that the stunt he pulled on Buck Owens was one of his biggest regrets, but man, what a story.
George Jones ladies and gentleman…. the man, the myth, the legend.
