George Jones

St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, Jan 29, 2002 by Jeffrey W. Coker

Although the public image of his star-studded marriage to Wynette bolstered Jones's career, it was not long before he again began to experience hard times. He and Tammy lived in constant pursuit by reporters, and the resultant strain caused their relationship to grow turbulent and destructive. As the situation worsened, Jones again began to drink heavily. Their inevitable break-up added bizarrely to their public appeal and in 1976, the year they divorced, the couple recorded "Golden Ring" and "Near You," both of which became hits. In the years following the divorce, Jones's career once again seemed to be nearing the end. He missed several show dates, leading to numerous legal entanglements and an eventual declaration of bankruptcy, and the early 1980s found him more often in the news for his legal problems than his music. He was arrested on a number of occasions relating to his alcohol and drug abuse, and was sued by ex-wives and numerous creditors.

Yet Jones continued to perform and record, even during the darkest times. In 1980, he released what is perhaps his best known single, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," considered by some to be the best country music recording ever. A major hit, it won him Single of the Year from the Country Music Association in 1980 and 1981. Jones's personal problems never affected his popularity and he continued recording a string of hits throughout the 1980s. In 1986, he entered a new phase of his career by winning the Country Music Association's Video of the Year award for his single "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes"; in 1991, he signed a new recording deal with MCA Records, and the following year he was selected as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. In the late 1990s, Jones enjoyed further success by incorporating rock and roll into his music with hits such as "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" and the successful album High-tech Redneck.

While these new hits demonstrated the singer's versatility and his willingness to experiment with contemporary styles, he continued to thrive on the music that had first brought him success. His album It Don't Get Any Better Than This (1998) is very much in the traditional George Jones style, and he also recorded a reunion album with Tammy Wynette called One in 1995. In many respects, George Jones stands as a reflection of country music itself: open to innovation while rooted in tradition.