We know that the late George Jones was a sublime singer. The song "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is truly a heartbreaking classic, one of many from him. He was the idol of other country music icons like Johnny Cash. Cash said, per Whiskey Riff, "When people ask me who my favorite country singer is, I say, 'You mean besides George Jones?'"
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Jones also fought a major battle with alcohol. Sometimes it got the best of him, unfortunately. He was prone to not showing up for his shows. Things got so dire that Jones' wife took away the car keys when he wanted to go buy more booze. He rode the lawnmower instead. It sounds comical, but it was really tragic.
Waylon Jennings Was George Jones' Close Buddy
I have always had the impression that there is a closeness in the country music community, despite there being competitiveness as well. Waylon Jennings stood by George Jones when he needed a friend during his darkest days.
Jones was in bad shape, living in his vehicle and out of money. Jennings and a few other kind souls staged an intervention with Jones. They persuaded him to get help at Hillcrest Psychiatric Hospital. That Birmingham, Alabama-based facility probably saved Jones from sinking even further down.
One Serious Episode Of Jones' Drunkenness Called For Extreme Measures
Per the outlet, as Jennings tells it in his book, Waylon: An Autobiography, Jones came to his home drunk and out of control. Reasoning with him was not possible with him in that intoxicated condition. When he seemingly settled down, Jennings unwisely gave him a glass of whiskey. That did not help matters much.
Jones allegedly was violent, hurling a picture frame at Jennings. Luckily, it missed him. Jennings was out of solutions, so he reportedly sat on Jones. According to Jennings' account, Jones then acted as if he was choking - only to bash Jennings in the face.
Finally, he and his guitar player ended the nasty ruckus Jones caused by hog-tying him. For Jennings, it was apparently a last resort.
Jones Eventually Got On The Straight And Narrow
He wed for the fourth time and stopped drinking in 1999. Jones and Jennings stayed pals until Jennings passed away in 2002.
