Spinner

Twisted Tales: George Jones Gets Moving When He Really Needs a Drink

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, country music legend George Jones swore he was fueled by nothing stronger than Coca-Cola in his early years onstage. But his first No. 1 country hit, way back in 1959, was an ode to moonshine liquor – 'White Lightning.' He's had 13 more chart-toppers since then, including three duets with his onetime wife, Tammy Wynette; the stone classic 'He Stopped Loving Her Today'; and a duet with Barbara Mandrell released at the height of the 'Urban Cowboy' craze, '(I Was Country) When Country Wasn't Cool.' He's often been called the best pure country singer alive. Yet he's probably best known not for his prodigious output but his intake.

The Possum, as Jones is nicknamed, conducted one of the truly legendary careers in drinking and drugging in a genre that's particularly well-known for such extracurriculars. His tremendous talent for missing tour dates while on binges earned him every letter of his other nickname – No Show Jones. Most famous, though, Jones gave new meaning to the grim world of driving under the influence when, in the throes of another two-week bender, he set out in search of a drink on the only motor vehicle handy – a riding mower.

In an effort to help her husband clean himself up, Jones's second wife hid the keys to their cars and left the house. Living eight miles from the nearest liquor store in his home state of Texas, the delirious singer was beside himself – until he realized the keys were still in the ignition of his 10-horsepower Cub Cadet.

"I imagine the top speed for that old mower was five miles per hour," he would recall in his 1996 autobiography, the aptly titled 'I Lived to Tell It All.' "It might have taken an hour and a half or more for me to get to the liquor store, but get there I did."

Wynette, his third wife, told a separate mower tale in her own autobiography, claiming she once confronted Jones at a bar 10 miles from their house after spotting his mower outside. That's what you call settin' 'em up and mowin' 'em down.

More than 20 years ago, Jones's doctor told him he'd lived just a couple more days if he continued to drink. His battle to quit went on through seven rehab stints, until a terrible 1998 car accident finally scared him straight. These days, the Possum continues to play dozens of tour dates each year, and he's the proud sponsor of a successful line of breakfast sausage and biscuits. Like the proverbial sausage factory, you don't really want to take too close a look at this Country Music Hall of Famer's personal history.

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Madonna Super Bowl Sound Off: Singer…

AOL Music Blog

Christopher Polk | Getty It's been almost a week since Madonna's halftime…

Heavy Metal Grammy Awards: Who Has Won,…

Noisecreep

Getty Images(3) "I don't know what this means. I don't think it means…

Bruce Springsteen, 'We Take Care of Our…

Spinner

Danny Clinch How hard can Bruce Springsteen rock in an abandoned factory? The…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

8 Comments

Filter by:
Ronald Berry

There are only a few Superstars in country music and All of them came from the same era. George Jones, Meryl Haggard, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Hank Williams etc. And on the female side we have to mention Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Kline and Tanya Tucker. Todays "so called" country stars are a poor excuse for singers, songwriters and performers. They are a bunch of pretty faces that are promoted to the hilt and have very little actual talent. Once in a while someone will come thru like Garth and maybe Ricky Scaggs, but in general none will live on like those Legends of the 1950's and 60's.....

December 20 2010 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bill macinnis

george jones is without a doubt a true country singer. number 1 in cape breton nova scotia canada, we love ya george

December 31 2009 at 8:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kickle Dillard

George Jones is the best real country singer alive or dead today !!!!

December 01 2009 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mary Bollom

No one could ever replace george jones their will never be another gorge Jones.HappyBirthday George i can always remeber his birthday because his is a day after mine. He was born sept12 1931 i was born sept11 1943.

September 09 2009 at 11:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ronaldkeownlee

george jones is the best

July 04 2009 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
doelmotors

He will always be remembered for the way he sang the songs from his heart when he hurt we all hurt when he cried we all cried they will be others to sing his songs but no one will live his songs they George did may God bless and watch over him...P Perry

January 17 2009 at 1:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Billy R Vaden

George Jones is country music, the greatest singer dead or alive, noneone will take his place

January 03 2009 at 4:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Billy R Vaden's comment
Sandy

Billy Ray Vaden...
Do you remember know my brother Greg Gales from Rio Cosumnes?

January 01 2010 at 7:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply