George Jones, country superstar, has died at 81Associated Press – 15 mins agoNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — George Jones, the peerless, hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heartbreaking classic "He Stopped Loving Her Today," has died. He was 81.Publicist Kirt Webster says Jones died Friday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after being hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure.Known for his clenched, precise baritone, Jones had No. 1 songs in five separate decades, 1950s to 1990s, and was idolized not just by fellow country singers, but by Frank Sinatra, Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, James Taylor and countless others.In a career that lasted more than 50 years, "Possum" recorded more than 150 albums and became the champion and symbol of traditional country music, a well-lined link to his hero, Hank Williams.
edsbs â€@edsbs 4mBONUS POSSUM FACT: challenged Johnny Paycheck to a fight on tour bus. Stopped bus in nowhere. Paycheck got off to fight. Jones drove off.
edsbs â€@edsbs 19m5. Waylon Jennings once had to tie him to a chair with a telephone cord after Jones assaulted him and a friend with a guitar.Expand edsbs â€@edsbs 22m4. He once came to after a bender and found himself laughing and flushing hundred dollar bills down a hotel toilet.Expand edsbs â€@edsbs 25m3. Jones parked his car on the curb at the Nashville airport, and left it there with a note listing his address as "The Grand Ole Opry."Expand edsbs â€@edsbs 28m2. Jones claimed he was kidnapped by thugs who took out a life insurance policy on him. Tried to OD him on coke. THEY COULDN'T.Expand edsbs â€@edsbs 30m1. George Jones once got so drunk he woke up in a car in a river in water up to his chest.Expand edsbs â€@edsbs 32mThe next five tweets are going to be George Jones facts, all learned from reading his autobiography. #PossumFacts
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