George Jones (1931-2013): Who's Gonna Fill His Shoes?

English: George Jones performing at Harrah's Metropolis in Metropolis, Illinois in June 2002 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

George Jones, to hear some people tell it, lived his life like a country song.  He had problems with drugs and alcohol, married four times, got into trouble with the law and had health problems.  Through it all, he became one of the great--some say the greatest--country music stars of the 20th century.

The song has ended with Jones' death at age 81 Friday in Nashville.  But the legend lives on.

Through more than 50 years, 60 studio albums and 14 Number One country singles, Jones was pure country.  He didn't dabble much in pop or rock like some of his contemporaries, but he had his admirers in other musical genres.  The songs he sang alternated between pleasure and pain:  "She Thinks I Still Care", "White Lightning", "The Race Is On", and plenty more.

Then there was "He Stopped Loving Her Today", a ballad about a man who died bearing a torch for the woman he loved.  It became a classic that some considered considered the greatest country song of all time, even though Jones initially considered it a throwaway when he recorded it.  "He Stopped Loving Her Today" was named the Country Music Association's song of the year for two consecutive years, in 1980 and '81.

But there was this other side of Jones' life that put people off.  His success in country music and the lifestyle it afforded him sometimes got him into trouble.  He was married and divorced a few times, which included his sometime singing partner Tammy Wynette.  He's had accidents, brawls, substance abuse problems and other things that he somehow survived (not for nothing did he title his autobiography "I Lived To Tell It All").  He also had a habit of showing up late or not at all to his concerts.  Thus the nickname "No-Show Jones".

George Jones had an interesting life and career, and his influence is apparent on today's country stars--even if the likes of Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum dominate the radio, music downloads and concerts.

But once you heard the voice and music of George Jones, it's no wonder why country music fans will never stop loving him.  So who's gonna fill his shoes?