-Next on "Great Performances"... -It's about to get country up in here.

Good country.

-An all-star country music lineup gathers for a tribute concert in honor of beloved legend George Jones.

-♪ Golden rings ♪ ♪ With one tiny little stone ♪ ♪ Shining ring ♪ -♪ Shining ring ♪ -♪ Now, at last, it's found a home ♪ -Brad Paisley, Wynonna Judd, Sam Moore, Jelly Roll, Dierks Bentley, Tanya Tucker, and more bring Jones' music and memory to life.

-For me to be here and pay tribute to somebody that I've always held as the first face on the Mount Rushmore of country music, it's a big honor for me.

-Stay tuned for a one-of-a-kind celebration of a one-of-a-kind country-music icon.

-He was a rare commodity.

He really was.

-"George Jones: Still Playin' Possum" is next.

-♪ He stopped loving her ♪ ♪ Today ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Major funding for "Great Performances" is provided by... ...and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Brakes squeal ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Who you carryin' there, pal?

-George Jones.

-You mean the band?

George must fly everywhere.

-Nope.

Just George this trip.

We're headin' home.

-We don't see nobody since the interstate opened.

Do you think he might sign my guitar?

-He's awake in there.

Holler at him.

-Mr. Jones?

Mr.

Jones?!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Yeah?

Hey, old-timer.

What do ya know?

-Would you sign my guitar?

A few others have.

-Why, I sure would.

-Great.

Just a second.

-Oh, my goodness.

Would you look at this.

Waylon, Hank, Lefty, Willie.

Where in the world did you get this?

-They were all right here.

This used to be the main highway.

We just got lucky a few years, I guess.

-Well, my goodness.

What else you got?

-Come on in.

-Oh, wow.

[ Cheers and applause ] -♪ You know this old world is full of singers ♪ ♪ But just a few were chosen ♪ ♪ That tear your heart out when they sing ♪ ♪ Imagine life without them ♪ ♪ All your radio heroes ♪ ♪ Like the outlaw that walks through Jesse's dream ♪ ♪ No, there will never be another ♪ ♪ "Red-Headed Stranger" ♪ ♪ Our "Man in Black" and "Folsom Prison Blues" ♪ ♪ "The Okie from Muskogee" ♪ ♪ Or "Hello Darlin'" ♪ ♪ Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes ♪ ♪ And who's gonna fill their shoes?

♪ ♪ Who's gonna stand that tall?

♪ ♪ Who's gonna play the Opry ♪ ♪ And the "Wabash Cannonball?"

♪ ♪ Who's gonna give her heart and soul ♪ ♪ To get to me and you?

♪ ♪ Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes ♪ ♪ God bless the boys from Memphis ♪ ♪ "Blue Suede Shoes" and Elvis ♪ ♪ Much too soon, he left this world in tears ♪ ♪ They tore up the '50s ♪ ♪ Jerry Lee and Charlie ♪ ♪ And "Go Cat Go!"

still echoes through the years ♪ ♪ But you know the heart of country music ♪ ♪ It still beats in "Luke the Drifter" ♪ ♪ You can tell it when he sang, "I Saw the Light" ♪ ♪ Old Marty, Hank, and Lefty ♪ ♪ And now "The Possum's" right up here with me ♪ ♪ We're gonna sing for all you folks in Huntsville, Alabama, tonight ♪ ♪ Yeah, who's gonna fill their shoes?

♪ ♪ Who's gonna stand that tall?

♪ ♪ Who's gonna play the Opry ♪ ♪ And the "Wabash Cannonball?"

♪ ♪ Who's gonna give her heart and soul ♪ ♪ To get to me and you?

♪ ♪ Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes ♪ ♪ Yes, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes ♪ God bless George Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] -He carried the mantle of country music's greatest living singer through a career that spanned 60 years.

He was beloved by family, peers, and friends.

His music transcended the comings and goings of time, styles, and formats.

He remains a touchstone for country-music artists and fans.

Tonight, we celebrate the music and memories of George Jones.

♪♪ -♪ Well, I feel tears wellin' up cold and deep inside like my heart's sprung a big break ♪ ♪ And a stab of loneliness sharp and painful I may never shake ♪ ♪ You might say I was takin' it hard ♪ ♪ But you wrote me off with a call ♪ ♪ Don't you wager that I'm hiding sorrow ♪ ♪ I may break right down and bawl ♪ ♪ And the race is on ♪ ♪ Here comes pride up the backstretch ♪ ♪ Heartaches are goin' to the inside ♪ ♪ My tears are holdin' back ♪ ♪ They're tryin' not to fall ♪ ♪ My heart's out of the runnin' ♪ ♪ True love's scratched for another's sake ♪ ♪ The race is on, and it looks like heartache ♪ ♪ And the winner loses all ♪ Yeah!

Whoa!

♪ One day, I ventured in love, never once suspectin' what the final result would be ♪ ♪ How I lived in fear of wakin' up each mornin' thinkin' she was gone from me ♪ ♪ Ache and pain in my heart for the day one that I hated to face ♪ ♪ Somebody new came up to win her, I wound up in second place ♪ ♪ Now the race is on ♪ ♪ Here comes pride up the backstretch ♪ ♪ Heartaches are goin' to the inside ♪ ♪ My tears are holdin' back ♪ ♪ Tryin' not to fall ♪ ♪ My heart's out of the runnin' ♪ ♪ True love's scratched for another's sake ♪ ♪ The race is on, and it looks like heartache ♪ ♪ And the winner loses all ♪ ♪ Yeah, the race is on, and it looks like heartache ♪ ♪ And the winner loses all ♪ If you love George Jones, somebody scream!

[ Crowd cheering ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Here we go!

♪ Now, tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why you make me cry, baby, cry, baby ♪ ♪ Cry, baby, cry ♪ ♪ Well, I can't help but love you till the day that I die ♪ ♪ So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why ♪ ♪ Well, I've got a crow I wanna pick with you ♪ ♪ Just like last time, when the feathers flew ♪ ♪ You're runnin' wild, kickin' up your heels ♪ ♪ And leavin' me home with a handful of bills ♪ ♪ Well, I can't live without you, you know it's true ♪ ♪ But there's no livin' with you, so what'll I do?

♪ ♪ I'm goin' honky-tonkin', get as tight as I can ♪ ♪ And maybe by then, you'll 'preciate a good man ♪ Here we go.

♪ Tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why you make me cry, baby, cry, baby ♪ ♪ Cry, baby, cry ♪ ♪ Well, I can't help but love you till the day that I die ♪ ♪ So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why ♪ Oh, here we go, boys.

♪ Well, I don't know, but I've heard say ♪ ♪ That every little dog is gonna have his day ♪ ♪ You'd better pay attention, don't you dare forget ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm just a little, bitty puppy yet ♪ ♪ Well, I caught you honky-tonkin' with my best friend ♪ ♪ The thing to do was leave you, and I shoulda left then ♪ ♪ Now I'm too old to leave you, but I still get sore ♪ ♪ When you come home a-feelin' for the knob on the door ♪ ♪ Tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why you make me cry, baby, cry, baby ♪ ♪ Cry, baby, cry ♪ ♪ Well, I can't help but love you till the day that I die ♪ ♪ So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why ♪ ♪ Tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪ ♪ Why, baby, why ♪ Thank you, Nancy.

Thank you, everybody.

Love you, George.

[ Cheers and applause ] You can tell a lot of different types of songs were painted with a really broad brush and touched on a lot of different subjects.

He's able to sing about the heartache and the honky-tonks and real-life stuff.

-He had this thing, and it was almost this super -- Like, you felt like you knew him your whole life just from how he looked.

You know what I mean?

-I think George is just a real regular kind of guy.

And I think that's what endeared him to so many people.

They felt like they knew him.

Everybody felt like they knew George.

They felt like he was the guy just sitting right next to them.

-You really could tell he was -- that he felt it.

You know, you could really tell what he was singing was not just something he -- you know, going from his brain and coming out his mouth.

It was something -- The lyrics came in here, passed through a broken heart, and then came out, and you could sense that.

-George had that thing, that style, the way he interpreted a song that made you just believe that he believed what he was saying.

You know, he was just one of a kind.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Imagine a world where no music was playing ♪ ♪ And think of a church with nobody praying ♪ ♪ Have you ever looked up at a sky with no blue?

♪ ♪ Then you've seen a picture of me without you ♪ ♪ Have you walked in a garden where nothing was growing ♪ ♪ Or stood by a river where nothing was flowing?

♪ ♪ If you've seen a red rose unkissed by the dew ♪ ♪ Then you've seen a picture of me without you ♪ ♪ Can you picture heaven with no angels singing ♪ ♪ Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing?

♪ ♪ If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two ♪ ♪ Then you've seen a picture of me without you ♪ ♪ Can you picture heaven with no angels singing ♪ ♪ Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing?

♪ ♪ If you've watched as the heart of a child breaks in two ♪ ♪ Then you've seen a picture of me without you ♪ ♪ Then you've seen a picture of me without you ♪ God bless George.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Just because I asked a friend about him ♪ ♪ Just because I spoke his name somewhere ♪ ♪ Just because I rang his number by mistake today ♪ ♪ He thinks I still care ♪ ♪ Just because I haunt the same old places ♪ ♪ Where the memory of him lingers everywhere ♪ ♪ Just because I'm not the happy girl I used to be ♪ ♪ He thinks I still care ♪ ♪ But if he's happy thinking I still need him ♪ ♪ Then let that silly notion bring him cheer ♪ ♪ Oh, how could he ever be so foolish?

♪ ♪ And where would he get such an idea?

♪ ♪ Just because I asked a friend about him ♪ ♪ Just because I spoke his name somewhere ♪ ♪ Just because I saw him, then went all to pieces ♪ ♪ He thinks I still care ♪ ♪ Yes, he thinks I still care ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -It's about to get country up in here.

[ Cheers and applause ] Good country.

♪♪ -♪ In a pawnshop in Chicago on a sunny summer day ♪ ♪ A couple gazes at the wedding rings there on display ♪ -♪ She smiles and nods her head ♪ ♪ Says, "Honey, that's for you ♪ ♪ It's ain't much, but it's the best that I can do" ♪ -♪ Golden rings ♪ ♪ With one tiny, little stone ♪ ♪ Waiting there ♪ ♪ For someone to take you home ♪ ♪ By itself ♪ ♪ It's just a cold, metallic thing ♪ ♪ Only love can make a golden wedding ring ♪ -♪ In a little wedding chapel later on that afternoon ♪ ♪ An old upright piano plays that old familiar tune ♪ -♪ Well, tears roll down her cheeks, happy thoughts run through her head ♪ ♪ As he whispers low, "With this ring, I thee wed" ♪ -♪ Golden rings ♪ ♪ With one tiny little stone ♪ ♪ Shining ring ♪ -♪ Shining ring ♪ -♪ Now, at last, it's found a home ♪ ♪ By itself ♪ ♪ It's just a cold, metallic thing ♪ ♪ Only love can make a golden wedding ring ♪ -♪ In a small two-room apartment, as they fought their final round ♪ ♪ He says, "You won't admit it, but I know you're leavin' town" ♪ -♪ Well, she said, "One thing's for certain ♪ ♪ I don't love you anymore" ♪ ♪ And throws down the ring as she walks out the door ♪ -♪ Golden rings ♪ ♪ With one tiny little stone ♪ ♪ Cast aside ♪ -♪ Cast aside ♪ -♪ Like the love that's dead and gone ♪ ♪ By itself ♪ -♪ By itself ♪ -♪ It's just a cold, metallic thing ♪ ♪ Only love can make a golden wedding ring ♪ ♪ In a pawnshop in Chicago on a sunny summer day ♪ ♪ A couple gazes at the wedding rings there on display ♪ ♪ Golden rings ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -It's a big deal to celebrate the ones that come before us, and every one of us here tonight is here because we want to be.

I just think George would be so proud to know that he can still fill, you know, a room.

-It's a gathering of... [ Chuckles ] ...of fans of George Jones.

I'm talking about the people that are actually on the show.

-Standing backstage, watching song after song, celebrating George Jones, and having some of the biggest names in country music.

Getting everybody together for events like this is heartwarming.

-For me to be here and pay tribute to somebody that I've always held as the first face on the Mount Rushmore of country music -- it's a big honor for me.

-But you know what's happening in there tonight?

I'll tell you a story.

10,000 people bought a ticket to this.

It'll be 100,000 people within an hour and a half of -- "But I was at that show."

Jelly Roll came out and did "Bartender Blues."

Wynonna Judd was there."

I'm telling you, for sure.

-I mean, he was a star.

He loved the -- being a star.

And, man, I think he would absolutely love that his music is still alive and still reaching people today.

-I think that people are -- I don't want to cry.

I think people are going to leave here feeling closer to the ones that they love.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ I've had good luck ♪ ♪ And bad luck ♪ ♪ And no luck, it's true ♪ ♪ But I always get lucky with you ♪ ♪ I've been turned on ♪ ♪ And turned down ♪ ♪ When the bars close at 2:00 ♪ ♪ But I always get lucky with you ♪ ♪ I keep two strikes against me ♪ ♪ Most all of the time ♪ ♪ And when it's down to just a phone call ♪ ♪ I'm minus a dime ♪ ♪ There have been good days ♪ ♪ And bad days ♪ ♪ But when the day is through ♪ ♪ I always get lucky with you ♪ ♪ I keep two strikes against me ♪ ♪ Most all of the time ♪ ♪ And when it's down to just a phone call ♪ ♪ I'm minus a dime ♪ ♪ There have been good days ♪ ♪ And bad days ♪ ♪ But when the day is through ♪ ♪ I always get lucky with you ♪ ♪ Yes, I always get lucky with you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ With time, my face has wrinkled ♪ ♪ But my blue eyes still sparkle ♪ ♪ With the love I felt for you the day we met ♪ ♪ And to me, you're just as lovely ♪ ♪ As the first time I saw you ♪ ♪ Times have changed, but our love hasn't yet ♪ -♪ I'm still the same old me ♪ ♪ Loving the same sweet you ♪ ♪ Time hasn't withered our hearts ♪ ♪ And when our days are through ♪ ♪ I'll still be loving you ♪ ♪ Even death can't keep us apart ♪ ♪ And these hands that once were steady ♪ ♪ Have now begun to tremble ♪ ♪ But when they touch you ♪ ♪ The same old feeling's there ♪ ♪ And your smile is still as special ♪ ♪ As it was the day we married ♪ ♪ Years haven't changed the love we share ♪ -♪ I'm still the same old me ♪ ♪ Loving the same sweet you ♪ ♪ Time hasn't withered our hearts ♪ ♪ And when our days are through ♪ ♪ I'll still be loving you ♪ ♪ Even death can't keep us apart ♪ ♪ I'm still the same old me ♪ ♪ Loving the same sweet you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Hey, everybody!

[ Cheers and applause ] Alabama, baby!

♪♪ Yeah!

Oh, let's do a little "One Woman Man."

-♪ If you told me that you loved me, I would feel so proud ♪ ♪ If you'd let me hold you, honey, I'd holler out loud ♪ ♪ I'll never love another, even if I can ♪ ♪ Oh, come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ ♪ Won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?

♪ ♪ I'll always love you, honey, and I'll never let you down ♪ ♪ I'll never love another, even if I can ♪ ♪ Come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ ♪ I'd climb the highest mountain if it reached up to the sky ♪ ♪ To prove that I love you, I'd jump off and fly ♪ ♪ I'd even swim the ocean from shore to shore ♪ ♪ To prove that I love you just a little bit more ♪ ♪ Won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?

♪ ♪ I'll always love you, honey, and I'll never let you down ♪ ♪ I'll never love another, even if I can ♪ ♪ Come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ ♪ If you told me that you loved me, I would feel so proud ♪ ♪ If you'd let me hold you, honey, I'd holler out loud ♪ ♪ I'll never love another, even if I can ♪ ♪ Come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ ♪ Won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?

♪ ♪ I'll always love you, honey, I'll never let you down ♪ ♪ I'll never love another, even if I can ♪ ♪ Come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ ♪ Come to me, baby, I'm a one-woman man ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Here we go.

♪♪ Easy.

-♪ I stopped off at the Quicksack ♪ ♪ For some beer and cigarettes ♪ ♪ The old man took my money ♪ ♪ As he stared at my Corvette ♪ ♪ He said, "I had one just like her, son, in 1963 ♪ ♪ Till the man down at the bank took her from me" ♪ ♪ Oh, she was hotter than a 2-dollar pistol ♪ ♪ She was the fastest thing around ♪ ♪ Long and lean, every young man's dream ♪ ♪ Turned every head in town ♪ ♪ She was built and fun to handle, son ♪ ♪ I'm glad that you dropped in ♪ ♪ She reminds me of the one I loved back then ♪ Get her, son.

Oh, yeah!

♪ So I handed him my keys and said ♪ ♪ "Here, take her for a spin" ♪ ♪ The old man scratched his head ♪ ♪ And then he looked at me and grinned ♪ ♪ He said, "Son you just don't understand ♪ ♪ It ain't the car I want ♪ ♪ It's the brunette in your 'Vette that turns me on" ♪ ♪ I had one that was hotter than a 2-dollar pistol ♪ ♪ She was the fastest thing around ♪ ♪ Long and lean, every young man's dream ♪ ♪ Turned every head in town ♪ ♪ She was built and fun to handle, son ♪ ♪ I'm glad that you dropped in ♪ ♪ She reminds me of the one I loved back then ♪ ♪ Oh, she was hotter than a 2-dollar pistol ♪ ♪ She was the fastest thing around ♪ ♪ Long and lean, every young man's dream ♪ ♪ Turned every head in town ♪ ♪ She was built and fun to handle, son ♪ ♪ I'm glad that you dropped in ♪ ♪ She reminds me of the one I loved back then ♪ ♪ She reminds me of the one I loved back then ♪ Gotta lie down.

[ Cheers and applause ] -The best description I could tell you of George is he was real.

He was honest.

He owned his negative stuff.

He owned his bad behavior.

He never made no bones about it.

He was who he was.

-The way I've lived my life is probably not that different from the way that George lived his life, and I'm pretty lucky to be here.

I think the important thing to remember is that he set an example of how to come through it, how to beat those things.

And, you know, he's my inspiration.

-I think George is a tale of two guys, right?

Which I think we all are.

And I think there was an era of George that was this kind of wild behind-the-scenes character that you just heard the legends of, and then you hear the stories of the redeemed man later.

So I always connected with that story deep in my soul.

-Can I just tell you that there is not a soul on that stage tonight that hasn't had those peaks and valleys.

You know, we've all been down in the dumps.

We've all been broke.

We've all been messed up.

It's part of what makes the music come out of us.

-Country music is real people, real stories about the real situation, and that is about as real as it gets.

The man had highs and lows in a way that, you know, we can all relate to.

But what we do best is, we sing through it.

We sing through the storm.

-George and I -- we were bad boys, yes, but, boy, were we good.

[ Laughs ] Were we good.

We were great.

Hi to everybody out there.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Shh.

Listen to me, now.

-♪ I'm just a singer ♪ ♪ A natural-born guitar ringer ♪ ♪ Kind of a clinger ♪ ♪ To old sad songs ♪ ♪ I'm not a walk-behinder ♪ ♪ I'm a new-note finder ♪ ♪ But my name's a reminder ♪ ♪ Of a blues that's all gone ♪ ♪ So I started drinking ♪ ♪ Took some times, messed up my thinkin' ♪ ♪ I was sinkin' ♪ ♪ She came along ♪ ♪ I was alone in the spot ♪ ♪ There's not too much left in the sight ♪ ♪ You changed all that ♪ ♪ Night when you sang this song, oh ♪ ♪ I said ♪ ♪ Hey, baby, I love you ♪ ♪ I need you ♪ -♪ Ooh ♪ -♪ Hey, baby ♪ ♪ To prove to me ♪ ♪ Some kind of macho man ♪ ♪ You wasted so much of your life ♪ ♪ Dreamin' through the dark ♪ ♪ Let me shine a little love ♪ ♪ Light on you, bluesman ♪ ♪ I got sick from speedin' ♪ ♪ All the things they said I was needing ♪ ♪ If I was to keep on pleasing my fans ♪ ♪ I could get caught on the dirt road ♪ ♪ I got sued over no-show ♪ ♪ She came and took all the old load ♪ ♪ Oh, down on me ♪ [ Laughs ] ♪ I'm a bluesman ♪ ♪ I sang, "Hey, baby, I love you" ♪ ♪ Hey, baby, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, I need you, baby ♪ Listen to this.

♪ I'm tired of traveling band ♪ ♪ You do get tired ♪ ♪ I'm up in my years now ♪ ♪ Would be so cold now ♪ ♪ If you stuck it out with this ♪ ♪ Soul man ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ Can y'all hear me?

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ I ain't got but one more thing I want to say ♪ ♪ Listen to me ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm up in my years ♪ ♪ Night would be, oh, so cold now ♪ ♪ If she had not hung around ♪ ♪ I wouldn't have been that soul man ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ If I didn't love you, Nancy ♪ ♪ I'm a soul man ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I've had choices ♪ ♪ Since the day that I was born ♪ ♪ There were voices ♪ ♪ That told me right from wrong ♪ ♪ If I had listened ♪ ♪ No, I wouldn't be here today ♪ ♪ Living and dying with the choices I've made ♪ ♪ I was tempted ♪ ♪ By an early age, I found I liked drinkin' ♪ ♪ And I never turned it down ♪ ♪ There were loved ones ♪ ♪ But I turned them all away ♪ ♪ Living and dying with the choices I've made ♪ ♪ I've had choices ♪ ♪ Since the day that I was born ♪ ♪ There were voices ♪ ♪ That told me right from wrong ♪ ♪ If I had listened ♪ ♪ No, I wouldn't be here today ♪ ♪ Living and dying with the choices I've made ♪ ♪ I guess I'm payin' ♪ ♪ For the things that I have done ♪ ♪ If I could go back ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord knows I'd run ♪ ♪ But I'm still losin' ♪ ♪ This game of life I play ♪ ♪ Losing and dying with the choices I've made ♪ ♪ I've had choices ♪ ♪ Since the day that I was born ♪ ♪ There were voices ♪ ♪ That told me right from wrong ♪ ♪ If I had listened ♪ ♪ No, I wouldn't be here today ♪ ♪ Living and dying with the choices I've made ♪ ♪ Living and dying with the choices I've made ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, in North Carolina, way back in the hills ♪ ♪ Lived my old pappy, and he had him a still ♪ ♪ He brewed white lightnin' till the sun went down ♪ ♪ Then he'd fill him a jug and he'd pass it around ♪ ♪ Mighty, mighty pleasin', pappy's corn squeezin' ♪ ♪ Whoo, white lightnin' ♪ ♪ Well, the G-men, T-men, revenuers, too ♪ ♪ Searchin' for the place where he made his brew ♪ ♪ They were lookin', tryin' to book him ♪ ♪ But my pappy kept a-cookin' ♪ ♪ Shoo, white lightnin' ♪ ♪ Well, I asked my old pappy why he called his brew ♪ ♪ White lightnin' 'stead of Mountain Dew ♪ ♪ I took a little sip and right away, I knew ♪ ♪ As my eyes bugged out and my face turned blue ♪ ♪ Lightnin' started flashin', thunder started clashin' ♪ ♪ Shoo, ooh, white lightnin' ♪ ♪ Well, the G-men, T-men, revenuers, too ♪ ♪ Searchin' for the place where he made his brew ♪ ♪ They were lookin', tryin' to book him ♪ ♪ But my pappy kept a-cookin' ♪ ♪ Shoo, ooh, white lightnin' ♪ ♪ Well, a city slicker came, and he said, "I'm tough ♪ ♪ I think I wanna taste that powerful stuff" ♪ ♪ He took one slug and he drank it on down ♪ ♪ And I heard him a-moanin' as he hit the ground ♪ ♪ Lightnin' started flashin', thunder started clashin' ♪ ♪ Shoo, ooh, white lightnin' ♪ ♪ Well, the G-men, T-men, revenuers, too ♪ ♪ Searchin' for the place where he made his brew ♪ ♪ They were lookin', tryin' to book him ♪ ♪ But my pappy kept a-cookin' ♪ ♪ Shoo, ooh, white lightnin' ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -You know, when I was a little girl, I mean, I just remember thinking, "How does he do that?

How does he do what he does with his voice?"

He's just a damn good singer.

-George -- George was not just a honky-tonk singer.

George was a stylist.

George had an amazing range that superseded just about everybody else in the business.

You go back and listen to some of those things when he was in his prime, whoo, Lord, have mercy.

-All those licks and all those movements that George did that came just so effortlessly to him.

To the rest of us, it's hard.

-I'll tell you what George Jones was born and blessed with is a God-given talent.

That was his assignment in life.

God gave him that talent, and all he had to do was open his mouth and do his style of any song handed to him.

-He's in the same class as the Ray Charleses and the Billy Eckstines and the Sinatras.

He's all of that.

He was a rare commodity.

He really was.

He's real spec-- He was real special.

-From the '60s -- '50s and '60s, right up until the end, and he was always great.

I listen to those old records from back in the day, and I -- Whew!

The guy -- He was just -- He didn't -- He hit the mark every time.

Every time.

I don't think there's a greater singer anywhere.

-♪ Step right up, come on in ♪ ♪ If you'd like to take the grand tour ♪ ♪ Of a lonely house that once was home sweet home ♪ ♪ I have nothing here to sell you ♪ ♪ Just some things that I will tell you ♪ ♪ Some things that might chill you to the bone ♪ ♪ Over there sits the chair ♪ ♪ Where he'd bring the paper to me ♪ ♪ And I'd sit down on his knee ♪ ♪ And whisper, "Oh, I love you" ♪ ♪ But now he's gone forever ♪ ♪ And this old house will never be the same ♪ ♪ Without the love that we once knew ♪ ♪ Straight ahead, that's the bed ♪ ♪ Where we lay in love together ♪ ♪ And Lord knows we had a good thing going here ♪ ♪ See his picture on the table ♪ ♪ Don't it look like he'd be able ♪ ♪ Just to touch me and say, "Good morning, dear"?

♪ ♪ There's his rings, and all his things ♪ ♪ And his clothes are in the closet ♪ ♪ Like he left them when she tore my world apart ♪ ♪ And as you leave, you'll see the nursery ♪ ♪ Oh, he left me without mercy ♪ ♪ Taking nothing but our baby and my heart ♪ ♪ Step right up, come on in ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] I love you, Nancy.

Kirk, love you, too.

Thank you so much!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I've been living a new way ♪ ♪ Of life that I love so ♪ ♪ But I can see the clouds are gath'ring ♪ ♪ And the storm will wreck our home ♪ ♪ For last night, he held you tightly ♪ ♪ And you didn't even shove ♪ ♪ This is true, I've been watching ♪ -♪ Watching you ♪ -♪ From the window up above ♪ ♪ You must have thought that I was sleeping ♪ ♪ And I wish that I had been ♪ ♪ But I guess it's best to know you ♪ ♪ And the way your heart can sin ♪ ♪ I thought that we belonged together ♪ ♪ And our hearts fit like a glove ♪ ♪ I was wrong, I've been watching ♪ -♪ Watching you ♪ -♪ From the window up above ♪ ♪ And from my eyes, the teardrops started ♪ ♪ As I listened on and on ♪ ♪ I heard you whisper to him softly ♪ ♪ That our marriage was all wrong ♪ ♪ But I hope he makes you happy ♪ ♪ And you will never lose his love ♪ ♪ I was wrong, I've been watching ♪ -♪ Watching you ♪ -♪ From the window up above ♪ ♪ Oh, how I wish I could be dreaming ♪ ♪ And wake up to an honest love ♪ ♪ I was wrong, I've been watching ♪ -♪ Watching you ♪ -♪ From the window up above ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -Yeah.

♪ I've heard the sound of my dear old mama crying ♪ ♪ And the sound of the train that took me off to war ♪ ♪ And that awful sound of a thousand bombs exploding ♪ ♪ And I wondered if I could take it ♪ ♪ Anymore ♪ ♪ There were times when they almost drove me crazy ♪ ♪ But I did my best, I took it like a man ♪ ♪ And who would think, in my lonely room, I'd hear it ♪ ♪ Lord, the one sound in the world my heart can't stand ♪ ♪ To hear that sound and to know it's really over ♪ ♪ Through tear-stained eyes, I watched her walk away ♪ ♪ And of earthquakes, storms, and guns and wars ♪ ♪ Lord, there's nothing that ever hurt me more ♪ ♪ Than that awful sound ♪ ♪ The closing of the door ♪ ♪ And of earthquakes, storms, and guns and wars ♪ ♪ Lord, there's nothing that ever hurt me more ♪ ♪ Than that awful sound ♪ ♪ The closing of the door ♪ I love you, Miss Nancy.

I love George Jones!

Don't you?!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Not too many years ago ♪ ♪ When dreams weren't coming true ♪ ♪ I'd reach for inspiration ♪ ♪ Sometimes, it would be you ♪ ♪ I'd hear you on the radio ♪ ♪ I sure did like your sound ♪ ♪ Say, it's good to know there's still a few ♪ ♪ Ol' country boys around ♪ -♪ From the smoke, it's hard to tell ♪ ♪ What's coming down the line ♪ ♪ Heard you were a fast train ♪ ♪ Coming out of Caroline ♪ ♪ Wondered what you were haulin' ♪ ♪ When you rolled into to town ♪ ♪ Say, it's good to know there's still a few ♪ ♪ Ol' country boys around ♪ -♪ Must have felt that same old feeling ♪ ♪ More than once or twice ♪ ♪ Guitars pressed against our hearts ♪ ♪ Under the neon lights ♪ -♪ I've got to say that feeling ♪ ♪ Is the best that I have found ♪ ♪ Say, it's good to know there's still a few ♪ ♪ Ol' country boys around ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ There's a lot of truth, you know ♪ ♪ In our kind of songs ♪ ♪ About the life you're living ♪ ♪ How love has done you wrong ♪ -♪ As long as there's a jukebox ♪ ♪ And a honky-tonk in town ♪ ♪ I say, it's good to know there's still A few ♪ ♪ Ol' country boys around ♪ -♪ It's good to know there's still a few ♪ -♪ Ol' country boys around ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

-Oh, he is a national treasure.

He's not just country music.

To me, he is as big as anything can ever be.

-These guys like George Jones, these pioneers, and, you know, they're just kind of woven into the fabric of America and Americana.

And it's kind of bigger than country music.

And their voices are the kind of soundtrack of America in some ways.

And I just feel so lucky to have had a chance to record some music with George in the studio and spend a little bit of time with him early in my career.

I actually found those pictures not too long ago, and I was like, "Man, how lucky am I to get a chance to spend time with George Jones in a studio, cutting a song, you know, with the greatest of all time?"

-I got to open shows for George when I had -- I was on my second single, you know?

And I got to go out at the end of his show and do "Rockin' Chair" with him, you know?

And he didn't have to do that.

And it was -- You know, and for a young guy that was just -- you know, just starting out, that was huge.

-I saw George open up and embrace all of us and have another full-blown career on the back side of it, and he was really the only one that did that.

It made me realize that that's the way that I need to be treating this next generation coming along behind me, too, because George got it.

And maybe it was some guilt and remorse of things that had happened along the way that he just felt like he needed to be more gracious to all of us, but he genuinely was.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Miracles appear in the strangest of places ♪ ♪ Fancy me finding you here ♪ -♪ The last time I saw you ♪ ♪ Was just out of Houston ♪ ♪ Let me sit down and buy you a beer ♪ -♪ Your presence is welcome with me and my friends here ♪ ♪ 'Cause this is an old hangout of mine ♪ -♪ We come here quite often and listen to music ♪ ♪ And to taste of yesterday's wine ♪ -♪ Yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Oh, yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ We're aging with time ♪ ♪ Like yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Oh, yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ We're aging with time ♪ ♪ Like yesterday's wine ♪ -♪ You give the appearance of one widely travelled ♪ ♪ Lord, I'll bet you've seen things in your time ♪ -♪ Come sit down here with us and tell us your story ♪ ♪ If it's true, you'll like yesterday's wine ♪ -♪ Yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Oh, yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ We're aging with time ♪ ♪ Like yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Oh, yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ We're aging with time ♪ ♪ Like yesterday's wine ♪ ♪ Yeah, we're aging with time ♪ ♪ Like yesterday's wine ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -♪ The bars are all closed ♪ ♪ It's 4:00 in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Must have shut 'em all down ♪ ♪ By the shape that I'm in ♪ ♪ I lay my head on the wheel ♪ ♪ And the horn begins honkin' ♪ ♪ The whole neighborhood knows ♪ ♪ That I'm home drunk again ♪ ♪ And if drinkin' don't kill me ♪ ♪ Her memory will ♪ ♪ I can't hold out much longer ♪ ♪ The way that I feel ♪ ♪ With the blood from my body ♪ ♪ I could start my own still ♪ ♪ And if drinkin' don't kill me ♪ ♪ Her memory will ♪ ♪ These old bones, they move slow ♪ ♪ But so sure of their footsteps ♪ ♪ As I trip on the floor ♪ ♪ And I lightly touch down ♪ ♪ Lord, it's been 10 bottles ♪ ♪ Since I tried to forget her ♪ ♪ But the mem'ry still lingers ♪ ♪ Lyin' here on the ground ♪ ♪ And if drinkin' don't kill me ♪ ♪ Her memory will ♪ ♪ I can't hold out much longer ♪ ♪ The way that I feel ♪ ♪ With the blood from my body ♪ ♪ I could start my own still ♪ ♪ And if drinkin' don't kill me ♪ ♪ Her memory will ♪ Thank you very much.

[ Cheers and applause ] -What's up, Alabama?!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, I'm just a bartender ♪ ♪ And I don't like my work ♪ ♪ But I don't mind the money at all ♪ ♪ I've seen lots of sad faces ♪ ♪ And lots of bad cases ♪ ♪ Of folks with their backs to the wall ♪ ♪ And four walls around me ♪ ♪ To hold my life ♪ ♪ To keep me from going astray ♪ ♪ A honky-tonk angel to hold me tight ♪ ♪ To keep me from slipping away ♪ ♪ I can light up your smokes ♪ ♪ I can laugh at your jokes ♪ ♪ I can watch you fall down on your knees ♪ ♪ I can close down this bar ♪ ♪ I can gas up my car ♪ ♪ I can pack up and mail in my keys ♪ ♪ But I need four walls around me ♪ ♪ To hold me tight ♪ ♪ Keep me from going astray ♪ ♪ And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight ♪ ♪ To keep me from slipping away ♪ What's up, Alabama?!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Now the smoke fills the room ♪ ♪ Of a honky-tonk bar ♪ ♪ And I'm thinkin' 'bout where I'd rather be ♪ ♪ 'Cause I burned all my bridges ♪ ♪ And I sank all my ships ♪ ♪ And I'm stranded at the edge of the sea ♪ ♪ Still need four walls around me ♪ ♪ To hold my life ♪ ♪ To keep me from going astray ♪ ♪ And I need a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight ♪ ♪ To keep me from slipping away ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -More than anything, in my life, George was a hero.

He was a friend.

Oh, just an all-over inspiration.

-And you know what?

I'm getting a little emotional here.

I miss him.

I think about him all the time.

I do.

-I miss George so much because we were such good friends.

He was probably one of my very best friends.

I'd love to see him again, you know, one more time, and I hope I will.

-But I think that through all of the things that George went through, I don't think he thought anybody ever loved him.

And when he found love, I don't think he knew what to do with it.

So I was teaching George how to love.

It's been 10 years, and you don't forget.

I mean, you never forget.

When you're actually really in love with your husband, you miss him every single day.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ He said, "I'll love you till I die" ♪ ♪ She told him, "You'll forget in time" ♪ ♪ And as the years passed slowly by ♪ ♪ She still preyed upon his mind ♪ ♪ He kept her picture on his wall ♪ ♪ Went half-crazy now and then ♪ ♪ He still loved her through it all ♪ ♪ Kept hoping she'd come back again ♪ ♪ Kept some letters by his bed ♪ ♪ Dated 1962 ♪ ♪ He had underlined in red ♪ ♪ Every single "I love you" ♪ ♪ I went to see him just today ♪ ♪ Oh, but I didn't see no tears ♪ ♪ All dressed up to go away ♪ ♪ First time I'd seen him smile in years ♪ ♪ He stopped loving her today ♪ ♪ They placed a wreath upon his door ♪ ♪ And soon, they'll carry him away ♪ ♪ He stopped loving her today ♪ -♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ -♪ You know, she came to see him one last time ♪ ♪ Oh, and we all wondered if she would ♪ ♪ And it kept runnin' through my mind ♪ ♪ "This time, he's over her for good" ♪ ♪ He stopped loving her today ♪ ♪ They placed a wreath upon his door ♪ ♪ Soon, they'll carry him away ♪ ♪ He stopped loving her today ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] God bless you, George Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ I don't need your rockin' chair ♪ -Come on!

-♪ Geritol and Medicare ♪ ♪ I still got neon in my veins ♪ ♪ This gray hair don't mean a thing ♪ Let's go, Alabama!

-♪ No, no thing ♪ -♪ Do my rockin' on the stage ♪ ♪ Can't put this possum in a cage ♪ -♪ Whoo-hoo-hoo ♪ -♪ Body's old, but it ain't impaired ♪ Let's go.

♪ I don't need your rockin' chair ♪ ♪ I ain't ready for the junkyard yet ♪ ♪ I still feel like a new Corvette ♪ ♪ May take a little longer, but I'll get there ♪ ♪ I don't need your rockin' chair ♪ Alabama, sing it with us!

Come on!

♪ I don't need your rockin' chair ♪ ♪ Don't need your rockin' chair ♪ -♪ Geritol and Medicare ♪ -How y'all doing out there?

-♪ Geritol and Medicare ♪ -To find out more about this and other "Great Performances" programs, visit pbs.org/greatperformances, find us on Facebook, and follow us on X.

-♪ I do my rockin' on the stage ♪ -♪ Rockin' on the stage ♪ -♪ Can't put this possum in a cage ♪ -♪ In a cage ♪ -♪ Body's old, it ain't impaired ♪ -♪ Oh, yeah ♪ -♪ I don't need your rockin' chair ♪ We love you, Possum!

[ Cheers and applause ] -♪ Whoo-hoo, yeah, yeah ♪