THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: GEORGE JONES
Washington Post
By J. Freedom du Lac
In his hell-raising days, back when George Jones received at least as much notice for his self-destructive tendencies as for his profound voice, this moment almost certainly would have foreshadowed trouble: The greatest of all country music emoters is entertaining a visitor in his den when he reaches into a pocket and removes a pillbox filled with white tablets.
Jones, who battled his restless impulses and addictive demons for decades, carefully opens the tiny plastic case, then holds it up.
BUSHES HELP HONOR GEORGE JONES
Tennessean
Audio Slideshow
First lady Laura Bush led an all-star tribute to George Jones during the Kennedy Center Honors celebration Sunday night.
Bush described her love of Jones’ tunes as a girl and how she and President George W. Bush had been longtime fans.
“There’s no getting tired of a singer” such as Jones, she said before introducing a short film about his troubled life.
KENEDY CENTER HONORS AIR DECEMBER 30TH
Slideshow Jones, who earned the nickname “No Show Jones” for performances he missed during his wild drinking days, promised to show up this time. The 77-year-old said “I’m in a daze” about being an honoree.
First lady Laura Bush took the stage to salute Jones, saying “there’s no getting tired of a singer like him.” Jones is a favorite on the president’s iPod, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
KENCEN '08: GEORGE JONES
The Washington Times
The setting is the piney woods of East Texas, early 1940s. A young boy, roughly 10 years old, has persuaded his parents to let him crawl into bed with them on Saturday nights. Nothing to do with night terrors or fear of darkness - the only radio in the house is in their room.
The boy knows he will nod off before his favorite program, the “Grand Ole Opry,” comes on the airwaves. So he says to Mama, “Make sure you wake me up before Bill Monroe comes on.”
THERE WILL BE CHRISTMAS AT THE JONESES' AFTER ALL
Yes, Virginia, there will be a Christmas at George and Nancy Jones’ this year.
Viewing the couple’s outdoor decorations at their Franklin home had become a Christmas tradition for many over the years, but until the past few days, it appeared that this ritual was in danger of going the way of extravagant corporate holiday parties.