George Jones was and still is incredibly famous. However, his personality and persona still mimic that of myth and legend. Consequently, folks inflate, misinterpret, and entirely blow stories about Jones out of proportion. Still, there are two things about George Jones that are undeniably true. First off, he had quite a problem with booze and other substances. Secondly, he was deeply in love with his ex-wife and country singer, Tammy Wynette.
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Ironically, both of these facts are integral parts of one of the most infamous George Jones stories of all time. It’s a story that doesn’t necessarily paint Jones in the best light. Still, it’s a story that perpetuates his reckless and highly fervent persona. Other than the booze and Wynette, two other alluring aspects of this story are Porter Wagoner and a Grand Ole Opry bathroom. At this point in the article, you are probably wondering, “Where is this going?” Well, keep reading, because you’ll find out that life is stranger than fiction. Though it is worth noting that there is no way to know if this story is factual, as it comes from an unreliable narrator: George Jones himelf.
A Paranoid George Jones (Allegedly) Inappropriately Grabbed Porter Wagoner
Given that this story comes straight from the source of Jones, it’s unclear if this story is based in reality or not. Nevertheless, Jones told the story of himself and Porter Wagoner in the Grand Ole Opry bathroom in his 1996 autobiography, I Lived To Tell It All.
“Tammy and I were playing the Grand Ole Opry,” Jones wrote in his book. “The show is run in segments, and Porter was the host of our segment. My mind became extremely altered when I mixed liquor with diet pills, and I often got very aggressive and hostile. Flat-out mean.”
“I had gotten it in my head that Tammy and Porter were seeing each other romantically,” Jones continued.”I walked up behind him and shouted, ‘I want to see what Tammy’s so proud of!’ Then I reached around and grabbed his d—.”
So, yes, George Jones was paranoid about a potential affair between Wagoner and Wynette, and in order to get to the bottom of it, he allegedly assaulted Wagoner. Of course, this paranoia and brash outbreak was induced by the drugs and the booze, and in retrospect, Jones was incredibly remorseful. He wrote that “one of the worst things I ever did was against Porter Wagoner.”
There really isn’t much else to say about this story. Though again, life is often far stranger than fiction.
Photo by John Atashian/Getty Images
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