George Jones “White Lightning” Moonshine Raises Questions
On Monday, January 13th, the concrete plans for the George Jones Museum and Event Center set to open in Nashville were presented to the press and public in an event in the eventual museum space. First announced in September of 2014, George’s widow Nancy Jones has spent $4.35 million on two pieces of adjacent property at 128 and 130 Second Ave. N. in Nashville where the former home of the Graham Central Station nightclub complex was located. The property is right near the Cumberland River, and within walking distance of both the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the recently opened Johnny Cash museum. The 44,000 sq. ft. facility is set to include an event space, a music venue, a restaurant, a rooftop deck, and a gift shop, all to commemorate the legacy of the country music legend.
Though the major work hasn’t officially started on the museum, they still expect to have it open by April 26th—the two year anniversary of the passing of the country icon. Nancy Jones said they will be working “around the clock” to make it happen, and Jamey Johnson has already expressed interest in playing the opening ceremony.
Also unveiled as part of the presentation was the plan to have the name and likeness of George Jones used on his own line of flavored moonshine and vodka, branded after his first #1 hit from 1959 written by The Big Bopper, “White Lightning.” The beverage line will be made in a partnership with the Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin, KY. It will include multiple flavors and a separate vodka product, each with what Nancy Jones characterized as George’s “Badass picture” on the label with the country singer in shades and smoking a cigarette.
But some are questioning the wisdom of putting the likeness of George Jones on an alcoholic beverage. Though country music, alcohol, and moonshine specifically are synonymous with each other in many ways, George Jones battled with alcoholism and substance abuse throughout his life, spending time in rehabilitation hospitals and in jail on multiple occasions.
1967 was the first time George ended up in a neurological hospital after binge drinking and amphetamine use almost killed him. At one point in 1979, despite being one of the best-selling artists in the history of country music, George Jones was bankrupt and destitute because of his drinking, living in his car, weighing around 105 pounds and living off of junk food. George spent time in mental institutions tied to his drinking multiple times and had to be straighjacketed on numerous occasions. He became known as “No Show Jones” because he missed so many engagements over his career.
Waylon Jennings helped get George Jones sober again in the early 80’s, but as he had done many times before, be fell back into severe alcoholism. It wasn’t until 1999 when George Jones wrecked his car and spent two weeks in the hospital that he would become sober for good. His wife Nancy Jones, who George met in 1981, is also given credit for helping stabilize his life, and keeping drug dealers away from her husband.
The stories of George Jones riding lawnmowers to bars and liquor stores after his keys had been taken away, and spiraling out-of-control in drunken stupors are the stuff of country music lore, but it also lent to much tragedy and self-destruction in George’s life, including his divorce from Tammy Wynette, his multiple arrests, and at one point Nancy’s daughter Adina reportedly being kidnapped by drug dealers because of George’s cocaine addiction and debts.
All of this George Jones history has many concerned about his likeness being used on a bottle of the substance he struggled with so heavily throughout his troubled life, including his daughter Georgette Jones—the daughter George and Tammy Wynette.
“Trying so hard to remain silent but I can’t… “ Georgette said via Facebook on Monday. “I’m sorry but I hope other people can see the truth. Dad is rolling in his grave over this! Anyone who truly knew him would know how much he would hate this!”
During the media event unveiling the moonshine and museum plans, Nancy Jones addressed concerns from reporters about the White Lightning moonshine, saying that George had toyed with the idea of endorsing an alcoholic brand all his life. “He’d say the alcohol controlled him all his life, and now he’s controlling it.”
However, if George Jones wanted his name on alcoholic beverages, why didn’t he sign off on the idea when he was still alive?
To some country music fans, having the George Jones name and likeness on an alcohol bottle is every bit appropriate. The myth of George Jones has made him into country music’s most famous alcoholic, arguably even more famous for having a hard time controlling his drinking than Hank Williams. Many country songs refer to Jones’ alcoholism directly, like the 2011 Jason Aldean country rap mega hit “Dirt Road Anthem” that says, “swervin’ like I’m George Jones.” Some proponents of George’s music may also point out that putting his visage on a alcohol bottle might expose him to more people than country radio will these days.
But with all of George’s historic struggles with alcohol, the move seems surprising. A museum commemorating George’s life is arguably past due. But bottles of alcohol bearing his name and likeness seem to be in poor taste to some fans, no matter what flavors they come in.
In the end though, it is the call of the George Jones estate.
January 14, 2015 @ 9:55 am
Here’s one vote for “not cool.”
January 15, 2015 @ 2:16 pm
Make that 2 votes.
January 15, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
Three.
March 27, 2015 @ 5:15 am
Four
January 14, 2015 @ 10:01 am
I have a huge problem with this. I second the “not cool.”
This is right up there with the Aldean lyric “swerving like George Jones.”
January 14, 2015 @ 10:10 am
I’m indifferent as to whether it’s right or wrong, but I am surprised that it’s Nancy’s idea. It makes me wonder if all those things people say about her is true.
January 14, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’ve always sort of had problem with the way people only ever want to talk about his alcoholism. I know most of the time it’s in all good fun and even jones made jokes about it, but the guy was the one of the greatest country artist of all time and trivialize him down to a whiskey bottle and a lawn mower just bugs me.
January 14, 2015 @ 11:06 am
OT: Trig, can you change the News Feed color to something more readable? Maybe just my old eyes, but even squinting doesn’t help much with the orange/red hue.
January 14, 2015 @ 11:13 am
The previous News Feed was somehow a casualty of last Thursday’s crash, and so we had to put up another one. Eventually it will probably be a white background with black lettering and will be much easier to read, but for now it is better than nothing. I actually like this scroll better than the last one because it cycles through the entries quicker and allows you to catch up with one if you miss it. There’s lots of back end work going on at the moment on the site, and so things may look strange. We’re also working to re-institute the “like” feature on the comments. Believe it or not, it was one of the main culprits of the site crashing.
January 14, 2015 @ 9:39 pm
lol… the old scroll was so fast I had to wait for something that caught my eye and jump on it…
January 14, 2015 @ 11:32 am
As much as I hate to say it, he probably would have been ok with it.
January 14, 2015 @ 11:39 am
We usually only see or remember the “good side” or “funny side” or “badass side” of these type of addictions. George’s boozing and Waylon’s drug use add to their legend, but ask the people closest to them (children especially) how cool and badass the addictions were?
Would there be any question as to the poor taste of this if say, cocaine was legal and they called a brand of it “Waymore”?
January 14, 2015 @ 11:49 am
Alcoholism is something I know about first-hand. According to the American Medical Association, the World Heath Organization, the American Psychology Assocation,
and countless millions involved in recovery, alcoholism is the number one drug problem in the country by far. It isn’t even close. Because it is legal and has been part of our culture for a thousand years, it is not going to go away. But the remarkable statistic is that the 10% of drinkers who drink alcoholically consume over 50% of the booze that is sold. For that 10%, of whom I am one and George Jones was one, alcoholism is a highly addictive. Alcoholism is a chronic disease (i.e,
it doesn’t go away) a progressive disease (i.e., it gets worse) and a fatal disease (i.e.,
it will kill you in a number of ways).
To me, there are two extraordinary things about George Jones’ life: One, that he was as good a singer of country songs as we will probably ever hear; and Two, that despite his amazing talent, we never really saw or heard the best of him because of his self-destructiveness. The very real pain that several of his children feel is evidence of this.
To romanticize his alcoholism, to try to capitalize on his addictive insanity is not at all
the way to commemorate his final victory over it. It comes across as a wrong-headed
and callous money grab and an insult to those who struggle daily to overcome this deadly inherited disease.
January 14, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
I agree with you, Ben.
I have been clean and sober for 26 years now and my sobriety is the most important thing in my life each day and all day long.
Anyone who thinks alcoholism or drug addiction are funny needs to get the input of somene who grew up with drunk or addicted parents.
There is nothing fun or funny about it.
The recent infatuation with moonshine is rather laughable to me.
You can’t sling a dead cat here in East Tn without hitting a new moonshine producer.
I think that most of it is sold to northerners and Floridians who visit Gatlinburg.
January 14, 2015 @ 2:34 pm
I agree with most of what you say Ben, with the exception of “we never really saw or heard the best of him because of his self-destructiveness.” The truth is that talented people often use substances to overcome their fear of failure, shyness, insecurities, etc. If they didn’t use those substances in the first place, you probably would never have heard of them. I read a story about Mickey Mantle once, where he was so insecure and lacked confidence that he was going to walk away from baseball when he was in the minor leagues. His father (also an alcoholic) talked him into going back. From that point on, he abused booze to fit in with his teammates and get over his lack of confidence and insecurities. He probably would have never made it to the majors without it.
There is a reason that so many great artists abuse the bottle and its in their personalities. The straight-laced, buttoned-down person doesn’t tend to be the creative type. More great novels and poems have been written by drunken Irishmen than by Mormons or tee-totaling Puritans. Hemingway and Faulkner were both self-destructive drunks, as were a lot of great country artists. Certainly there are exceptions, but my guess is that you would never have heard of most of them if they didn’t have those issues. Also, that type of lifestyle is inspiration for so many of their stories/songs. If you work 9-to-5 and never sip a beer, what do you have to write about? Certainly the boozing made them worse husbands and fathers, but made them better artists.
Another point, too. I have to chuckle when I hear about Americans talk about “America’s” problem with booze. Do you have any clue how much Europeans drink? Do you have any clue how much your grandfather’s generation drank? Do you have any idea how much booze was consumed by many of the Founders and men of that era? The British Navy conquered the world drunk of their asses. The booze consumed in this country is a pittance compared to what was consumed in those eras. Lots of people have a problem with booze, and it might be best for them to hang it up, but I think it has a lot more to do with societal pressure and the therapy industry than a systemic problem, as compared to other eras…
January 14, 2015 @ 3:29 pm
Where’s that “like” button when you need it?
January 14, 2015 @ 5:46 pm
Well, Mrs Jones controls the estate, and she is obviously free to do whatever she wants to. I do know that George has blood kin who are upset with this, and they are the ones who had to deal with it at its worst.
RD, with all due respect, what you have described is mythology and not reality. George Jones regretted his inability to control his demons. It took him over a year to record
“He Stopped Loving Her Today”, because of his condition. Ernest Hemingway, who could no longer write, put a shotgun to his head. Faulkner died in a detox hospital. Dylan Thomas keeled over at the age of 39. Scott Fitzgerald died at 42, his talent and his mind dissipated. Hank Williams o.d.’ed at 29. Mickey Mantle battled pain with booze and at the end regretted every drink he ever took.
Lots of great works of art, music, and literature were created by sober Irishmen,you
know, and I’ve never known a soldier that couldn’t fight better sober.
What most folks don’t get is that people don’t “become alcoholics”, they were born with a genetic predisposition for it. As recovering alcoholics say, “One drink was too many, and a thousand wasn’t enough.”
And it isn’t about the arts and sensitivity. Some alcoholics have a gift for writing, some
for music, some for plumbing, some for soldiering, some for science. Alcoholism is a great equalizer.
As a young writer and actor, I drank everyday of my life from the time I was 14 until I was 36. Yes, perhaps I began drinking heavily because I was insecure and sensitive. But as an alcoholic my addiction became progressively worse, and my talents were not developing. My friend the bottle had become a deadly enemy. It happens to all boozers
whether they are sensitive artists or insensitive gangsters.
After paying a lot of dues and leaving a trail of wreckage behind, I got sober. My career took off. I was cast in a hit television show, and after that ended I was elected to Congress. Now my wife and I run a successful business. None of this would have happened if I had not gotten past my denial and accepted that I was an alcoholic.
I’ve heard all that about booze being “the muse”. But Hemingway and Faulkner didn’t drink a drop until they had their day’s work done.
And of course alcoholism is an international curse. That’s why I referenced the World
Health Organization. I can’t do anything about sobering up all those vodka freaks in
Russia, but I can share my experience and maybe it might help somebody who needs
to hear it.
William James said it best, “We cannot think ourselves to a new way of acting, but we can act our way to a new way of thinking.”
Just my thoughts.
January 14, 2015 @ 6:57 pm
You can add Townes to your list of geniuses who would have likely have given us more art to enjoy had it not been for the bottle. Most of his best songs were written in his 20s, and his writing and performance really fell off after that… though to be fair, mental illness was probably also involved, but that is not uncommon.
January 14, 2015 @ 9:44 pm
Thank you Mr. Jones… (Ben)
January 15, 2015 @ 7:34 am
Ben, it is not at all mythology. You named a lot of famous drunk writers who died young, but who were the great literary tee-teetotalers? I’m sure there have been some, but I imagine that they pale in comparison to the rounders and raconteurs… Some of the obnoxious New England transcendentalists were reportedly teetoalers, but their work just goes to support my contention. Poe ridiculed their silly notions, and rightfully so, calling them “Frogpondians.”
From what I have read, Faulkner generally wrote sober, but not always, and Hemingway claimed to write sober, but there are numerous pictures of him hard at work at his typewriter with a drink.
I think it is very common for a dry drunk to imagine that his experiences with the bottle are applicable to every person who drinks. It is comforting to imagine that the problems you have had are due to the “demon rum” and aren’t your own personal weakness and fallenness. Blame the booze, not the person. The truth is much different. A huge percentage of the world drinks, but a relatively small percentage spins out of control. People are different. Not every person who drinks, even if they drink heavily, is going to wind up dead in a gutter or in prison, broke and friendless. The college experience of most people proves this. I have friends who drank like horses for four (or five) years straight. By every definition that you see, they were alcoholics. Now, they rarely, if ever, touch the stuff. They had to grow up. I drank a lot more in high school and college than I do now. Now I’m an adult, with a wife and kids. I have to get up every day and feed my family. So, the idea that “its progressive” for everyone is just silly.
As far as the comments below about Townes Van Zant… What made his music so amazing was his dark, haunting introspection. Do you think that if were a teetotaler and a deacon in his church that he would have ever been in a place in his mind to write those songs? He got to those dark places because of his own self-destructive behavior. I’m not claiming that its a good thing for you or your family and loved ones to emulate people like Van Zant, Hemingway, etc., but there is no way that you can separate their art and their personal demons.
By the way Ben, I have always been meaning to ask you this: Did you represent Larry McDonald’s old district?
January 15, 2015 @ 8:43 am
Well RD, seeing as how you want to double-down on your somewhat tenuous argument about alcoholism and the arts, I will answer your question. “Teetotalism” is
not the opposite of alcoholism. As I pointed out clearly in an earlier comment, 90% of people who imbibe don’t drink alcoholically, They really can “take it or leave it.”
Since you asked, here is a list of writers who were not alcoholics. Anyone who is reading this should not have anything to do for the next ten minutes or so, because
it is a long (albeit very partial) list off the top of my head: Williams Shakespeare, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Kafka, Tolstoy, John Keats, Joseph Conrad, Victor Hugo, W.B. Yeats, Eudora Welty, Dickens, Wordsworth,
Carl Sandburg, Flannery O’Connor, Arthur Miller, Alice Walker, the great Mark Twain,
Willa Cather, Tennyson, Alexander Pope, Chekhov, Brecht, C.S. Lewis, e.e. cummings,
Chesterton, Ibsen, Herman Hesse, Jane Austen, Proust, Tagore, Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Nabokov, Whitman, Edith Wharton, Thomas Pynchon, Alexander Pope, Rumi, Gibran, Cervantes, Octavio Paz, Thomas Hardy……just a sample.
I don’t think you fully understand the creative process or the difference between hard
drinking and alcoholism.
I saw Townes in his youth, and I saw him at the end. Had he been able to “conquer his demons” he would still be with us, happy and creative. There but for fortune….
I did not represent the district that Larry McDonald represented, to answer that very odd question.
I can make you a similar list for musicians, if you like. If anyone wishes to continue this discussion off the board, I am at onecooter@aol.com
Ben Jones
Washington, Virginia
January 15, 2015 @ 9:38 am
Ben,
You seem to have a problem with me disagreeing with you and you appear to be becoming indignant. A simple reply and exchange of ideas would be preferable.
The problem with your list is that several of those people were in fact alcoholics or drank to excess, like Chesterton (one of my favorite writers,) Dickens, Hesse, Twain, etc. Some of the people you mention had significant other addictions, like Proust, who was known to abuse every substance he could get his hands on. Many of the others were serial womanizers and adulterers, an addiction of another sort… Some lived too long ago to know for sure, like Shakespeare and Cervantes. Many lived their productive years during Prohibition, when it was illegal to drink. Some I wouldn’t categorize as worth talking about, like Whitman, Hawthorne, and Alice Walker.
January 15, 2015 @ 9:54 am
Oh, and by the way, I just went back and checked to be sure, but Gibran was a notorious alcoholic and died of cirrhosis of the liver…
January 15, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
Well, RD, I don’t who you are and I’m sure you think you are absolutely
certain of your opinions and conclusions. But maybe someday (you being
an inquisitive college man, will go back and read what I actually said, and
why I said it.
Chesterton loved his ale, but was not an alcoholic. People drank more during the Prohibition than before, and believe me there has never been an alcoholic who couldn’t find booze before he could find water.
And Gibran did not die of cirrhosis of the liver, but cancer of the liver. And you don’t think Whitman and Hawthorne are”worth talking about”? Well, ain’t you special!
You appear to be, as Twain remarked, “educated beyond your intelligence”….
January 14, 2015 @ 12:21 pm
This song helped one of my family members address with their own alcoholism…
Out Of Control
Written by George Jones, Darrell Edwards, Herby Treece
What goes wrong with the mind of a man in a bar
Who sits and keep drinking with his thoughts strayed so far
It’s the same old sad story that has often been told
One drink then another till he’s out of control
He sits down at a table with his hands on a glass
For him there’s no future there’s only the past
He reaches for the bottle but his hands don’t take hold
His eyes just can’t focus he’s out of control
Does he search for contentment that he might hope to find
From a honky tonk woman or the bottles of wine
He shakes and he trembles even though he’s not old
Like a leaf in a whirlwind he’s out of control
Yes I’m just like that fellow who sits there all alone
With no one to love me no family at home
I’m a picture of others with a future so cold
A life ain’t worth livin’ when it’s out of control
January 14, 2015 @ 12:28 pm
if nancy is behind it, then who is anyone else to say it shouldn’t be. I’m sure she knew him better than anyone.
January 14, 2015 @ 1:17 pm
I’ve got mixed emotions on this. I was living in Nashville when George had that crash in ’99. I remember seeing his SUV hanging on a crane above the freeway as a reminder to everyone about the evils of drinking and driving.
I can see the moonshine product being released but with a picture of George from the “White Lightning” era. The Vodka, NO WAY! There was a vodka bottle in that SUV and he had fallen off the wagon when that accident happened. I think the vodka would be the product that would send the wrong message. Then again this stuff might just fly over some people’s heads, especially young people who are of age but are too young to remember Jones and the riding lawn mower incidents or his ’99 accident.
Jesse Whitley is a good friend of mine and he goes out on tour with Georgette quite a bit. I am sure he would feel the same way she does, that it’s “glorifying” alcoholism.
Way to get people thinking, great story Trigger!
January 14, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
The “George Jones circa 1980” look with the dark glasses and hair parted on the side is hilarious. I’m glad they chose that for the picture on the bottle.
January 14, 2015 @ 1:55 pm
I don’t know – I mean, a man’s reputation is what it is while he is alive…and once he is gone, his legacy is in the hearts and minds of those who knew him and were affected by him. I don’t think a drink bearing his likeness is going to hurt that. As for “spinning in his grave”, I think we often attach a bit too much sentimentality to things that in all actually CAN’T bother the person in question, because they’re too busy playing poker with Jesus or blowin’ the Devil to even notice what’s happening on this little blue marble.
I still do things that I’d like to think would have made my Dad proud when he was alive, out of respect to the man he was, and the man he taught me to be. But, when I fail to live up to the standard I’m setting, I don’t take it hard and I don’t believe that he’s disappointed. He can’t be. He’s dead.
If the estate wants to make this partnership, and it’s going to shore up finances or provide for current and future generations, I don’t see a huge problem with it.
January 14, 2015 @ 2:50 pm
I’m not sure if the primary concern here is that it will sully George’s reputation. It will take a lot more than putting his face on a beverage to do that. I’m not saying some aren’t taking that stance, but the concern seems to be more about if it’s in poor taste.
Something else that makes it slightly questionable is that I don’t know that it’s going to shore up anyone’s finances in any measurable way. It’s not like I’m going to be able to go into a liquor store in Austin, TX and buy a bottle, at least not at the beginning. This isn’t going to be some big commercial enterprise. Nancy may have taken the distillery to the cleaners for the naming rights and received a big check, but despite the prospects they may think this moonshine has in their minds, as other commenters have pointed out, these boutique distilleries are popping up all over the place. The reason you don’t go into the bar and order moonshine is because its an inferior, crudely-made alcoholic beverage that anyone can make at home.
January 14, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
At the end of the day, she is in control of George’s legacy now that he is gone. Whether or not George wanted it that way completely, and whether or not he was influenced by those around him to give her complete control of his estate is another story. The man was pretty much taken advantage of his whole adult life, mostly due to his own self destruction. This may be a controversial decision to some, as well as some of Nancy’s other decisions. However there is no denying she helped save his life and he would have likely died in 80-81 had she not came along.
January 14, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
The reason Jones and an alcoholic beverage didn’t consummate a deal while he was still alive was probably cause he was a liability. Imagine the face of your product getting a D.U.I. or worse.
Jones’ estate makes money off of his drinking songs like White Lightning, Just One More, Relief Is Just a Swallow Away, Must’ve Been Drunk (and so on, and so on)…. what’s the difference?
When does an image become public domain? I’ve seen images of Elvis that if over analyzed could be in poor taste.
January 14, 2015 @ 3:32 pm
For what it’s worth, I have a shot-glass that I bought from the official George Jones website in the early 2000s. Just saying…
January 14, 2015 @ 3:35 pm
A shot-glass emblazoned with George’s name, and the crossed-through rocking chair symbol, that is.
January 14, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Maybe worse than George Jones Country Gold dog food. The Possum’s name has graced some pretty shaky enterprises.
January 14, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
First of all, I’m excited about the new George Jones Museum; I guess I missed or somehow forgot the original announcement about its creation back in September, so Monday’s announcement about the construction plans was a pleasant surprise to me. (It sounds like a trip to the Jones museum and the new Cash museum will make for a great two-fer experience.) However, hearing the second part of the announcement about the George Jones-brand liquor products gave me pause and kinda left a weird, bad taste in my mouth. (Kinda like what drinking “White Lightnin'” moonshine will do to you.)
Anyway, I’m no investigative journalist, but I managed to find this trademark application online for “George Jones White Lightning” liquor products:
http://trademarks.justia.com/855/56/george-jones-white-lightning-85556587.html
I believe this shows that the trademark application was originally filed 2/29/12, over a year before George Jones passed away. I have no idea if this means anything, but I’m wondering if it implies that George himself knew about and approved of this product, because that’s something I’m not really clear on.
January 14, 2015 @ 8:08 pm
Also, not to make light of anything, but I gotta admit, the picture of George Jones in the shades on the logo does look totally badass.
January 14, 2015 @ 8:50 pm
That photo is the cover to ‘Burn Your Playhouse Down – The Unreleased Duets’. The song “Burn Your Playhouse Down” with Keith Richards is worth the price of the album.
January 14, 2015 @ 9:19 pm
Right on, thanks for the info. I’m checking it out!
I always thought it was cool how Keith and George seemed to have a nice friendship. I think Keith Richards genuinely likes and appreciates good country music.
January 15, 2015 @ 6:32 am
Y’all are acting like a bunch of puritanical nancy boys. Did not he sing White Lightning among a number of good times drinking songs right to the end?
January 16, 2015 @ 8:51 am
If the George Jones estate has put it’s blessing on this, I’m sure they’d have to say yes to use his likeness, then I’m all for it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. If you want some buy it.
It’s pretty simple.
January 16, 2015 @ 11:55 am
The idea that we can just ignore things that we don’t like and they’ll go away is an operation in vanity and conceit. It is a sign of character to concern yourself about what your fellow man is being exposed to as well, or if someone of a legendary status is being shifted into a negative light. If you, or even the estate don’t have a problem with it, then that is an understandable position. But faulting others for showing real concern about an understandable issue smacks of a basic moralistic disconnect.
January 17, 2015 @ 3:49 pm
Amen, Mr. Trig. Somebody needed to say that and you did.
January 17, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
I understand both sides of the argument. However, as a way to keep the legendary George Jones legacy alive to future generations this is great marketing. After all what individual’s do with alcohol is a personal choice. Let the public decide if this is a good or bad idea with their dollars.
January 17, 2015 @ 4:28 pm
George Jones shouldn’t be on an alcohol bottle? ??? Why not? If you’re going to take the stance that it’s promoting or glorifying alcoholism then I hope that you’re prepared not to listen to any drinking songs. Of which there are a great number. For me. ..I’ll be buying it. For those of us that loved and still love George. .. we accept who he was. Trying to make believe that alcohol wasn’t an important part of him is foolish. I think that in no way does this product do anything wrong. Just another celebrity endorsement. Lots of public figures have their own line of alcohol and I don’t see anyone calling them out