George Jones’ 1986 Court-Ordered Performance With Patty Loveless and John Anderson in Franklin, Tennessee

It’s a tale as old as time—country musicians getting arrested and facing jail time. Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Paycheck are some of the legends that jump to mind, and another musician who fits the bill is none other than George Jones. In 1982 Jones was arrested for a DUI while driving between Nashville and Franklin on I-65. However, what makes Jones’ case different from the rest of the musicians is his unorthodox punishment.

Haggard went to Jail, Paycheck went to jail, and Cash went to jail, but Jones’s punishment was to play a free concert. One might sarcastically believe this is American due process at its finest, although the show wasn’t merely for the judge’s amusement. Rather, it went to a good cause and kept Jones out of jail. So in the end, it seems all parties won.

George Jones’ Reluctancy

After his initial court date, Jones paid a $50 fine and a $123 court fee. However, his probation was to play a concert to raise money for Williamson County Youth, Inc. in 1983 at Franklin High School on the football field, per Williamson County Source. Well, that was the original plan, until Jones decided to never show up and not fulfill his court-ordered punishment.

Due to his absence, the judge called Jones back to court. It was then that the judge voiced his anger with Jones and told him if he didn’t fulfill his end of the bargain he’d be serving jail time. Of course, Jones did not want to serve time. Thus, four years after his arrest in 1986 Jones performed in Jim Warren Park alongside Patty Loveless and John Anderson for a different charity.

The Drunken Show

Jones’ DUI was far from the last time he’d have troubles with alcohol, as the artist didn’t get sober until 1999. That said, the 1986 concert was just another expose of his alcoholism. According to Williamson County Source and fans in attendance, “Jones fumbled along, once again drunk and late, stumbled through part of one song and then left.”

Another source recalls that “When George came on stage, he was having issues with his mic and sound and couldn’t play. We all figured it was his way of getting out of doing a free concert.” Maybe, but Jones successfully finished the show and accomplished the deal made between him and the judge. Despite this experience, Jones would go on to receive yet another DUI in 1999 months before he got sober.

Photo by Gwinn/Mediapunch/Shutterstock