NEW AT THE RYMAN: Statue of George Jones added to Ryman Icon Walk

By Emily Wykoff

George Jones, dubbed “The Possum,” is a country music legend. With fourteen number one singles and over 160 charting hits on country radio, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is known for classics like “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “She Thinks I Still Care.” Jones’ music has touched the hearts and lives of many, making him one of the nation’s most loved country stars.  

 

On June 3rd, Ryman Auditorium unveiled a statue honoring Jones on the Ryman Icon Walk. The statue was unveiled to a packed audience with speakers including Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman Colin Reed, Grand Ole Opry member Jamey Johnson, and George Jones’ wife Nancy Jones. Coinciding with the one hundredth anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, the speakers remarked on Jones’ contributions to the Opry and his legacy in country music: “Today, we add another legendary artist to the Ryman’s Icon Walk by bringing forth George Jones, who had a fabulous career and is revered as one of the greats,” said Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed. “The Ryman and the Opry were lucky to be a part of George’s story for so many years, so we feel it is only fitting to have George added here among these other stars who have made a lasting impression on country music.” Jones truly left his mark on the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.  

 

Jones joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1956 before leaving the show briefly in the early 60s. He rejoined the show on January 4th, 1969 (the same day that Dolly Parton joined the Opry cast). According to Bob Allen’s biography, George Jones: The Life and Times of a Honky Tonk Legend, Jones’ Opry debut almost didn’t happen. According to Allen, moments before Jones was supposed to go on, he was told he could not use his guitar on stage. Jones became very upset and was about to leave, when Opry regular George Morgan jumped in to save the day. Morgan grabbed Jimmy Dickens’ guitar, handed it to Jones, and told him to get on stage and start playing. The next thing they knew, Jones was performing live on air. Even when not performing on the stage, Jones frequented the area surrounding the Ryman. The first location of Jones’ “Possum Holler” honky tonk was located on the second floor of Ray Acuff’s museum, where The Stage bar now resides.  

 

Reed presented Nancy Jones with a photo of George Jones before she delivered her remarks, where she described George Jones’ devotion to the Ryman. “The Ryman was one of George’s favorite places to play music,” Nancy described. “He truly revered it as the ‘Mother Church’ and loved the acoustics. To have his legacy live on here permanently, and to see all the people who joined us today and continue to embrace him and his music, means so much to our family.” Adding Jones to the Ryman Icon Walk cements a connection between an iconic stage and an iconic artist.  

 

Designed by Ben Watts, the George Jones statue joins stars Little Jimmy Dickens, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, and Bill Monroe on the Ryman Icon Walk. The statue is located on the northeast corner of the building near the driveway off Rep. John Lewis Way. One of Jones’ signature Manuel suits is also on display as part of the Ryman Museum. Visit the Ryman for a tour or come see a show and check out the Icon Walk.