George Jones honored with statue on Ryman's Icon Walk
"One of the most influential and revered voices in country music history" joins statues of Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride to represent "legacies that continue to inspire generations of performers," the Ryman said in a statement.
Colin Reed, executive chairman of the Ryman Hospitality Properties board; George Jones' widow, Nancy Jones; and Grand Ole Opry cast member and frequent Jones collaborator Jamey Johnson attended a June 3 unveiling ceremony.
Johnson noted that as much as Jones was renowned for his love of singing and country music, he was "a dear friend who was more like a distant relative, who was always good for a warm hug and a bright smile."
Sculptor Ben Watts took about one year to complete the statue of Jones. It is similar to ones he created of Dickens and Monroe in 2017, Lynn in 2020 and Pride in 2023.
"George was an icon to people who saved their last dime to appreciate the same incredible yet relatable things that made me love and stay with him. He and his fans, much like myself, were flawed people who lived real lives and deserved strength and love," Nancy Jones said in a 2023 Tennessean interview.
The statue unveiling continues a year of celebrations surrounding the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary.
Jones' 160 charting singles included 'He Stopped Loving Her Today and 'She Thinks I Still Care". He "left an indelible mark on music and culture" and "contributed to the Opry's rise as a cornerstone of country music," the Opry said in a statement.
"His voice remains a benchmark of authenticity and excellence in country storytelling," added the Opry.
Jones' figure joins those of Grand Ole Opry star Dickens (who died in 2014); bluegrass music's founding father Monroe (who died in 1996); groundbreaking country legend Pride (who died in 2020) and legendary female country star Lynn (who died in 2022) alongside the bronze figure of Capt. Thomas Ryman on the Ryman Auditorium plaza.
Reed had the idea for the Icon Walk in 2015, after Dickens died. Thinking it unimaginable that he would never see the diminutive country performer at the Ryman again, Reed wanted to honor him and his presence there.
Jones is depicted in the statue as the artist he was in his early 60s, around the turn of the 21st century.
Nancy Jones, who aims to revive another George Jones Museum in Nashville — the original closed in Dec. 2021 — still maintains ownership of many of "The Possum"'s performance gear and stagewear. Watts wanted to create a lifelike portrayal of the singer, so she was able to outfit one of his assistants in the country legend's personal effects to help the creative process.
"George would've wanted to have (his iconic) haircut and sideburns — he was so proud of that hairdo," Nancy Jones said. "And we had to have his favorite guitar strap there, too."
When asked what she wanted the millions of tourists who may see her late husband's statue in the coming years to take from his presence, she paused, nearly teary-eyed, and said, "I don't want anyone to forget him and the fantastic music he released."
Jones died in 2013.
"To many country music fanatics, the Saratoga, Texas native's ability to weave authenticity so soulful that it could cause the warmest smile or chill you to the bone — sometimes in the same three-minute song — makes him, regardless of genre, the greatest singer that ever lived," The Tennessean wrote in April 2024.
"As elegant as a vocalist as he was humble as a man, his uncanny ability to navigate between the two via magnificently crafted songs peerlessly marks a legacy that will perpetually inform country music's fundamentals and progression."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: George Jones honored with statue on Ryman's Icon Walk
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