George Jones dead at 81

**Seth82** · April 26th, 2013, 10:21 AM

wow I can't believe this.

George Jones Dies -- DEAD at 81 | TMZ.com

GEORGE JONES
DEAD AT 81

George Jones ... the country music megastar whose heartfelt vocals and close-to-home lyrics defined the genre for generations ... died today. He was 81.

Jones was hospitalized in Nashville Thursday for a fever and irregular blood pressure, though the cause of death was not immediately released.

Jones was in the middle of a tour -- it was supposed to be his last -- when he fell ill. Several dates had already been canceled.

Jones' towering influence on country music was equaled only by his public persona ... which often imitated the melodrama in his songs ... and was well-chronicled in the tabloids. He was married four times -- once to Tammy

Wynette -- and made countless headlines for drinking, stormy romances and violent rages.

But his star-power in country music cannot be overstated. Jones has charted more country hits than any other artist ... "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is perhaps his biggest, but the list of charted hits is around 150.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 ... though given how much influence he had on country music ... they might as well have honored him every year.

Jones nearly died in a car wreck in 1999, but recovered and kept his career vibrant right up until his death.

He is survived by four children and his fourth wife of 30 years, Nancy.