George Jones Is Keepin’ It Country

Take Country Back has a superb interview with George Jones. I don’t know how old it is, but there are references to the Kickin’ Out The Footlights…Again album, so it can’t be that old.

Below are some of the questions I thought were the highlights of the interview:

What’s the most important thing about Country Music to George Jones?
Just keeping it Country, that is the most important thing. And it is all because that is what my fans want, and I really don’t want to let them down. You need to be honest, that is the only way to sing Country Music. Otherwise it will not be Country. Things are changing way too much, and I do not feel comfortable with most of it.

Do you miss the outlaw days?
No, absolutely not…(Silence)..They aren’t good memories, so I don’t care to remember it. I had all kinds of problems because of it, and I hurt those who are important to me, my family and my fans…It is not something to miss, is it? I try not to look back too much. My life is today, and tomorrow. And I have learned my lessons.

What would you say to Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb or Lefty Frizzell today about the way things are going?
It ain’t what it used to be. To quote some great song writers, “Country ain’t Country no more”. Hank, Ernest Tubb and Lefty would have a lot to say about this whole situation, I am sure. Everything they believed in, wrote and sang about is pretty much gone. I would be ashamed of showing them what Country Music has become. But there are still some of us that are keepin’ it Country, and that sure makes my life that much more worthwhile.

What do you say to yourself every day?
In fact, it is more what I say to the Lord every day…”Thank you for another day and for all my many blessings”.

Be sure to check out the rest of the interview, it has a lot of insight into the relationship between Jones and Haggard as well. Also, check out the interview with Jones conducted by MSNBC that we posted about a while back.