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George Jones Hates Today's Country Music?
By: Marc Erickson
Last Updated: November 2, 2009 8:11 PM

A legend who once was known as “No Show Jones” for his inability to show up to perform at shows while a top concert draw, recently said that he worries about the future of country music to Yahoo and the Associated Press. He said that he liked the music that artists like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood make but though that "they've stolen our identity."
George Jones also stated that artists like Underwood and Swift "had to use something that was established already, and that's traditional country music. So what they need to do really, I think, is find their own title, because they're definitely not traditional country music.”
Jones then went on to praise the artists that he does like right now and they included old standbys like George Strait and Alan Jackson, stating: “It's good to know that we still do traditional country music. We still have it, and there's quite a few of us that are going to hope that it comes back one of these days."
What do you think of George Jones’ comments? Does there need to be a new name for today’s country music? Or is it just that, “Today’s country music?”


READER'S COMMENTS
Bill says:
Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009
George Jones is right. New mainstream country sucks huge balls. Remember when country stars were real men without frosted tips in their hair. The women in country music now are merely jailbait teases who could get you arrested for even thinking about them. If this is where we are going in country music today I weep for the future of it. I think why Johnny Cash died is because he wanted to. RIP JOHN.
JoeDoakes says:
Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009
I've lost a lot of respect for George Jones. He's entitled to not like where country music has progressed to, but saying it "isn't country" and that identity has been stolen just makes him sound bitter and resentful.
Cburd says:
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
I completely agree with GJ. You know it is not country music when people like Keith Urban, Taylor Swift etc.. are winning awards on MTV and their music is being played heavily on rock/pop stations. When Little Wayne and Kid Rock Performed at the CMA's last year and the camera was going from Little Wayne to George Strait I thought I was in the twilight zone.
YoBob says:
Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009
I disagree with GJ...someone who dogged out on concerts for folks who paid good money, has no right to comment on what's good country. Music genres change and evolve over time. GJ in his heyday was singing non-traditional county (compared to his predecessors).
Domi says:
Posted: Saturday, November 7, 2009
I totally agree with George Jones. Taylor swift has nothing to do in country music and I couldn't stand seeing that girl dress like rap music singers on a TV clip.
Heidi Penny says:
Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009
I agree with George Jones. If people want to hear tradtional country music they need to drive to San Antonio Texas and check out the Aztec Theater. There is a clasic country music show that pays tribute to great artist like George Jones,Tammy W,Loretta Lynn and many more. show Run Friday,sat.,Sun.,Mon. at 7;00 pm and a 2:00 show on Sat. this show is Traditional country Music!!!!!
Twinkles says:
Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Well i totally agree with George i call todays country music Rap Crap im not saying all r like that but listen to what the people want they want the Traditional Country & Classic Country back they r the true country fans for instance take a look at Leann Rimes how well did she sing the Patsy Cline songs and i am sure Patsy would have been proud of her but look at Leann now its like Country pop and these artists of today have lost the true meaning of Country Music and thats a sad thing there are way to many traditional& classic country artists that are a dying breed so well done to you George just to add a few of my favorite artists George Jones, Tammy Wynette,Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty,Jim Reeves,Hank Williams,Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Freddie Fender,Vern Gosdin Gee my list would go on Lets Bring It Back George Regards Twinkles
Dinah says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Thanks George for STANDING up for country music! You are SO right ! Country music died years ago ...whe we settled for Hollywoods idea of music took it over! The CMA's now have soap opera stars or a "Deperate House Wife" presenting awards instead of a "Country Music legend"!? Why?? PLEASE, some body, start a LABEL called "REAL" coutry! Why are we forced to see Jamie Fox on the Counrty music awards and then allow him to trash Miley Cirrus??? WHY does no one ever speak out!! Thank God for George Jones!! You have, all true counrty fans, RESPECT! It's time to BOYCOTT that uncountry MUSIC and the CMA"S too!
Carolyn says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I totally agree with George Country is simply not Country anymore and they need to find a new name for their kind of music and get their own station on the radio so we can tune to a Country station and really hear Country and not have to listen to a lot of garbage just to get to hear a good Country song every now and then.
Charlie Erickson says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I think the blame lies more with the powers-that-be that control the music being made in Nashville, i.e. the record label executives. They are the ones that tell Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and the other “plastic country’ singers what to record and what to release as singles. Do these singers sell a lot of records? Of course they do because of the “mass” appeal of their music that gets played not only on (and I use the term loosely, country stations) and adult contemporary radio stations. I personally think Taylor Swift is an alright songwriter if you are under the age of 20. As a singer Taylor fails miserably. Carrie Underwood has a decent voice but her music is nothing more than horribly over produced pop music with an occasional fiddle and steel guitar hidden in the recording so country radio doesn’t feel guilty about playing her songs. I could go on and on but the bottom line is this; when push comes to shove it is all about the almighty dollar. The question is; will they be around years down the road? And the answer to that is, no!
Bobby Bee says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I agree with George. There is nothing COUNTRY about this new music. These people could not make it in any other class of music so they call their music country.
Dane Eric Russell says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I agree...I simply agree
Mary says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I have to agree with George Jones. It's a crying shame what people like these two and many more are doing to "Country" music. What happen to a good ol' steel guitar and lyrics that you actually had to learn not 5-10 words repeated for the duration of the song. They need to figure out a new name for their style and leave country out of it.
Rick says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I prefer the names "Young" or "Modern" country for the pop rock stuff that fills the Top 40 airwaves these days. Much of it is not country music by any traditional definition, but it is being played on so-called "country radio" so the country title gets attached by default. George is spot on in his observations, but that's not surprising coming from one of the greats active during many decades when country music was truly country. I couldn't care less about Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood and their music as its not near country enough to interest me in the slightest. Thank goodness for younger traditional artists like Sunny Sweeney!
Jerry Hatter says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I agree with my life long idol George Jones. This new so called country music with Rap and rock-a-billy lyrics, behing punk rock guitar music is not,in my opinion, in any way, close to traditional country music, and not enjoyable to listen. I hear punk-rock-a-billy music they are calling country music and I want the traditional country music back.
MARY CASTELUCCI says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I totally agree with George Jones. I have listened to country music since I was a young girl.Web Pierce, Eddie Arnold, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and on and on. What they sing and play now is alright,don't listen to it much cause I really do not care for it much. Just a few that have remained in the true country singing songs that have stories in them. Nothing like a good artist, singing a good story to good music. I hope like George Jones that true country returns and soon. I believe I heard what they sing now as being referred to rock a billy????Could be mistaken. I listen and enjoy most music, but country music is my first and real love...always...can listen to real country all day long..used to work around the house to it all the time, radio and records, still play the old records.I have cds but prefer my phonograph records...thanks for listening to an old lady.
Blackeagle says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hi i agree with George Jones 100 % I love old and true Country Music. I am from Quebec Canada
gloria says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
There's not much music on radio today that I like a lot. I've started listening to the oldie stations where you don't have to listen to the same old select few artist 24/7....such as the ones George mentioned..Taylor Swift..her music isn't that interesting to me because it's about the same old thing...high school & young boys and I'm too old to listen to that. I'm not what you call a hard core traditionalist, but some of the music is too much to take. Mr. Bowtle...I so want to one day visit your Country. I really enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables series that was filmed on Prince Edward and it was the most beautiful place. My family and I fell in love with it!
edward bowtle says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
dear sir i really don't care for the country music today because it has meaning not like the old country singers like GEORGE JONES; TAMMY WYNETTE LYNN ANDRESON' BILL ANDERSON' SONNT JAMES; JIM REEVES'PORTER WAGONER'HANK WIILIAMS just to name a few they all had a story behind them country today i won't listen to very much of it i listen to roadhouse cuntry on my sirus radio it; great to know that i can listen to these artist all day long country today will never compare with country past. thankyou edward bowtle prince edward island canada
Kay says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I definitely agree with George. None of it is country music anymore. Artists just start out under the banner of 'country' because it's easier to get themselves noticed and in the limelight. The music isn't country, it's the same sound as pop music. Tune in to your local pop/light rock station and it'll sound the same as what 'mainstream' country radio is playing. Kudos to George!