On Sunday 12 September 2021, Gene Watson remembered fellow country music legend, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
‘Celebrating the birthday of the Possum – George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) was born on this day in 1931 (Saturday 12 September) in Saratoga, Texas.
He had 13 No.1s, and many more big hits.
His song, ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’, which was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), has been named the greatest country song of all time, and there’s not one mention of a dirt road in it. This is some real country music’
In 1986, there were plans for Gene Watson and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) to record a duet album together. Studio time was booked, a producer – George Jones‘ producer Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) – was selected for the project, and a list of possible tracks drawn up, but this album did not happen.

Gene Watson, however, went on to record the album alone, as ‘Honk Tonk Crazy‘ (Epic Records, 1987), with producer Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) at the helm.
Gene Watson and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) did, however, record the Christmas standard, ‘Silver Bells’, in the mid-1980s.

George Jones‘ No.1 country music hit singles included the following:
‘White Lightning’, which was written by J.P. ‘The Big Bopper’ Richardson (Friday 24 October 1930 – Tuesday 3 February 1959) (No.1 in April 1959)
‘Tender Years’, which was written by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Darrell Edwards (No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for seven non-consecutive weeks in 1961) / the track also reached No.76 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1961
‘She Thinks I Still Care’ (written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy) (No.1, 1962)

‘Walk Through This World With Me’ (written by Sandy N. Seamons and Kaye Jeanne Savage) (No.1 for two weeks in April 1967) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014)
‘We’re Gonna Hold On’, which was written by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Earl Montgomery (No.1 for two weeks in October / November 1973) / this track was a duet with Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998)
‘The Grand Tour’, which was written by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), Carmol Taylor (Saturday 5 September 1931 – Friday 5 December 1986) and George Richey (Saturday 30 November 1935 – Saturday 31 July 2010) (No.1 for one week in August / September 1974)
‘The Door’, which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.1 for one week in January 1975)
‘Golden Ring’ (written by Bobby Braddock and Rafe Van Hoy) (No.1 for one week in August 1976) / this track was a duet with Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998)
‘Near You’ (written by Francis Craig and Kermit Goell) (No.1 for two weeks in February 1977) / this track was a duet with Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998)
‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’, which was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) (No.1 for one week in July 1980)
‘Still Doin’ Time’ (written by John Moffatt and Michael P. Heeney) (No.1 for one week in December 1981)
‘Yesterday’s Wine’ (written by Willie Nelson) (No.1 for one week in October 1982) / this track was a duet with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘I Always Get Lucky With You’, which was written by Tex Whitson, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), Freddy Powers (Tuesday 13 October 1931 – Tuesday 21 June 2016) and Gary Church (No.1 for one week in 1983)
Source
• Gene Watson on Facebook