‘The Possum’ and ‘No Show Jones’: The Stories Behind George Jones’ Famous Nicknames

You’ve likely heard George Jones being referred to as one of the most influential voices in country music history, but along with his legendary status came a couple of not-so-flattering nicknames like “The Possum” and “No Show Jones.” The stories behind these nicknames give insight into different chapters of Jones career, starting with the very beginning of his career.

Why Is George Jones Called “The Possum”

“The Possum” was born from Jones’ distinctive look that a couple of radio deejays couldn’t help but poke fun at it. He credits T. Tommy Cutrer and Ralph Emery for forming the opinion that as just a young singer, he had a pointy nose and beady eyes that resembled the nocturnal animal.

“When you’re called ‘The Possum’ … it stays with me. There’s no way I can ever live it down,” Jones told The Boot. “T. Tommy Cutrer was a disc jockey. Everybody loved him. He was one of the old-timers on the all-night shows along with Ralph Emery, and those two got started calling me ‘The Possum.’”

He explained that the disc jockeys first drew the comparison from an album Jones released that featured a photo of his side profile with a crew cut as the cover art.

“I was very young, and my nose looked more turned up, and I’ve got little beady eyes so I guess I did look like a possum! So they both laid into me and called me ‘Possum,’ and it got everywhere. There was no way I could stop that, so (I thought) I’ll just have to live with that!”

The nickname stuck and rather than fight it, Jones eventually learned to embrace it, so much so that he even named his famous Nashville establishment, Possum Holler.

The Sad Truth Behind “No Show Jones”

While “Possum” was nothing but a clever knock at his looks at the time, his other nickname, “No Show Jones,” held a bit more of a troubling meaning as it was born from fans reactions to him missing so many concerts due to his drug and alcohol problem.

George Jones built a music career by living out the messages of his songs, that often honed in on the pain of his three divorces, his financial issues and struggles with his addiction to drugs and alcohol. His divorce from fellow legend Tammy Wynette led Jones down a destructive path. He was arrested and hospitalized on several occasions and missed countless performances in the process, hence the reason for the nickname.

Reflecting on that chapter of his career, Jones told the outlet that he often looked back on the canceled shows and felt instant regret thinking about all the families who were left with disappointment after spending their hard-earned money to see him live.  

“I think about the dates that I missed, and I’ll see those mamas and daddies and some grandkids walking down the old country dirt road … walking to town maybe a mile, and they’ve been saving their money for a couple months just to get there and to be let down … I guess that hurts me worse than anything else,” he admitted.  

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“I Didn’t Think I’d Ever Live It Down”

He certainly wasn’t proud of being known as “No Show Jones,” but he did what he did best and explored the chapter through song and eventually, “made peace with it.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever live it down, but it’s gotten so much better,” he said with a laugh. “Nobody calls me ‘No Show’ any more.”

These nicknames will always be a part of George Jones’ legacy, but they are just a very small part of his story as a successful country artist.

The End Of George Jones’ Legendary Career

The “He Stopped Loving Her Today” singer also earned plenty of honorary titles throughout his career. He won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, two CMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards, the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement and more.

He embarked on his farewell tour in late 2012 but unfortunately passed away before the final date, which was set to take place in Nashville on November 22, 2013 with an all-star celebration dubbed the Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show concert.

Jones was hospitalized on April 18, 2023 with a fever and irregular blood pressure. At 81 years old, he died on April 26, 2013, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.