Tanya Tucker and George Jones at the 2012 National Association of Talent Directors Honors
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Since the passing of Country Music Icon George Jones, several people have asked me about his song 'Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes.'

In 1985, George Jones (who was already 30 years into his professional career), released his 134th Billboard charting song, 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?'  The poignant song posed the question that's more compelling today than ever, will today's newcomers stand as tall as the early giants of Country Music?

If you're new to Country Music, you may wonder about some of the references in the song, that seems to be played more and more since we've lost George Jones. I've posted the video below and the references included to his fellow performers.

Waylon Jennings (Outlaw that walks through Jessi's dreams, Waylon was married to Jessi Colter)

Willie Nelson (Red Headed Stranger)

Johnny Cash (Man In Black and Folsom Prison Blues)

Merle Haggard (Okie From Muskogee)

Conway Twitty (Hello Darlin')

The cast of the Grand Ole Opry (Who's Gonna Play The Opry?)

Roy Acuff (Wabash Cannonball)

Carl Perkins (Blue Suede Shoes and it's lyrics 'Go Cat Go' )

Elvis

Jerry Lee Lewis

Charlie Rich

Hank Williams, Sr. and his self-penned gospel hit 'I Saw The Light' (Luke The Drifter, A name Hank used to record other songs)

Marty Robbins

Hank Williams, Sr.

Lefty Frizzell

Although George Jones only listed a few artists in this song written by Max D. Barnes and Troy Seals, in the video seen in his live shows he incorporated dozens more from Loretta Lynn to Johnny Cash. By the way, pictured above is George Jones (at age 81) with Tanya Tucker (at age 54) from November 2012 at the National Association of Talent Buyers Honors.

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