• Tweet

At the youthful age of 80-years-old, George Jones has decided it is time that his time on the road is over. Fortunately for us, he has planned an extensive farewell tour before he gives up touring for good.

Appropriately dubbed “The Grand Tour” after one of the nearly 200 (!) singles that he has charted over his six decade (!) career, Jones will visit about 60 cities for his final trek. The dates, which will take place next year, have yet to be finalized, though Jones is currently on the road and will remain so for much of the rest of the year.

“It is tough to stop doing what I love,” Jones said in a statement posted on his official website, “but the time has come.” The website also notes that Jones decided that after 50 years on the road it is time to slow down and spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Earlier this year, Jones was forced to cancel concert dates due to an upper respiratory infection, but he’s reportedly made a full recovered.

In addition to the new tour, Jones also plans to record a new studio album, and Dolly Parton is writing songs for the new project. No release date or any other information has yet been released.

Often referred to, and rightly so, as “the greatest living country singer,” Jones released his first hit “Why Baby Why” in 1955, and has been touring, recording and charting singles ever since. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and has won two Grammy Awards throughout his long career.

The word “living” in the description of Jones is somewhat amazing, considering that for many years his antics and substance abuse battles were nearly as highly publicized as his hit songs. In his autobiography, he tells of how he cheated death more than once with his alcohol and cocaine abuse. In one memorable story from the road, Jones tells of a time that he was intoxicated on a tour bus and shot several holes in the bus before the driver could pull over and Jones could be restrained.