'The country world has lost the greatest singer of all time': Country music world pays tribute to George Jones after his death at 81

His tunes about good times and regrets touched countless generations of fans.
From Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton to Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard, many of the biggest acts in the country music world reacted with deep emotion upon learning of the death of legendary singer George Jones on Friday.
They took to social media to share the news with their countless followers that the singer better known as Possum passed away after a brief hospitalization for fever and irregular blood pressure.
His publicist Kirt Webster released a statement early Friday detailing that the singer had been recently forced to cancel two performances on his farewell tour after he was hospitalized at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
But his health soon failed and he died Friday morning at the age of 81, leaving a large void in the hearts and minds of his fans.
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Fellow legend: Merle Haggard tweeted a snap of himself with George Jones, who passed away Friday morning

Hall of famers Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton shared warm tributes to the Finally Friday singer on their Twitter accounts.
'My heart is absolutely broken,' Parton posted, reflecting on her The Blues Man duet partner.
'George Jones was my all time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world. My heart goes out to Nancy and all his family and friends.'
'The world has lost the greated country singer of all time. Amen,' Haggard wrote, sharing a snap of the two from a younger time in both of their long and storied lives.

'A sad day for country music': Loretta Lynn shared a classic snap of the two on her Facebook

Younger years: The singer's career spanned four decades, with his first hit in 1955 with Why Baby Why

Loretta Lynn, 81, who shared the stage with Jones on many occassions over his decades long career, posted a picture of a warm embrace they shared at an awards show in the 1970s.
'It's a sad day for country music and a great loss for those of us who knew him. I was blessed to call George my friend. He was one of the best country singers there ever was. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Nancy, and all of his family. It's a sad, sad day,' Lynn said on her Facebook page.
Hard-nosed country star Trace Adkins also posted a throwback picture of the pair grinning gladly for the cameras.
'George Jones was my friend and I loved him,' Adkins wrote. 'People that know me well, know that that smile is not seen very often. His presence, made me smile.'

'My all time favourite': Dolly shared the news with her Tumblr followers

A rare smile: Celebrity Apprentice star Trace Adkins shared a smiling snap

The most creative tribute came on YouTube from American Idol judge Keith Urban, who shared a 40-second video of himself sitting at a white piano, playing a heartfelt rendition of He Stopped Loving Her Today. The 1980 ballad, which Jones was sure would never be a hit, often appears on surveys as the most popular country song of all time.
He captioned the video: 'If I'm blessed enough to make it there, I look forward to you giving me the grand tour. Rest in peace George Jones!!!!!'
Fellow reality show host Blake Shelton also shared his sorrow, which was instantly reshared by over 1,900 fans: 'Really REALLY bad news. We've lost a country music legend. And I've lost a hero and a friend. Goodbye George Jones...'

VIDEO: Watch Keith Urban's tribute to George Jones

In a career that lasted more than 50 years, Possum evolved from young honky-tonker to elder statesman as he recorded more than 150 albums and became the champion and symbol of traditional country music.
He was idolized not just by fellow country artists, but by Frank Sinatra, Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, James Taylor and countless others.
James Taylor remembered writing the 1978 hit Bartender's Blues specifically for George:  'He was a true innovator. Nobody could sing like George Jones. Everyone who could imitate him did. I wrote and recorded a song, "Bartender's Blues," as a tribute and, in an instance of life-imitating-art, George recorded it and asked me to harmonize. It was the second dream come true of my career. He was easy and kind and I'll never forget him. Luckily, he recorded a lot of music; so he'll always be with us.'
Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash remembered the singer, who sang alongside her father Johnny Cash on the 1979 tune 'I Still Miss Someone.'
'End of an era. Travel safe, Possum,' Cash said.

Sad news: Country star George Jones died on Friday at the age of 81

In 1991, country star Alan Jackson dedicated his hit song 'Don't Rock the Jukebox' to Jones, asking in the song that country music remain faithful to the Jones style instead of drifting toward rock 'n' roll.
'Well, heaven better get ready for some great country music,' Jackson said Friday. 'While George was known for his wild and crazy days, I've known him for 25 years as a friend. He had grown into a real good man. Of course, he will always be the greatest singer and interpreter of real country music - there'll never be another.'
Jackson was referencing Jones' survived long battles with alcoholism and drug addiction, brawls, accidents and close encounters with death, including bypass surgery and a tour bus crash that he only avoided by deciding at the last moment to take a plane.

Most shared: Blake Shelton's tribute was reshared nearly 2,000 on Twitter

One of a kind: 'Heaven better get ready for George Jones,' Alan Jackson wrote

Jones was born Sept. 12, 1931, in a log house near the east Texas town of Saratoga.
Jennifer Nettles of the Grammy award winning duo Sugarland shares that special date with the singer, and rememered sharing that detail with him in a fleeting conversation years ago.
'George Jones and I happen to share the same birthday. The first and only time I met him (which I believe was at the Opry if my memory serves me), I told him that. His response, 'You must be trouble.' Takes one to know one, I am so proud to say. George, his music and his mischievous trouble, will all be missed. He is a country legend,' she said. 
Despite declining record sales over the past decade, Jones was in the midst of a yearlong farewell tour when he passed away. He was scheduled to complete the tour in November with an all-star packed tribute in Nashville.
'He had a voice that was the truth, raw and unfiltered,' Kenny Chesney remembered. 'You can't get any realer, any more tortured or any more alive. No one can do what George Jones does, and that's why 50 years later, he still stands out as one of the greatest singers in any genre of all time.'

Next generation: Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles shares a birthday with the singer

New fans: Brad Paisley urged young country music fans to give George Jones a listen

Braid Paisley released a statement about the singer, who urged young fans who may hot have been familiar with him to 'discover him now:'
'George Jones' life is an example of so many wonderful things: How someone's God-given gifts can make this a richer, better place. How one human being can overcome adversity, addiction, and life threatening obstacles time and time again. That it is not the stumble or fall that counts, but the willingness to stand again. How a keen sense of humor and a twinkle in a person's eye can still prevail even after all of life's hard knocks. How mistakes, missteps, and bad choices are not the end of the world if a person chooses to turn them into something good. And George's life is above all the strongest example of how the love of a great woman can get a man through anything. All of this made its way beautifully into every note of the greatest voice country music will ever know. And one of the greatest friends you could ever have. We miss you already George.'
Garth Brooks chimed in as well, reminding fans that Jones' talent will be carried on through his music.
'The greatest voice to ever grace country music will never die. Jones has a place in every heart that ever loved any kind of music,' he said.

Final farewell: The star, pictured in 1981, was hospitalised during what he said would be his last tour for fever and irregular blood pressure

Famous fans: Fellow country stars including the late Tammy Wynette, who he is pictured with here, idolised George