A few weeks ago, Dad and I had a “date” to see Merle Haggard at the Clark State Performing Arts Center. Wyatt McCubbin, a 17-year-old Southeastern High School junior and future country superstar, was the opening act.
Although Dad views Merle as a peer — they’re both 75 — he was more excited to meet Wyatt, whom he claims has “an old soul.”
Dad was thrilled to see the “Hag” in fine form and voice, singing all of his greatest hits and surrounded by his band, “the Strangers,” composed of several of his children.
Another Wilson family favorite is the legendary George Jones. Both my parents got a rare chance to meet the Possum backstage at the Fraze Pavilion a few years ago, and now he’s coming back to the Miami Valley: at J.D. Legends in August, with Wyatt once again as the opening act.
George has had to postpone several shows of late, as he’s still recovering from an upper respiratory infection that sent him to the hospital at the end of March. On his website, the 80-year-old posted a video message, explaining the doctors want to give him plenty of time to get better. “I’m on my way back, for sure,” he says, already looking well-rested.
He then goes on to address a family feud, apologizing for his daughter Georgette (George’s daughter with ex-wife, legendary singer Tammy Wynette) and her new husband, Jamie Lennon, for “putting so much bad things about me on the Internet and Facebook.” He adds, “None of these things are true. They are all about money.”
Georgette denies the claims, telling the Associated Press, “He’s been told that I have sold stories to tabloids, which obviously I have not done, and I can prove that I haven’t done that. I’ve never wanted money or anything from my father.” She says the problems began a few years ago when she developed a relationship with her two brothers from Jones’ second marriage. Jones does not communicate with them.
On Twitter last week she wrote: “I love my Dad and am very hurt and shocked. ... Please pray for us.”
I will pray for you, Georgette.
Georgette’s mom, Tammy Wynette, died in 1998.
As someone who has also lost her mother, I can tell you, Georgette, that your Dad is the only parent you have left. Mend those fences while there’s still time.
As your father George sings, we’re all “living and dying with the choices we’ve made.”
Contact Nancy Wilson, a morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by email through k99online.com.
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