Legacy & Grace

The daughter of George Jones & Tammy Wynette on faith and forgiveness

Georgette Jones grew up surrounded by country music’s most familiar voices. As the daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette, her childhood carried both the beauty and the weight of legacy. But in recent years, her story has turned toward something deeper — a story of faith, forgiveness, and finding peace in the presence of God.

This conversation comes from a recent episode of the Birmingham Avenue podcast, where hosts Brad Graydon and Lestley Drake sat down with Georgette Jones to talk about her journey. What began as a discussion about music and family unfolded into an honest conversation about faith, healing, and the grace that carries us home.

Finding Her Voice

Georgette Jones grew up surrounded by country music’s most familiar voices. As the daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette, her childhood carried both the beauty and the weight of legacy. But in recent years, her storyhas turned toward something deeper — a story of faith, forgiveness, and finding peace in the presence of God.

In this conversation on Birmingham Avenue with hosts Brad Graydon and Lestley Drake, Georgette shares memories from her family’s journey and how God met her in the middle of it all.

A Divine Appointment

Brad:  Welcome to Birmingham Avenue! We’re so glad you stopped by. Tonight, we have a special guest who lives right here in Alabama but grew up in a very unique home — the daughter of Hall of Fame country singers George Jones and Tammy Wynette. We’re excited to talk about her life, her faith, and some stories she’s never shared publicly. Georgette, thank you for being here.

Georgette:  Thank you for having me.

Lestley:  It’s such an honor.

Brad:  It’s really amazing how God connected us. We first met through Pastor Dalton Farmer out at First Independent Church in Oneonta, and then later ran into each other— of all places — at Cracker Barrel over pancakes. [laughs] Georgette’s husband, Jamie, was with her, and it felt like one of those divine appointments. We started talking, and she mentioned there were things God had placed on her heart to share. And here we are.

Georgette:  It definitely felt like a divine setup.

Finding a Church Home

Brad:  Before we get into your story, tell us how you and Jamie found Dalton’s church. I love that testimony.

Georgette:  We had been attending a wonderful church in Spring Hill, Tennessee, called The Refuge. We loved it there and had really grown spiritually. But God began pulling us toward Alabama. My kids are close by, so we made the move and started looking for a new church home.

For about a year and a half, we searched and struggled. We wanted a church that preached the full truth of the Bible — not watered-down — and a community we could really be part of. One day, I told Jamie, “I’m going to look one more time.” I made a list of churches online, and the very first one that popped up was First Oneonta.

I didn’t remember seeing it before, but I clicked the link, and everything about it — their mission, their outreach — just sounded right. I decided to drive by, and when I pulled up, it reminded me of the church I went to with my grandmother growing up. It just felt like home.

When we visited that Sunday, we loved the service. It felt immediately right. Afterward, I told Dalton how we’d found the church, and he said, “You’re kidding — I just put that website up three days ago.” It was perfect timing.

Lestley:  That’s confirmation right there.

Brad:  It’s amazing how God lines things up like that.

The Music and the Memories

Brad:  Let’s talk about your music. You’ve got such a rich heritage. What are your favorite songs from your parents — and maybe one of your own?

Georgette:  For Mom, it’s a tie between ’Til I Get It Right and ’Til I Can Make It on My Own. For Dad, my favorite is what we always called “the Corvette song” — Walk Through This World With Me. My twin boys used to sing it when they were little, and it’s really special to me.

Brad:  Those are classics. And of course, He Stopped Loving Her Today is often called the greatest country song of all time.

Georgette:  That’s what people say. [smiles] I’m proud of him. He carried that song around for a year before recording it because he thought it was too sad.

Brad:  And then your mom’s Stand By Your Man — it’s still one of the most recognized songs in the world.

Georgette:  It is, and one of my favorite duets they did together is Take Me. They had so many, but that one stands out to me.

Lestley:   It’s amazing how a song can carry you back to a place in time.

Georgette:  Absolutely. Music does that. It’s therapy for me. It helps you through hard times and reminds you that you’re not alone.

Growing Up Jones

Brad:  You grew up in one of country music’s most famous families. What was that like?

Georgette:  It was a mixture of wonderful and hard. People ask that question a lot, but for us, they were just Mom and Dad. We had chores, schoolwork, and rules like any other kids. Their concerts were simply their “office.”

Looking back, I laugh at how I’d sit in recording studios with legends like Billy Sherrill — who’s now in the Country Music Hall of Fame — and I’d be bored out of my mind, doing homework, just waiting to go home. I had no idea I was watching history happen.

We had a beautiful home, but there were sacrifices too. My mom once had 225 shows in a year, and Dad was on the road even more. They divorced when I was four. My sisters and I often longed for what we thought of as a normal life — just having them home. Fame looks glamorous, but behind the scenes, it can be lonely and exhausting.

Finding Her Own Identity

Lestley:  It’s easy for people to see fame and think it’s all joy, but it can make finding your identity even harder. Was that true for you?

Georgette:  Very true. My sisters and I used to joke that nobody knew our names — we were always “the daughter of.” I’m proud of my parents, but as a teenager, you just want to know who you are.

I always loved music. I sang on stage with my mom and dad from the time I was three. But when I got older, I started hearing people compare me to them — wondering if I sounded like my dad or phrased like my mom. It made me anxious and stole the joy I’d always felt in singing.

After my mom passed away, I was asked to be part of a TV special honoring her. I was terrified because I hadn’t performed in years. At that time, I was a registered nurse and planned to stay that way. Music was something I loved but had run from.

Then, around 30, I realized there are people who don’t even like Elvis. [laughs] You can’t please everyone. I didn’t want to reach old age wondering what would have happened if I’d followed my dream. So I gave it a shot.

God opened doors. I met people in Ireland who helped me record music, and it changed my life. Eventually, I left nursing to do music full-time. It wasn’t easy — I had a record deal fall through and times when I got bitter — but God used it to show me that success isn’t the goal. Purpose is.

Fame wasn’t kind to my parents, and I’m thankful God didn’t give me that level of spotlight. He gave me balance. I get to do what I love, honor my parents, and stay grounded.

Meeting Jesus

Brad:  Let’s talk about your faith. Where did you meet Jesus in the middle of all this?

Georgette:  I grew up believing in Jesus. My mom made sure we went to church, even when she was on the road. As a teenager, my sister and I sometimes skipped and pretended we’d gone — just being kids. [smiles]

When I was twelve, Mom moved me from Tennessee to Florida and put me in a Christian school. I hated it at first. I was a tomboy and didn’t want to wear dresses every day, but that move changed my life.

At Jupiter Christian School, I met people who really lived their faith. One night, at fourteen, I went to a Petra concert and realized it wasn’t about knowing of Jesus — it was about knowing Him personally. It took me years to truly understand that relationship, but that’s where it started.

Later in life, I went through a storm — divorce, custody battles, cancer, even being falsely arrested for something I didn’t do. My mom passed away during that time. Then I found myself in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship that nearly broke me.

I reached a point where I told God, “I can’t live like this anymore.” I prayed for protection and strength. One night, during an argument, I told the person, “Do whatever you’re going to do. I’m done.” He stood up, said nothing, and walked out. I never saw him again. That was God. He set me free.

Faith Through the Fire

Georgette:  After that, God began rebuilding my life. I met my husband Jamie, who’s from England, and we started pursuing music together. It wasn’t glamorous — a promoter stole money from us, and we ended up homeless for a while. We even lived in a funeral home for a few weeks.

One night, I broke down crying, and Jamie grabbed my shoulders and said, “Look around. I know this isn’t much right now, but one day it’s going to get better.” He was right. Ten years later, we bought our first home.

During COVID, we found The Refuge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Even though that year was hard for everyone, it was one of the best things that ever happened to us spiritually. We both got baptized there, and that’s when everything started changing. Later, God led us here to Alabama, and we found our home church in Oneonta.

The Power of Forgiveness

Lestley:  You’ve walked through so much — pain, loss, and redemption. What’s the biggest thing God has taught you?

Georgette:  Forgiveness. Without question.

My mom battled addiction to prescription medication. My dad fought alcoholism and drug use. There was a lot of pain and brokenness in our family. For years, I carried anger — toward people who hurt me, toward situations I couldn’t change.

When my dad died, I spiraled for a while. But through Scripture, I began to realize something I’d missed:  if I don’t forgive others, how can I expect God to forgive me? That truth hit hard.

Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what someone did; it releases you from what it did to you. Sometimes I have to forgive more than once — it’s a process. When those old feelings come back, I start praying for the person who hurt me. That’s how healing begins.

A Father’s Redemption

Brad:  Before we close, you told me something powerful about your dad — about how he got sober. Would you share that?

Georgette:  Of course. My mom passed away in April of 1998, and eleven months to the day later, my dad was in a near-fatal car wreck. He had just finished recording a song called Choices. The lyrics were about the consequences of our decisions — about alienating family, about regret.

That morning, before the wreck, Dad had gone outside and yelled at God. He said, “I’ve tried to quit drinking a million times. I can’t do it. You’re going to have to do something.” That day, he wrecked — went through six feet of concrete, flipped his car, and his heart stopped twice.

When he woke up, he knew things he shouldn’t have known — like who had visited and prayed over him while he was unconscious. From that day forward, he never drank again. He quit smoking. God completely changed him.

That song, Choices, became his testimony. It reminds me that the greatest decision any of us can make is to choose Jesus.

The Invitation

Brad:  That’s powerful. I think the best way to end tonight is by giving people the chance to make that same choice.

Georgette:  If you’re listening right now and you’re struggling — with addiction, pain, or anything else — I may not have all the answers, but I can pray for you. God’s love is real, and He can meet you right where you are.

Georgette  (prayer):  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this moment. Thank You for letting me share what You’ve done in my life. I pray for anyone listening who doesn’t know You — let them feel Your peace and Your love. Surround them with people who can help them grow in their faith. Show them that You are real, that You forgive, and that You never stop loving them.

Lestley (prayer):  Lord, we thank You that no matter where we are in life, You can restore what’s been broken. Tonight, we pray for every person facing addiction, loss, or hopelessness — bring freedom and healing. Thank You for the story You’re writing in Georgette’s life and in the lives of everyone watching. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Georgette: Amen. Thank you for letting me share this.

Lestley:  And thank you to everyone joining us on Birmingham Avenue. God bless. 

Georgette Jones is the only child of Country Music Hall of Famers George Jones and Tammy Wynette. She began singing with her parents at age three and recorded her first single, “Daddy Come Home,” with her father at ten. Over the years, she’s toured and recorded with both parents, appeared on national television, and contributed vocals to numerous projects, including a duetwith Mark McGuinn on his album One Man’s Crazy.

A member of SESAC and the CMA, Georgette is also a gifted songwriter and author. In 2010, she co-wrote and recorded “You and Me and Time” with her father, fulfilling a lifelong dream. That same year, she released her memoir The Three of Us, co-written with Patsi Bale-Cox, and appeared in the TV series Sordid Lives alongside Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton-John. Her story is now in development as a major motion picture starring Josh Brolin and Jessica Chastain.

Follow Georgette Jones on Facebook, Instagram and visit georgettejones.net.

Find the Birmingham Avenue podcast at bgtvstudios.com and on major podcast platforms.

Every story we share is made possible by believers who stand with this mission. REVIVAL: Here. There. Everywhere.