Country legend George Jones dies aged 81

The veteran American singer George Jones, one of the greatest stars of country music has died at the age of 81.

Jones, a disciple of country's early 'honky tonk' stars such as Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb and Roy Acuff, enjoyed huge success in the US with a string of hits as well as a certain notoriety for his alcoholism, drug problems and broken marriages.

His first success came in the 1950s - the rockabilly influenced White Lightning an early crossover hit in 1959. He had hits in each of the next three decades and famously married his sometime signing partner Tammy Wynette after divorcing his second wife.

Their stormy relationship endured between 1969 and 1975 often influencing Jones' choice of songs - I'll Share My World with You from 1969 and Golden RIng in 1976 marking the beginning and end respectively.

Jones suffered a turbulent relationship with love and religion. He struggled with alcohol and cocaine abuse in the 1970s but continued to record with great success into the 1980s with huge selling hits such as He Stopped Loving Her Today. His battle with alcohol continued though he got sober for more than a decade during the late 80s and 1990s. He married Nancy Sepulvado in 1983 who as well as managing him, helped him battle his demons.

But it is for his great voice and music that he will be best remembered. Regarded by many as one of the greatest singers in American music and undoubtedly a pillar of the country genre, he won a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2012.

He is survived by Nancy and his four children.