The Possum: The Quintessential George Jones Tribute featuring Ron Crites is a Nashville-based act with credentials no other George Jones tribute can match. Ron opened for George Jones during his career, and his six-piece all-star band includes Kent Goodson and Vaughan Reed, longtime members of George Jones’s actual touring band who spent decades on the road with him.
George Jones is the Possum, the Rolls Royce of country singers, and widely regarded as one of the greatest country vocalists of all time. With more than 160 charted singles, more #1 hits than any other artist in country music history, and a Country Music Hall of Fame induction in 1992, his catalog defined traditional and honky-tonk country for more than five decades. “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “White Lightning,” “The Race Is On,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” “Tennessee Whiskey,” and dozens of other George Jones songs remain the gold standard of country music. The catalog connects with virtually every demographic that responds to traditional country, from longtime George Jones fans through younger audiences discovering classic country through covers, biopics, and the heritage-country revival.
Ron Crites goes beyond a standard tribute approach in three meaningful ways. First, the personal connection: Ron actually opened for George Jones during his career. Second, the band: Ron is joined by a six-piece all-star band featuring Kent Goodson and Vaughan Reed, longtime members of George Jones’s actual touring band who spent decades on the road with him, plus other musicians who have performed and recorded with Vern Gosdin, Eddie Raven, and Leona Williams. No other George Jones tribute in the country has anything close to that direct credentialing. Third, the longevity: Ron made his first stage appearance in Orlando in 1972, has been performing professionally for more than 50 years, and has been a George Jones tribute artist specifically for more than 40. He has opened for George Jones, Brad Paisley, Roy Clark, and many others.
The timing matters as well. George Jones passed away on April 26, 2013, at age 81. The original Possum as a touring act is gone forever, and a credentialed George Jones tribute like Ron Crites, especially one where actual members of George’s touring band are on stage every night, is now genuinely one of the only ways for country fans to experience this catalog performed live. For event organizers, that means less guesswork: this is a vetted, family-friendly, Nashville-based headliner with verified Williamson County PAC and George Jones Museum credentials, two bookable show formats, and the kind of authentic deep-country vocal that audiences and reviewers consistently say sounds like George Jones is still in the house.
Ron Crites is offered in two bookable formats, giving event organizers real flexibility to match the show to room size, audience, and budget:
Ron Crites is a proven fit for:
Ron performs the George Jones songs audiences most want to hear, giving planners a reliable show built around familiar high-response material from across George’s six-decade catalog.
Ron Crites is an incredible entertainer and has had great success performing on his own for more than 40 years, with credits at Carnival Cruise Lines, major hotels, clubs, lounges, theaters, and other venues throughout the entertainment field. Having spent his lifetime performing throughout the United States, Ron has created a name for himself as “The Quintessential George Jones Tribute Artist,” and his show has earned him the respect of audiences as one of the country’s best entertainers.
The credentials run unusually deep. Ron made his first stage appearance in Orlando, Florida in 1972, and has been performing the George Jones catalog for more than 40 years. He opened for George Jones during his career, as well as for Brad Paisley, Roy Clark, and many others. Now Nashville based, Ron performs at the George Jones Museum in downtown Nashville and at The Nashville Palace near Opryland, two of the most authentic country-music venues in the country. He has also released a George Jones tribute CD. The Williamson County Performing Arts Center (WCPAC) in Franklin, TN featured Ron as The Possum in January 2026, and he has appeared in the Nashville North USA 2025 Concert Series alongside Always Loretta (featuring Loretta Lynn’s original touring band, The Coalminers).
Ron’s six-piece all-star band is the headline credential. The lineup includes Kent Goodson and Vaughan Reed, longtime members of George Jones’s actual touring band who spent decades on the road with George, plus other musicians who have performed and recorded with Vern Gosdin, Eddie Raven, and Leona Williams. As Vik Valdez of AMP Audio Professionals (Speaking Rock Entertainment, El Paso, TX) put it after engineering Ron’s show: “Your voice and performance is so George Jones… it has to be one of my favorites in the span of my career.” The Mint Gaming Hall added that Ron is “a phenomenal singer with amazing stage presence, deep country voice, and his love for the audience and appreciation for George Jones music brought the house down.”
George Jones tributes with real ties to the original artist are rare, and Ron Crites sits at the very top of the category. TSE Entertainment can also recommend other traditional country, honky-tonk, and heritage-country tribute options nationwide for buyers exploring alternatives.
That means you are not locked into a single option. We help match the right act to your event based on practical factors that actually affect success:
We have booked George Jones and traditional country tribute acts nationwide and internationally, and every option we recommend is vetted and event-proven. If Ron Crites is not the perfect fit, we will quickly suggest comparable options that are.
Pricing depends on the event date, location, routing, travel, show format (full band vs. solo acoustic with tracks), production requirements, and the overall scope of the engagement. The fastest way to get a real number is to request availability with your event details.
Popular dates can tighten up quickly, especially for peak fair and festival weekends, classic country programming, heritage-country festival programming, holiday events, and high-demand corporate dates, so early inquiries usually create better artist and budget options.
Yes. Ron is regularly booked for corporate events, private parties, theaters, casinos, fairs, festivals, dance halls, fundraisers, weddings, and other special events, depending on the event setup and production needs. He is bookable in two formats (full band or solo acoustic) to match different budgets and room sizes.
Two things set Ron Crites apart. First, Ron actually opened for George Jones during his career. Second, his six-piece all-star band includes Kent Goodson and Vaughan Reed, longtime members of George Jones’s actual touring band who spent decades on the road with him, plus musicians who performed and recorded with Vern Gosdin, Eddie Raven, and Leona Williams. No other George Jones tribute in the country has anything close to that direct credentialing. Ron has been a George Jones tribute artist for more than 40 years and performs at the George Jones Museum in downtown Nashville and at The Nashville Palace near Opryland.
The full 5-7 piece all-star band is the premier format, with Kent Goodson and Vaughan Reed (longtime George Jones touring musicians) plus other heritage-country pros, ideal for performing arts centers, casino main showrooms, fairs, festivals, and major ticketed events. The solo acoustic show with professional tracks is more personal and laid-back, ideal for intimate listening rooms, corporate cocktail receptions, smaller theaters, and private events. The format is selected during booking based on your room, audience, and budget.
George Jones passed away on April 26, 2013, at age 81. The original Possum as a touring act is gone forever, and a credentialed George Jones tribute like Ron Crites, especially one where actual members of George’s touring band are on stage every night, is now genuinely one of the only ways for country fans to experience this catalog performed live by musicians with that direct connection.
George Jones’s catalog connects with classic country, traditional country, and heritage country audiences, longtime George Jones fans, multi-generational country crowds (including younger listeners discovering classic country through the Tennessee Whiskey revival and Chris Stapleton-era covers), and broad family-friendly programming. The show plays especially well at fairs, festivals, casinos, theaters, dance halls, classic country programming, and heritage-country corporate events.
Yes. If Ron Crites is unavailable or not the best fit for your event, TSE can recommend other vetted George Jones and traditional country tribute options based on budget, location, and event style.
Submit an inquiry with your event date, location, event type, and preferred show format (full band or solo acoustic), and TSE can help confirm availability and provide pricing guidance.
Check availability, get pricing, and let TSE match the right George Jones tribute option for your event. Call 800-765-8203 or submit an entertainment request to get started.
