Iconic country music singer, George Jones, died Friday in Nashville at 81. Jones was best known for his distinctive voice and phrasing.

Jones was in the middle of a tour that he said would be his last when he fell ill and was hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on April 18 for fever and irregular blood pressure. He died on Friday. 

The native Texan had No. 1 songs in five separate decades, from 1950s to 1990s. Overall he charted 160 country songs.

"He Stopped Loving Her Today" often tops industry lists of the greatest country music single of all time. Watch George Jones perform his heartbreaking hit below.

Jones often made as many headlines for his troubled personal life, as his music and tours including tales of his drinking, stormy relationships and violent rages.

In his 1996 memoir, "I Lived to Tell It All," Jones recalled driving a riding lawn mower to the liquor store when his second wife hid the keys to his car.

He also talked about his difficult childhood. Although George's father bought him his first guitar for his 11th birthday, his father would beat him if he didn't sing for his drinking buddies.

Mr. Jones was one of the most honored performers in his profession.  Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008, Jones was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award last year.

He recorded with fellow country singers Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck and also duetted with such pop performers as Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards and Gene Pitney.