Introduction
When “King George” Jones invited Ricky Van Shelton into the studio for My Very Special Guests in 1979, few could have guessed how timeless their duet would become. At just over two minutes, “It Hurts as Much in Texas (As It Did in Tennessee)” captures the sting of lost love that doesn’t ease just because of a change in scenery.
George Jones, often hailed as “The Rolls-Royce of Country Music,” had already amassed over 160 chart singles by the late 1970s. Battling personal demons and professional highs and lows, he recorded My Very Special Guests during a turbulent period marked by addiction and financial woes. The album featured duets with Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, and, notably, Ricky Van Shelton on track 12.
The song itself was penned by Dennis Knutson and A.L. “Doodle” Owens, veterans of Nashville’s songwriting scene. Its simple, aching lyric—“Hey, we broke up in Nashville on a cold and rainy night / My tears mixed with the cold rain drops as she walked out of sight”—paints a vivid picture of sorrow that no change in geography can cure.
Ricky Van Shelton, born in Danville, Virginia in 1952, rose to fame in the late 1980s with a string of neo-traditional hits like “Somebody Lied” and “Living Proof”. His rich baritone complements Jones’s iconic, quivering vocal with a comforting steadiness, making this performance feel like two friends sharing the same broken heart.
Though the track was never released as a single, it gained new life on YouTube over a decade ago—published roughly 14 years back—reminding fans why the pain of a lost love can cross any border.
There’s a universality in the way both singers deliver each line: Jones’s weathered timbre conveys a life lived through every heartbreak, while Shelton’s smoother tone offers an empathetic echo. Together, they turn a short studio duet into an emotional journey, proving that some wounds don’t heal with distance.
“It Hurts as Much in Texas (As It Did in Tennessee)” stands as a testament to the power of collaboration across generations—two voices united in the shared experience of love lost. It’s a reminder that country music’s greatest storytellers often shine brightest when they sing together.