Maybe getting arrested is a rite of passage for those in country music. Plenty of country singers have been in hot water with the law. Some have even gone to prison for various infractions. We can't examine in detail all of the artists on the list, but here are a few whose names are part of country music lore. George Jones, Morgan Wallen, Johnny Cash, and Glen Campbell all had their scrapes with police.
Videos by Wide Open Country
George Jones
Jones had his problems for sure. A brilliant singer and beloved country music star, he had his issues. Per HoustonPress, "A shy person by nature, Jones turned to alcohol and drugs to overcome his crippling stage fright and enliven the tedium of the road, and thus left behind a long history of brawls and arrests that would rival any of today's TMZ hit parade."
Jones' outrageous tale about trouble he got into while on a lawn mower has passed into history. According to the outlet via his book, I Lived to Tell It All, this is what happened. After he had been drinking for "several days," Jones' worried wife hid the car keys so he couldn't drive to the liquor store for more alcohol. Ah, but "she forgot about the lawn mower"! Jones hopped aboard, oblivious to how weird it must have looked to passersby.
That incident may sound comical, but it hints at the extreme depth of Jones' dependence on drinking. Per his bio on the Country Music Hall of Fame web site, "Due to alcohol and cocaine addiction, he was arrested and hospitalized numerous times." In the midst of all Jones' personal trauma, he recorded a major hit song. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" became a number 1 smash that earned him a well-deserved Grammy.
Morgan Wallen
At just 31, Morgan Wallen is undeniably at the very top of the country music heap. He has earned his success many times over. A mesmerizing singer and performer, he has a huge and devoted following. He also seems to have a volatile disposition. Just two days ago, at the end of the broadcast, he suddenly walked off the set of Saturday Night Live, where he was the musical guest. That left everyone baffled. So did Wallen's failure to show up for the CMA Awards last year, when he nabbed Entertainer of the Year honors.
Those incidents pale in comparison with one that occurred last April in Nashville at Eric Church's bar. Wallen was arrested for tossing a chair to the ground, six floors below, from the rooftop bar. It landed dangerously close to police officers. Per nbcnews.com, he "pleaded guilty [in December 2024] to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and was sentenced to seven days' incarceration at a DUI education center and two years' probation."
Johnny Cash
The legendary Man in Black got himself arrested on multiple occasions. Per folsomcasharttrail.com, "Johnny Cash had a history of clashing with law enforcement. He was arrested seven times for various charges, most of which involved intoxication, drugs, or actions taken while under the influence." A few examples of what landed him in trouble with the law are possessing drugs, being drunk in public, picking flowers on private property, and driving carelessly.
Surprisingly, "Johnny Cash never spent more than a single night in local jails. He was never issued a prison sentence."
Glen Campbell
The "Wichita Lineman' singer seemed so wholesome and even reticent. But Glen Campbell had a brush with the law. Per cbsnews.com, twenty-one years ago, Campbell got arrested and was "facing one felony charge and three misdemeanor charges stemming from a hit-and-run accident near his Phoenix home." The charges he was looking at included "aggravated assault, which is a felony. He's also charged with misdemeanor counts of extreme DUI, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident."
Per the outlet via The Arizona Republic, the remorseful Campbell said, "I fell off the wagon. I think that old wagon, if I fall off it again, it'll run me right over."
