He had some help. Read this:
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_george_jones_stopped/
Billy Sherrill in particular. Sherrill thought “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was an 8 with the potential to be an 11. He certainly worked hard to get it over the line.
We all need help and Jones was lucky to have Sherrill as a producer and lucky to have Nancy as his fourth (and final) wife. The right left hand, indeed.
I don’t want to go there. I can’t stand Billy Sherrill. Every record he ever produced had all the same elements. He had a horrible habit of taking people who already had their own identity and taking them into his fold And he did make a few good songs for George, as he did make a few good songs for Charlie Rich, and a few good songs for.....But that was the way he worked. He would take that one great song, and with every succeeding release, water it down just a bit...I just don’t like Billy Sherrill at all.