Country star George Jones announces farewell tour

American country singer George Jones has announced hell cap his career with one final tour before retiring from performance.

The White Lightning singer is 81 and had topostpone some dates earlier this year because of an upper respiratory infection that put him in hospital.

On Wednesday, he announced he would begin a Grand Tour of 60 cities in 2013 that will be his farewell to country music.

"It is tough to stop doing what I love, but the time has come," he said in a statement on his website.

Jones also announced he will do one more studio album and Dolly Parton is writing him some songs.

The singer, known for hits such as He Stopped Loving Her Today, Whos Gonna Fill Their Shoes and I Dont Need Your Rockin Chair is back on tour after his health scare.

Jones, often considered the greatest living country singer, has had hit singles in every decade since the 1950s. He has recorded 143 Top 40 hit songs, won two Grammy Awards and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. This year he was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments.