Alabama Band Member Teddy Gentry Charged with Pot Possession in Alabama

Teddy Gentry (right) with his Alabama bandmates and cousins and his 2022 mugshot

Someone in country music other than Willie Nelson has been arrested for marijuana.

On September 12, Alabama bassist and co-founder Teddy Gentry was busted for pot and paraphernalia possession in Cherokee County on the Alabama-Georgia line.

Gentry's vehicle was pulled over for speeding. It's unclear what happened next. Most likely the officers smelled weed and conducted a search. He received second-degree charges, which are misdemeanors.

According to NORML, personal use of any amount of cannabis in Alabama is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and $6,000 fine.

Gentry, 70, was taken to Cherokee Country Jail and released a half hour later on his own recognizance. He lives in Fort Payne in neighboring Dekalb County.

Guitarists Randy Owen and Jeff Cook and Gentry, all cousins born and raised near Fort Payne, founded the band with a drummer in 1972. They had their first No.1 C&W hit with "Tennessee River" in 1980 and would follow wiith 26 more. In 1981, "Love in the First Degree" crossed over to the pop charts, peaking at No. 15. 

They've been nominated for 13 Grammys, winning twice for "Mountain Music" in 1983 and "The Closer You Get" in 1984.

The band's next two tour dates are in Denver (Sept. 23) and Wichita (Sept. 25).

 

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Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.