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At any rate, Supernaw had some delicate work to do, and was becoming less and less capable of doing it. “Doug's not the first guy this has happened to — Tracy Lawrence had his run-ins, Mark Chesnutt had his,” White says. “Once you've been at the business at the top level for that amount of time, you're bound to piss somebody off. When you do, it's how you rebound from it. Unfortunately, right when that started happening with us was the same time that Doug started experiencing some of the mental issues that have been haunting him ever since.”

White says that Supernaw's drinking continued, and he believes that it magnified Supernaw's mental state, so much so that there were times when the singer seemed like a different person. Meanwhile, the rumors were growing ever more extravagant. People began to whisper, then more or less openly declare, that Supernaw was a druggie. White is absolutely adamant that Supernaw was not, at least not then. “I hear all the time that Doug was a cokehead, Doug was on heroin, he was using this or that. Doug was nothin' like that,” he says. “He liked to drink his whiskey. He loved to drink his whiskey. But then people would call me and say, ‘I heard Doug is the biggest cokehead that there is.' And I would ask them where they heard that, and they would always say something like ‘My half-brother has a cousin who knows a guy who has a sister who dated so-and-so.'”

The next two singles from You Still Got Me totally bombed. Giant Records imploded and Supernaw was a free agent again. And that's when he started to get in some trouble with the law.

“And I'm a stranger in this time / My buckskin days are all behind / This fadin' renegade's made his last stand / This fadin' renegade's done all he can.”

— “Fadin' Renegade”

“The old saying that ‘Any publicity is good publicity' is not necessarily true, especially in the country music business,” White says. “Especially on the national level, the people you deal with are often Christian types.”

Still, country music fans will tolerate some bad behavior, as long as it can be written off as good ol' boy shenanigans, such as one fairly recent mini-scandal that ensnared two of the genre's biggest current superstars. At a fair in upstate New York, Kenny Chesney drunkenly absconded with a police horse named Chico and a scuffle ensued, with Tim McGraw jumping in.

“When Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw got arrested for hopping on that horse, that was one thing,” White says. “That was a playful incident; they apologized for it, they paid a fine, everybody got over it. But you don't want it to keep on building up until you are David Allen Coe or Johnny Paycheck and in the penitentiary for five years.”

Right off the bat, Supernaw's arrests were beyond the country music pale. In Lubbock in September of 1997, he was arrested for owing $135,000 in back child support to his first wife, Trudy. While Supernaw is hardly the only good ol' boy to fall behind on his child support payments, for a star to do so is one of Nashville's mortal sins.

In February of the following year, the Chronicle reported that Supernaw was arrested after a drunken fracas near the KILT booth in the parking lot of the Astrodome during the Rodeo. He was charged with public intoxication, served a day in jail and the charges were eventually dropped, but the stain remained. A scant six weeks later, Supernaw was arrested again, also for public intoxication. According to a short Chronicle piece, a deputy discovered Supernaw slumbering in his sports car at 3 a.m. on the side of Highway 290 near the Mueschke Road exit. The deputy stated that the car smelled strongly of alcohol and that Supernaw flunked a field sobriety test.

“Country music fans have strong beliefs and most of them are pro-law enforcement,” White says. “When the headlines started popping up for things like child support and public intoxication, it all adds up and you see where it's going, especially when the individual is showing no remorse or even an inkling of trying to rectify it.”

But despite his woes, Supernaw still had a career then, and the Possum Eatin' Cowboys were still standing by their leader. The breaking point finally came in the summer of 1998 at some festival gigs in Colorado. “He was showing up late and there were a couple of TV interviews scheduled one night and he didn't bother to show up at all,” White says. “So here I am trying to sound-check and I've got two reporters, one from Denver and one from Boulder, screaming me down about him not being there. And the next night he showed up late again.”

Supernaw was en route back to Houston on a friend's private plane. Thousands of feet below, his band was in a motor home making a hard decision. “We all decided that we had a good, strong eight-year run, and it looked like it had come to an end, and it was time for us to do something different and take care of our families,” White says. “We all decided that once it became a job and wasn't fun that we would end it, and we all agreed that that time had come.”

“And the mirrors in the middle reflect / Years of going nowhere / Of trying to catch the horse out in front / When you know there's not a prayer”

— “Carousel”

Supernaw has gotten into trouble so often in the Bellville-Brenham-Bryan area, you could call that part of Texas the “Supernaw Triangle.” Rumor has it that at least one police captain in the Houston suburbs has taken to briefing his underlings to make sure they “turned on their Supernaw Detectors” when the singer is said to be around.

After the rash of arrests that closed the '90s, all was quiet on the Supernaw front until 2001. (Tisdale says that a Supernaw family member told her that they were slipping prescribed meds in his food at that time.) That came to an end when he lashed out at the Harris County judge who presided over his child support trial. According to White, Supernaw coldly informed her that he felt the proceedings were dragging on a little too long, and he would like for her to speed things up a bit so he could make it to the Astros game for the first pitch. He was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to ten days in jail, which were tacked onto the six months he was given for the original charge. (According to The Eagle, he would later inform a different judge that the court in Bryan “would just have to work around” his gig schedule.)

Write Your Comment show comments (16)

  1. Doug Supernaw - Six Degrees of Separation

    I graduated from Eisenhower High School with Doug Supernaw and I saw his picture on the cover of the Press and thought to myself well, well the popular "golden boy" of high school has fallen, and proves that Karma is there for the not so popular kids in high school.

    However, as I was reading the article I was saddened by the fact Doug obviously has some serious mental health and personal accountability issues that only he can address.
    I worked briefly in 1999 with Yvonne Tisdale and like the rest of us she was looking for a boyfriend or a husband, although her heart may be in the right place but based on Doug's previous relationships with women maybe it is a good thing for Yvonne that Doug is not so sure about the "boyfriend" thing.

    Susie Mimnaugh

    Comment by Susie Mimnaugh — May 15, 2007 @ 12:31PM

  2. for the past few days i have had the pleasure of getting to know Doug while on his visit down here to southern illinois after the passing of his mother.i have found Doug to be a very sincere,generous,and very down to earth person despite all of his success.sitting around the fire the other night i was awestruck by the thought i was sitting next to Doug Supernaw!!!!!!!! a great singer,songwriter and person. dont be surprised to see doug in the spotlight again!!!!!

    Comment by rebecca meneese — October 16, 2007 @ 04:26PM

  3. I knew Doug back in the Mo's Days in Katy Texas when he was big with Reno. He would always stop and talk to me and my husband David...he always remembered our names. We moved to Spring Branch Texas several years later, I lost my job and started bartending at a bar here in Spring Branch. I was working one night and I here this song coming from the stage that sounded just like Doug....I look up and theres Doug up on stage singing Reno....When was through singing he came to the bar to order a drink....And he remembered my name after all those years...He even ask were my husband was....As a mater of fact he was living with a good friend of ours that happened to live right down the street from us....We never had any problems from Doug....Nicest guy I ever met....He doesn't let the fame get to his head... Love you. Doug.. Be careful out there.
    Sissy

    Comment by Sissy Bozant — October 20, 2007 @ 09:27AM

  4. I JUST READ THIS STORY ABOUT DOUG SUPERNAW AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART , I ALWAYS LOVED HIS MUSIC . I WENT TO SEE HIM MANY TIMES IN CONCERT BEING IN THE FIRST ROW MANY TIMES . I EVEN GOT MY EMAIL NAME FROM HIM AND HAVE HAD THAT NAME FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS NOW . I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND HOPE THAT ONE DAY HE CAN REGAIN HIS LIFE AND START NEW .
    A FAN !! FOREVER KRISTI SCHWOCHWERT

    Comment by kristi schwochert — January 14, 2008 @ 05:42PM

  5. I was thinking about Doug Supernaw today and decided to search his name on the internet and came across this article. I saw Doug in concert around 13 years ago and he put on a great show. I also remember that he was one of the best looking men I've ever seen. This deeply saddens me to hear what his life has become. I hope he gets the help he needs and one day makes a comeback.

    Comment by Christy — January 20, 2008 @ 04:09PM

  6. i hope he gets better a good singer shouldn't be wasted we miss him there's nobody like him his music should be played more on the radio. Everbody deserves a second chance.

    Comment by cowboy — January 26, 2008 @ 06:44PM

  7. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOWS OF WHERE I CAN READ ANY UPDATES ON DOUG SUPERNAW, I AM IN SUCH AWE OF HIM AND WANT TO FIND OUT WHATS NEW WITH HIM AND IF HES GETTING ANY BETTER ETC... MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS; KLFSUPERNAW@YAHOO.COM .... I AM SUCH A FAN OF HIS I HAVE EVERY CD HE EVER PUT OUT AND WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN FOR HIM TO GET BACK HIS LIFE , AND MAYBE ONE DAY PICK HIS CARRER BACK UP . HE HAS SUCH TALENT ITS UNBELIEVABLE ! I WISH HIM NOTHING BUT THE VERY BEST AND HOPE TO HEAR SOMETHING ON HIM SOON .. I KNOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WOULD ALSO LIKE THIS ALSO.
    KRISTI SCHWOCHERT FLORIDA

    Comment by kristi — February 2, 2008 @ 05:51PM

  8. They are finally letting me use the computer in the Nuthouse. i would just like to tell my children that I love them very, very much and maybe one day they will let me out. 1 Dios Botik, Douglas Anderson Supernaw

    Comment by Doug Supernaw — March 8, 2008 @ 06:30PM

  9. I have said many prayers for Doug Supernaw. When he was in trouble in Amarillo TX I wanted so much to try to see him and tell him how he and his music had affected my life and to tell him thank you. I wore out one tape and finally got a CD. I was living a pretty successful life in San Diego CA but missed my home in TX more than I can say. I played Red and Rio Grande over and over. Now I'm back home in TX and happy. I also want to add that I'm a 63 yr old woman not a young chick by any means. I've seen a lot of singers come and go in my lifetime and Doug Supernaw is one who really needs to make a comeback - and please make it soon before I kick the bucket. Thank you Doug Supernaw and God bless you. Judi

    Comment by Judi M — March 9, 2008 @ 06:25AM

  10. I met Doug back in the '90's when I had a morning radio show in TX and Doug, along with Steve Wariner and others did a concert for our troops stationed at Ft. Hood, TX, called the Dog Days of Summer. He was awesome, handsome and a real gentleman. This story breaks my heart to see such a larger than life man reduced to a feeble, deeply disturbed child. I can only hope and pray that he's able to get on the wagon, stop the b.s. and get his act together again. I miss his sense of humor, great music and voice. Hurry back Doug as you are missed.
    Kari

    Comment by Kari — April 1, 2008 @ 05:53AM

  11. Sorry to hear about Doug being back in the hospital. After the southern Illinois incident I was hoping he would get some counseling and get better. He has a tremendous amount of talent. Hopefully someone can help him, help hisself. You are in our prayers.

    Comment by Glenda — April 3, 2008 @ 08:44AM

  12. I feel sorry for the guy, I was one of supernaws biggest fans. I hope that oneday he will get back up on his feet. I have seen it too much in my family and the only thing that gets them through is family and themselves. please give me info on how he is doing and if he is going to sing again?

    Thanks
    pat schiro

    Comment by Patrick Schiro — May 1, 2008 @ 09:19PM

  13. Fell in love with Doug's music when RED AND RIO GRANDE came out when I was 18. "Reno" clicked with me so much about a girl in my life that I felt as if I was singing the song as well. Best of luck Doug and remember that your fans still love you and your music. God bless.

    Richard
    South Carolina

    Comment by Richard McClellan — May 26, 2008 @ 07:10AM

  14. I met Doug back in 97 I think, my band and I opened up for him in Fallon, NV. The guy was a real Gentleman to me, and really gave me the encouragement I needed as a singer/songwriter not to mention everyone else who was present. Being an entertainer I know the harshness life can have on you from people being jealous to judge mental to just plain old mean. Doug if you can read this, hang in there bro, you'll get through all the garbage that's coming down on you now. I'm active duty Air Force and I'll retire in a couple of years. I'm heading for Texas (love it down there) and I hope I'll run into you and that God will find favor in you again and that you'll be living better days. Today you're just down, but you're not out..."Roots and Wings" will lead you to a better day. You're still a good Man even though there are some who think not. I...happen to think you are a good Man. God speed bro!
    Rick Hays in Reno, NV.

    Comment by Rick Hays — May 26, 2008 @ 10:57PM

  15. Doug, I hope this posting will find you doing well. Like most people that have posted comments on here I was influncened by you music growing up. I met you once when you played the local county fair here in Courtland, Virginia and ever since then I have been a Supernaw fan. I hope you pull through this and I look foward to seeing you once again. Your friend J.R.Holland Courtland,Va

    Comment by J.R. Holland — June 1, 2008 @ 06:42PM

  16. HEY , I KEEP LOOKING ON HERE TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ANY NEW NEWS ON DOUG SUPERNAW, I WISH HIM THE VERY BEST ... HOPE HE CAN GET THE HELP HE NEEDS SO HE CAN POSSIBLE COME BACK TO ALL OF US " HIS FANS" WHO LOVED HIM AND HIS MUSIC SO VERY MUCH. DOUG IF YOU GET TO READ THESE COMMENTS I JUST WANT TO SAY .. HANG IN THERE THINGS HAVE TO GET BETTER FOR YOU. SOMETIMES THINGS GET WHERE YOU THINK THEY JUST CANT GET ANY WORSE ... THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERES A LITTLE RAY OF LIGHT ...SOMETHING TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH . I DO WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND HOPE TO ONEDAY HERE MR DOUG SUPERNAW BACK AND IN FULL SWING .... WAITING FOR YOUR COME BACK ..... KRISTI SCHWOCHERT...

    Comment by kristi — June 4, 2008 @ 07:13AM

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