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Supernaw's troubles were considerable then, yet still manageable. That would change on his 42nd birthday. According to an account in The Eagle, that fateful night found him tying one on in the Texas Tavern in Brenham. That evening would end with a parking lot fracas that culminated in Supernaw facing misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and public intoxication as well as a felony charge of assault on a peace officer. The last charge had the potential of sending him to prison for 99 years to life, but eventually the case was dismissed after three juries failed to convict.

While out on bail, Supernaw headed south to Mexico, ostensibly to perform a few shows. Originally, the plan was to stay a week, but Supernaw extended his sojourn for quite some time. Soon enough he started getting in some trouble down there, and he was eventually deported by the Mexican government, White says. They shipped him back to Texas, and he was greeted at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport by squads of police from several agencies. According to The Eagle, Supernaw would later grouse in courts that he “would expect no less for Osama Bin Laden.”

At some point around this time, Supernaw went to France on a vacation with friends. “He went with a bunch of people and he got separated from them, and the plane was leaving and he wasn't there and so they left,” Tisdale says. “And supposedly they found him in his underwear. And of course over there in Amsterdam or France or wherever he was, you can buy whatever kind of weed you want, or mushrooms.”

White remembers it differently. “He was butt-naked, and he was mumbling something about how he was running from the people who had chopped his wife's head off. Debbie wasn't even on that trip.”

White and Tisdale both say that Supernaw didn't know his own name when he was picked up, so he was taken to a psychiatric ward — the so-called “mentally retarded home for terrorists” — until he collected himself. Doctors there patched together his identity and sent him home, where there was another surprise in store for him — an intervention. White was there.

“He accused his dad of arranging the whole thing,” White says. “And his dad just said, ‘Yeah, Doug, I got you stoned, stripped off all your clothes and pushed you out into the street.'”

According to Tisdale, Supernaw agreed to go to treatment at the intervention and then backed out. Meanwhile, his legal woes continued to mount. 2003 was a fairly quiet year by his standards, but the springtime of 2004 brought a new tide of arrests, dutifully reported by The Eagle. According to Eagle reporter Craig Kapitan, Supernaw was arrested twice in April for possession of marijuana, once each in Austin and Fayette counties. In May, he went to court on a bail-jumping charge.

The next month, Supernaw would add a few more pages to his rap sheet with one of his most bizarre capers yet. According to reports in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and the Amarillo Globe-News, former Houston Astros outfielder Glenn Wilson, who was then the manager of a Robstown-based, unaffiliated minor league baseball team called the Coastal Bend Aviators, invited his old buddy Supernaw to ride the Aviators bus with the team from Corpus Christi to Amarillo. Later, the Caller-Times reported allegations from several players that Supernaw smoked marijuana in the bus's bathroom. The players would also say in the Globe-News that Supernaw was “just a groupie,” while the singer himself claimed to have been slated to pitch every fourth day in the team's starting rotation. Before the road trip was over, the singer would get arrested in Amarillo three times in one week, on charges of marijuana possession, trespassing and for missing yet another Washington County court date. Despite singing Los Lonely Boys' “Heaven” on the stand in his own defense, he would end up spending two months in Amarillo's Potter County Jail.

Save for a bail-jumping charge and a driving while intoxicated rap in Austin County, all was quiet until March of 2005, when he was arrested in Bryan for the “Gin and Juice” escapade.

According to Kapitan's arrest log in The Eagle, the month after that, free once more, Supernaw traveled north of Texas, where he was arrested in Lawton, Oklahoma, for disturbing the peace. Later that same month, Fayette County authorities issued a warrant for his pot possession case there, while July found Brazos County authorities issuing yet another warrant, this time after a bondsman told a judge that Supernaw had been AWOL for three weeks in the aftermath of the “Gin and Juice” caper.

Last November, the Chronicle reported that Supernaw was arrested and charged with marijuana possession after an incident in an Humble nightclub, and The Eagle reported that he was arrested a month later in Conroe and charged with his second DWI. Then there was another Montgomery County public intoxication charge on April 13.

And then on April 25 he was picked up again for missing a hearing after the Humble pot bust, which is how I finally got to talk to him face to face in Harris County jail.

"...And the brightly painted ponies / They have feelings inside / Like me do they ever want / To get off of this ride”

— “Carousel”

Tisdale was with Supernaw on the night of his Humble pot bust. There had been a disagreement with some of the other patrons that night, and Supernaw believes they called in a favor with some powerful friends. And just like Supernaw says, she thinks it did look like he was set up. “We did not have one thing on us and when I saw that guy get that out and light it — I thought it was a cigarette but then I smelled it and I said, ‘Doug, we need to go. Let's move away from this person. This is not gonna be good.'”

But Tisdale doesn't deny that the charge is legitimate. “I told Doug that ‘Even if it was a setup, well, you fell for it.'”

She believes that Supernaw has fallen in every trap in his path for years. Two women have gotten pregnant by him out of wedlock, she says, both when he was living high on the hog. He's a famous guy, prone to screwing up. The police all know when he's in the vicinity, and he seldom fails to give them legitimate reasons to haul him in. If his paranoid fantasies were just that in the beginning, his actions have made them real.

And there's just enough truth in his ramblings to make Tisdale wonder about some things. Her own sanity, for one: “He's been living here a long time and there are some times when I think, ‘My God, I am starting to believe this crazy shit,'” Tisdale says. “You start to think you're goin' flippin' nuts yourself.”

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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