Producer Tony Brown Charged With Domestic Assault

Legendary country music producer Tony Brown has been arrested and charged with domestic assault after police in Nashville were called to his home on Monday night (Feb. 22).

Nashville's News Channel 5 reports that Brown's wife, Jamie, called police just after 11PM to report that Brown had assaulted her after the couple had a fight over a photo shoot that was scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 23). According to her statement to police, she ran to her car after the assault to call the authorities. Brown was arrested and charged in the incident early Tuesday morning.

This is the 69-year-old executive's second arrest for domestic violence. In September of 2013 Jamie charged that he kicked in a bedroom door, assaulted her and threw her in their swimming pool after an argument. According to a representative for Brown, that incident was later expunged from his record.

Brown is one of the most influential figures in the modern history of country music. He began his career as a musician for artists including Elvis Presley and Emmylou Harris before moving to the business side of country music. He has helped shape the careers of artists including Reba McEntire, George Strait and Steve Earle, among many more. He also played a key role in breaking Vince Gill, signing him to MCA and helming his most successful albums. He exited MCA in 2002 and co-founded Universal South Records, which merged with Show Dog Records in 2009 to become Show Dog-Universal Music.

The executive has been married twice before. During his second marriage, he took a fall in April of 2003 that resulted in brain damage so severe that he was placed in a medically induced coma. His personality changed after that, according to his second wife, Anastasia. They shared their struggles with People in 2008, revealing that he had been diagnosed with depression and that they had fought to save their marriage.

They divorced in 2009, and Brown and the former Jamie Antee married in February of 2013. They also divorced, but re-married and renewed their vows in early February of 2016. Sadly, the alleged assault comes just weeks after the happy occasion.