Editing Jimmie Rodgers (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Jimmie rodgers in texas attire.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Studio picture of Jimmie Rodgers smiling and wearing cowboy attire: he dons a white Stetson hat, a short scarf on his neck, a two-tone western shirt, leather wrist cuffs, leather chaps, a revolver on the right side of his hips, cowboy boots, and spurs. A guitar hangs on his right shoulder from a strap as he holds it horizontally with his right arm. His left arm rests on his raised left knee and he holds a cigarette with his left hand. While his left foot rests on a stool covered with rugs his right leg stands straight|Rodgers wearing cowboy attire following his move to Texas. Photo has been colorized.]]
Rodgers married Stella Kelly on May 1, 1917, when they were both 19 years old. They separated soon after due to what Kelly later described as Rodgers' tendency to procrastinate and drink, and his lack of ambition.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|pp=32-33}} She believed that Rodgers spent too much money and that by playing music he "fool away his time and money".{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=33}} After two years of living apart, their divorce became final in November 1919.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=38}} Rodgers then married Carrie Williamson on April 7, 1920. Their first daughter, Anita, was born in January 1921. June, their second child, was born in 1923, but she died in December of that year. To return in time for her funeral and Christmas, Rodgers had to pawn his banjo.{{sfn|Malone, Bill|1975|p=125}} Both of his wives complained of Rodgers' excessive expenditures, and later his lavish lifestyle.{{sfn|Malone, Bill|1975|p=49}} Rodgers resorted to drinking to ease the pain caused by his tuberculosis.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=127}}

On June 9, 1932, Rodgers lost a paternity lawsuit to his former wife Stella. She alleged that Rodgers was the father of her daughter, Kathryn Rodgers, who was born in February 1918. Although there was no conclusive evidence that Rodgers had slept with Kelly at the time of the child's conception, judge Edgar Vaught held that she was [[Presumption of legitimacy|conceived in legal wedlock]]. Rodgers was ordered to pay $50 monthly ({{Inflation|US|50|1932|fmt=eq|r=-2}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) in child support until Kathryn reached 18 years of age.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=324}} After Rodgers' death, the monthly support from his estate stopped when Stella re-married. Kathryn Rodgers died soon after, in 1938.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=325}}

Rodgers was a [[Freemason]]. He was inducted to the order in [[Meridian, Mississippi|Meridian]] on August 9, 1920. In 1930, he joined the [[Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks|Elks lodge]]. In 1931, he reached the rank of [[Masonic lodge officer|Master Mason]] in Meridian. That year, he was moved to the [[Scottish Rite Cathedral (San Antonio, Texas)|San Antonio Scottish Rite Cathedral]] and received the local degree. He was also associated with the Alzafar Temple.{{sfn|Porterfield, Nolan|2007|p=282}} In 1931, Rodgers was invited to [[Austin, Texas]], and named an honorary [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Ranger]]. To commemorate the occasion, the singer would later release the song "The Yodeling Ranger".{{sfn|Jasinski, Laurie|2012|p=369}}