biography jimmy dean death cause

Country Music Hall of Fame Singer Jimmy Dean Dies at 81

By Daniel Kreps

Daniel Kreps

Country music singer and sausage company founder Jimmy Dean passed away at his Henrico, Virginia home this weekend at the age of 81. According to a brief statement by Jimmy’s wife Donna, Dean died of natural causes Sunday night, June 13th. Dean, who was experiencing health problems recently but was otherwise in good shape, was eating and watching television when Donna Dean found him unresponsive, CBS News reports . “He was amazing,” Donna Dean said of her husband. “He had a lot of talents.” Funeral service information is pending. Dean’s death comes just four months after he was named to this year’s Country Music Hall of Fame class. He was due to be inducted officially in October.

Over the course of his long career in entertainment, Dean was a singer, television host, actor and the spokesperson for the sausage company that he founded and to this day still bears his name. As the host of The Jimmy Dean Show in the late 1950s, Dean helped launch the careers of Patsy Cline and Roy Clark. In 1961, Dean had a Number One hit with the song “Big Bad John,” which won him a Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording. The song was later covered by Johnny Cash and Charlie Daniels. Dean had another country chart-topper with “The First Thing Ev’ry Morning (And the Last Thing Ev’ry Night)” in 1965. However, in the later part of the decade, Dean became more well known as a television personality, occasionally guest-hosting The Tonight Show and leading a second Jimmy Dean Show , where he developed a memorable rapport with the Muppets’ Rowlf the Dog (watch the video below).

After butchering hogs with his family in his youth, Dean and his brother formed the Jimmy Dean Sausage brand in 1969, and Dean served as its spokesperson until 2004, the same year he released his autobiography Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham . The company was sold to the Sara Lee Corporation in 1994. As an actor, Dean most notably appeared as a billionaire in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever . He also starred in episodes of Murder, She Wrote , Daniel Boone and Fantasy Island and appeared in the film Big Bad John , based on his hit song.

Dean is survived by his wife, three children and two grandchildren. Watch clips from his career below:

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Jimmy Dean was a Grammy Award-winning country musician, actor, television host and entrepreneur. He owned a hog-butchering company that he sold to Sara Lee in 1984.

(1928-2010)

Who Was Jimmy Dean?

Famed country singer and entrepreneur Jimmy Dean first performed publicly with a band called the Tennessee Haymakers. While with the Texas Wildcats, he scored a record deal with Four Star records and, in 1953, his first single became a Top 10 hit. Dean became a co-star in several film and television vehicles. He likewise continued to pursue music, opening a hog-butchering business as well.

Jimmy Ray Dean was born on August 10, 1928, in Olton, Texas, to working-class parents. Raised in Plainview, Texas, Dean's Depression-era upbringing saw him experience abject poverty. His father floated in and out of Dean's early life, once slaughtering the young boy's pet goat in order to put food on the table. His mother sewed clothes for Dean and his siblings using sugar sacks—clothes that brought Dean heavy ridicule from his peers. Dean later credited this hard-knock upbringing with giving him his entrepreneurial spirit, and burning desire to succeed. "I think the kids in school that laughed at the clothes that we wore and the house that we lived in and then my mother had to cut hair ... I think that was a good motivator," Dean later told reporters. "Every time they laughed at me, they just built a fire and there was only one way to put it out—to try and show 'em I was as good as they were."

Dean's only refuge from his difficult life was music. Strict Southern Baptists, Dean's family attended church every week, where Jimmy began singing in the choir. His mother also taught him to play piano at the age of 10, and Dean picked up other instruments along the way, including accordion, guitar and harmonica.

Dean dropped out of high school to help provide for the family. He joined the Merchant Marines at age 16, and two years later he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During his time as a serviceman, Dean was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base. There he also continued to perform music in Washington, D.C., nightclubs. He first performed publicly with a band called the Tennessee Haymakers and, after his discharge from the military in 1948, remained in the area to form the band the Texas Wildcats. He eventually scored a record deal with Four Star records and, in 1953, his first single, "Bummin' Around," became a Top 10 hit. His charming, folksy personality and business-savvy then helped him land his own radio show on WARL, in Arlington, Virginia, where he performed music and interviewed music stars.

'The Jimmy Dean Show'

Dean turned his successful radio hour into a CBS television show in 1957. Called The Jimmy Dean Show , Dean helped give exposure to then-unknown country stars including Patsy Cline and Roy Clark. Dean continued to experience his own musical successes, as well. In 1961, he released the single "Big Bad John," a song about a brave coal miner who saves his fellow workers during a mine tragedy. The single hit No. 1 on both the country and pop charts, earned Dean a Grammy Award, and put the singer firmly into the mainstream music business.

TV and Film Roles

After Dean's second variety show ended in 1966, Dean became a co-star in several film and TV vehicles, including a role as Daniel Boone's friend in the popular Daniel Boone series (1967–70), and a role in the James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever (1971), starring Sean Connery .

Dean continued to pursue his music career as well. In 1976, Dean achieved another hit with his single "I.O.U.", a tribute to his mother. The song, which was released a few weeks before Mother's Day, quickly reached the Top 10 on the country charts.

Food Business

But Dean, a heavy critic of his own performances, believed he was a terrible actor and musician, and began pursuing other ventures. In the late 1960s, Dean started a hog butchering company with his brother, Don, in his hometown of Plainview. The brothers ground the meat, while their mother seasoned it. Within six months, The Jimmy Dean Meat Co. was already a profitable business. By the late 80s, the Deans were making more than $75 million in profits. Dean sold his company to Sara Lee Foods in 1984, remaining its spokesperson until 2003.

Later Years and Death

In 2004, while living in semi-retirement, Dean released his autobiography, 30 Years of Sausage, 50 Years of Ham . In February 2010, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Dean resided in Varina, Virginia, with his wife, singer/songwriter Donna Meade Dean, until their house was destroyed in a fire. Many of Dean's legendary artifacts, including pieces of Elvis and Henson memorabilia, were burned in the tragedy. The couple rebuilt their house on their 200-acre estate shortly before Dean's death on June 13, 2010, at the age of 81.

Dean, who suffered health problems in the last few years of his life, died while eating dinner in front of the television. He was survived by his wife, Donna, as well as three children and two grandchildren.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1928
• Birth date: August 10, 1928
• Birth State: Texas
• Birth City: Olton
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Jimmy Dean was a Grammy Award-winning country musician, actor, television host and entrepreneur. He owned a hog-butchering company that he sold to Sara Lee in 1984.
• Business and Industry
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Death Year: 2010
• Death date: June 13, 2010
• Death State: Virginia
• Death City: Varina
• Death Country: United States

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• I think the kids in school that laughed at the clothes that we wore and the house that we lived in and then my mother had to cut hair ... I think that was a good motivator. Every time they laughed at me, they just built a fire and there was only one way to put it out—to try and show 'em I was as good as they were.

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Singer, sausage businessman Jimmy Dean dies

Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, "Big Bad John," and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.

His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their Henrico County, Va., home.

She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and watching the sun set over the James River.

Devastating fire gutted home in 2009 In 2009 a fire gutted their home, but his Grammy for "Big Bad John," a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson, a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana and other valuables were saved. Lost were a collection of celebrity-autographed books, posters of Dean with Elvis Presley and other prized possessions.

Donna Meade Dean said the couple had just moved back into their reconstructed home.

With his drawled wisecracks and quick wit, Dean charmed many fans. But in both entertainment and business circles, he was also known for his tough hide. He fired bandmate Roy Clark, who went onto "Hee Haw" fame, for showing up late for gigs.

More recently, a scrap with Sara Lee led to national headlines.

The Chicago-based company let him go as spokesman in 2003, inciting Dean's wrath. He issued a statement titled "Somebody doesn't like Sara Lee," claiming he was dumped because he got old.

"The company told me that they were trying to attract the younger housewife, and they didn't think I was the one to do that," Dean told The Associated Press in January 2004. "I think it's the dumbest thing. But you know, what do I know?"

Sara Lee has said that it chose not to renew Dean's contract because the "brand was going in a new direction" that demanded a shift in marketing.

A musical life Dean grew up in a musical household. His mother showed him how to play his first chord on the piano. His father, who left the family, was a songwriter and singer. Dean taught himself to play the accordion and the harmonica.

His start in the music business came as an accordionist at a tavern near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he was stationed in the 1940s. After leaving the Air Force in 1948, he fronted his band, the Texas Wildcats, and drew a strong local following through appearances on Washington-area radio.

By the early 1950s, Dean's band had its first national hit in "Bummin' Around."

"Big Bad John," which is about a coal miner who saves fellow workers when a mine roof collapses, became a big hit in 1961 and won a Grammy. The star wrote it in less than two hours.

His fame led him to a string of television shows, including "The Jimmy Dean Show" on CBS. Dean's last big TV stint was ABC's version of "The Jimmy Dean Show" from 1963 to 1966.

Dean in February was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October and his wife said she thinks he was looking forward to it.

Dean became a headliner at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star to play on the Las Vegas strip. He was the first guest host on "The Tonight Show," and also was an actor with parts in television and the movies, including the role of James Bond's ally Willard Whyte in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever."

In the late '60s, Dean entered the hog business — something he knew well. His family had butchered hogs, with the young Dean whacking them over the head with the blunt end of an ax. The Dean brothers — Jimmy and Don — ground the meat and their mother seasoned it.

The Jimmy Dean Meat Co. opened with a plant in Plainview. After six months, the company was profitable.

His fortune was estimated at $75 million in the early '90s.

Having watched other stars fritter away their fortunes, Dean said he learned to be careful with his money.

"I've seen so many people in this business that made a fortune," he told the AP. "They get old and broke and can't make any money. ... I tell you something, ... no one's going to play a benefit for Jimmy Dean."

Dean said then that he was at peace at his estate and that he had picked a spot near the river where he wanted to be buried.

"It's the sweetest piece of property in the world, we think," he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "It sure is peaceful here."

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Country Legend Jimmy Dean Dies

Country Legend Jimmy Dean Dies GRAMMY-winning country artist Jimmy Dean died Sunday at his home in Varina, Va. No cause of death was provided. He was 81 years old. Dean was known for his work in music, television and film, and as a sausage business entrepreneur with the Jimmy Dean Meat Company. His signature songs included "Big Bad John," which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and won him a GRAMMY for Best Country & Western Recording in 1961, and hits such as "I.O.U." and "The Cajun Queen." Dean also hosted the variety television program "The Jimmy Dean Show" in the mid-'60s and appeared regularly on the "Daniel Boone" series. He was among this year's inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. "The world has lost a great country music artist, entrepreneur, and witty character, and our deepest condolences go out to his family, his friends and his fans," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow.    (6/14)

"Memphis" Wins Best Musical At Tonys "Memphis" took home Best Musical honors at the 2010 Tony Awards Sunday at Radio City Music Hall in New York. "Memphis," with music by GRAMMY-winning Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro, also won awards for Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre and Best Orchestrations. GRAMMY winners Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Will Smith's production of "Fela!" was honored with awards for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical. Also picking up awards was "American Idiot," based on the GRAMMY-winning Green Day album, for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. (6/14)

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Photo: Library of Congress

National Recording Registry Inducts Music From The Notorious B.I.G., Green Day, Blondie, The Chicks, & More

Recordings by the Cars, Bill Withers, Lily Tomlin, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, and the all-Black 369th U.S. Infantry Band after World War I are also among the 25 selected for induction.

As a founding member of the National Recording Preservation Board, the Recording Academy was instrumental in lobbying and getting the board created by Congress. Now, the Library of Congress has added new treasures to the National Recording Registry, preserving masterpieces that have shaped American culture.

The 2024 class not only celebrates modern icons like Green Day ’s punk classic Dookie and Biggie Smalls ' seminal Ready to Die, but also honors vintage gems like Gene Autry’ s "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Perry Como ’s hits from 1957. These recordings join over 650 titles that constitute the registry — a curated collection housed within the Library’s vast archive of nearly 4 million sound recordings. 

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced these additions as essential pieces of our nation’s audio legacy, each selected for their cultural, historical, or aesthetic importance. This selection process is influenced by public nominations, which hit a record number this year, emphasizing the public's role in preserving audio history.

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"The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry," Hayden said. "We have selected audio treasures worthy of preservation with our partners this year, including a wide range of music from the past 100 years, as well as comedy. We were thrilled to receive a record number of public nominations, and we welcome the public’s input on what we should preserve next."

The latest selections named to the registry span from 1919 to 1998 and range from the recordings of the all-Black 369th U.S. Infantry Band led by James Reese Europe after World War I, to defining sounds of jazz and bluegrass, and iconic recordings from pop, dance, country, rock, rap, Latin and classical music.

"For the past 21 years the National Recording Preservation Board has provided musical expertise, historical perspective and deep knowledge of recorded sound to assist the Librarian in choosing landmark recordings to be inducted into the Library’s National Recording Registry," said Robbin Ahrold, Chair of the National Recording Preservation Board. "The board again this year is pleased to join the Librarian in highlighting influential works in our diverse sound heritage, as well as helping to spread the word on the National Recording Registry through their own social media and streaming media Campaigns."

Tune in to NPR's "1A" for " The Sounds of America " series, featuring interviews with Hayden and selected artists, to hear stories behind this year’s picks. Stay connected to the conversation about the registry via social media and listen to many of the recordings on your favorite streaming service.

For more details on the National Recording Registry and to explore more about the selections, visit The Library of Congress's official National Recording Registry page.

National Recording Registry, 2024 Selections (chronological order)

"Clarinet Marmalade" – Lt. James Reese Europe’s 369th U.S. Infantry Band (1919)

"Kauhavan Polkka" – Viola Turpeinen and John Rosendahl (1928)

Wisconsin Folksong Collection (1937-1946)

"Rose Room" – Benny Goodman Sextet with Charlie Christian (1939)

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Gene Autry (1949)

"Tennessee Waltz" – Patti Page (1950)

"Rocket ‘88’" – Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (1951)

"Catch a Falling Star" / "Magic Moments" – Perry Como (1957)

"Chances Are" – Johnny Mathis (1957)

"The Sidewinder" – Lee Morgan (1964)

"Surrealistic Pillow" – Jefferson Airplane (1967)

"Ain’t No Sunshine" – Bill Withers (1971)

"This is a Recording" – Lily Tomlin (1971)

"J.D. Crowe & the New South" – J.D. Crowe & the New South (1975)

"Arrival" – ABBA (1976)

"El Cantante" – Héctor Lavoe (1978)

"The Cars" – The Cars (1978)

"Parallel Lines" – Blondie (1978)

"La-Di-Da-Di" – Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick (MC Ricky D) (1985)

"Don’t Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1988)

"Amor Eterno" – Juan Gabriel (1990)

"Pieces of Africa" – Kronos Quartet (1992)

Dookie – Green Day (1994)

Ready to Die – The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

"Wide Open Spaces" – The Chicks (1998)

21 Albums Turning 50 In 2024: 'Diamond Dogs,' 'Jolene,' 'Natty Dread' & More

Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Coachella 2024 Weekend 1 Recap: 20 Surprises And Special Moments, From Billie Eilish & Lana Del Rey To Olivia Rodrigo With No Doubt

Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is a wrap, and the internet can’t stop talking about it. Here are 20 surprises and special moments from Coachella so far, including inspired team-ups, wackadoo moments in the clutch, and much more.

It may be hard to believe, but Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is already over. Clearly, time flies when you’re having fun — particularly when beholding the world’s leading artists, convened in the Indio desert in California.

If you weren’t there, the festival was filmed, of course. You can enjoy Coachella from the comfort of your own home, sans-sunburn, undrenched with champagne.

As you survey Coachella’s sold-out first weekend, read on for 20 performances, debuts and moments that surprised and touched us from Coachella Weekend 1.

Lana Del Rey's Headlining Set Brought Out GRAMMY Winners Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste & Jack Antonoff

After rolling deep up to her desert set on a fleet of motorcycles for her Friday performance, Lana Del Rey infused her iconic sad-girl pop persona into every facet of her Gatsby-esque performance.  Her headlining set also included some special GRAMMY-winning guests: Jon Batiste and 2024 Producer Of The Year Jack Antonoff both accompanied on piano, while Billie Eilish joined her idol on stage for duet performances of "Ocean Eyes" and "Video Games." Sharing a moment with her hero on stage at the end of the set, Eilish declared, "This is the reason for half you bitches’ existence, including mine.”

Tyler, The Creator Brings Out Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis and Charlie Wilson

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Saturday's main stage event kicked off with a ruckus 80-minute set by creative magnet Tyler, The Creator , who transformed the stage into an ever-changing desert scene to host fellow performers.

First up, Childish Gambino hit the stage to perform a duet of "Running Out of Time," before A$AP Rocky joined for a performance of two tracks, "Potato Salad" and "Who Dat Boy."

Tyler admitted he once saw both as rivals, but now considers them friends. Kali Uchis also returned to the desert stage with Tyler for a quick appearance as well as legendary singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson , who made an unexpected appearance to accompany Tyler on a laid-back version of "EARFQUAKE." 

No Doubt Made Their Grand Re-Entrance (With Olivia Rodrigo!)

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } No Doubt electrified Coachella with their first performance in nine years , featuring all original members and a blend of eclectic hits that defined their career. Their memorable reunion set highlighted their timeless appeal and was punctuated by a surprise appearance from pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo for a duet performance of No Doubt classic, "Bathwater." Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Show Up To Support Ice Spice And Jack Antonoff's Bleachers The Queen of Pop, Taylor Swift herself, showed up on Sunday with her boyfriend Travis Kelce among the crowds to support her friends: producer and Bleachers band member Jack Antonoff and Eras tourmate Ice Spice .  Will Smith Joined J Balvin For The “Men In Black” Theme .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } What slap? Last year, Will Smith appeared at “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop” as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. And at Coachella 2024, the world was treated to another throwback, as he and four-time GRAMMY nominee J Balvin performed the immortal theme to Men in Black . Doja Cat Brought Out A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown GRAMMY winner and 19-time nominee Doja Cat turned in a performance heavy on rap — and also puppet dinosaurs. As per the former, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown touched down, collaborating with Doja on “Urrrge,” “N.H.I.E.,” and “Masc,” respectively. Ice Spice Previewed A New Song Onstage Something’s stirring in Ice Spiceworld. At Coachella, she wowed with her live debut of a new song that sampled Sean Paul ’s 2005 track “Gimme the Light.” (She closed out with “Think U the Shit (Fart).”) As reported earlier in April , Ice Spice is going to make her acting debut in Spike Lee ’s new movie High and Low , starring Denzel Washington .  Peso Pluma Made His Coachella Debut ¡Corridos tumbados de por vida! In the wake of his big wi n at the 2024 GRAMMYs — Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano), for GÉNESIS — Peso Pluma lit up Coachella 2024 with that signature fusion of folky guitar ballads and modern hip-hop, with special guests including Becky G and Arcángel . Lil Uzi Vert Previewed A New Song Onstage Ice Spice wasn’t the only act to preview new material at Coachella 2024. Enter four-time GRAMMY nominee Lil Uzi Vert, who performed a hypnotic and — again — unnamed track, one that seemed to be tailor-made for Coachella. A Mini-Fugees Reunion Went Down (Thanks To YG Marley) Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are no strangers to reigniting the Fugees spirit onstage — they did so at Essence Fest 2022, while GRAMMY.com was reporting on site . This time, they kept it in the family; during Hill’s son YG Marley’s set, both Fugees came out, playing classics like “Killing Me Softly.” (The embattled Pras wasn’t present.) Blur Announced This Was Their Last Performance Together .tweet-container iframe { width: 100% !important; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Social media is currently abuzz at the allegedly unresponsive audience for Blur — but what’s a viral, out-of-context clip supposed to prove, anyway? Whatever the case may be, after their rollicking set, Damon Albarn and company declared that the Britpop icons were entering another hiatus. Bizarrap Brought Out Shakira .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Mega-watt Argentine producer Bizarrap brought his BZRP Music Sessions to the Coachella stage and included a surprise appearance from superstar Shakira .

Shakira and Bizarrap won the Latin GRAMMY for Song Of The Year at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs for "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53," a featured track on her fresh-out-the-trap album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran . 

Billie Eilish Threw A Special “Billie & Friends” Party & Hyped Up The Crowd With The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”

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After surprising fans during Lana Del Rey 's Friday set, Billie Eilish treated fans and special guests to a preview of her new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft at the Do LaB Stage on Saturday night.

The previewed songs were well-received by an enthusiastic set of attendees who were introduced to yet-to-debut tracks "“Lunch,” "L’Amour De Ma Vie," and "Chihiro." 

"Yo Gabba Gabba!" Showed Up To The Aquabats’ Pool Party

Christian Jacobs, lead singer of the Aquabats, co-created the "Yo Gabba Gabba!" TV show — and the colorful cast of costumed characters showed up to their pool party! This marks yet another example of ska picking up at Coachella — see the transcendent No Doubt and Sublime performances.

Sublime Made Their Coachella Debut With Jakob Nowell

As you may have read , Sublime are back, against the odds — not with Rome, but with Jakob Nowell , original Sublime frontman Bradley’s son. (It must be said: Bradley died at 28, ending the band’s original run; as he takes the guitar and mic, Jakob himself is 28.)

Speaking of the guitar — he wielded his old man’s, in an emotional and electrifying set that proved these songs’ durability and beyond.

Vampire Weekend Brought Paris Hilton Onstage To Play Cornhole

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Life imitates Mad Libs! The beloved indie rockers are out promoting their new album, 2024’s Only God Was Above Us — and who better to cheerlead than the one and only Paris Hilton, to play the classic bean bag game with the crew? Dom Dolla Brought Out Nelly Furtado .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Dance/electronic sensation Dom Dolla returned to Coachella for a charged set featuring festival first-timer Nelly Furtado who joined to perform their GRAMMY-nominated track, "Eat Your Man."

Furtado gave her all during the rousing performance, a testament to the duo's synergy after Dom Dolla brought the singer out of a six year hiatus to work together on the song.

Sky Ferreira Made A Surprise Appearance With Kevin Abstract

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If Sky Ferreira seems like an unlikely candidate to belt out a Lady A hit, think again. The singer/songwriter brought newfound heft to the five-time GRAMMY winners’ classic hit, “Need You Now,” with Kevin Abstract.

Does this foreshadow a reappraisal of the country mainstays’ catalog? Once the dust settles re: the ska revival, we’ll have that conversation.

Kesha Showed Up To Rock With Reneé Rapp (And Diss A Certain Disgraced Rapper)

“Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy ,” Kesha once rapped, in her inescapable 2009 hit “Tik Tok.” Well, that didn’t age well, and Kesha knew that. So she changed “P. Diddy” to “me” — and if that’s just going to be the official lyric now, that’s fine by the music industry. Reneé Rapp, of Mean Girls fame , bolstered her.

Mac DeMarco Joined Forces With Lil Yachty

Mac DeMarco’s been a savvy chameleon at this stage in his career, prioritizing brainy collaborations over typical album release cycles.

He has two songwriting credits on Yachty ’s game changing 2023 album Let’s Start Here , and during Yachty’s performance, he showed up to perform two of his song songs: “On The Level,” from 2017’s This Old Dog , and “Chamber of Reflection,” from his decade-old album Salad Days .

Additional reporting by Nina Frazier.

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Photo: Miller Mobley

New Broadway Musicals To See This Spring: "Hell's Kitchen," "The Wiz" & More

Broadway’s newest musicals have something for everyone, from works by GRAMMY-winning artists, to highly-anticipated revivals. Read on for everything you need to know about the new musicals appearing on Broadway.

It’s a busy spring season on Broadway, with 11 musicals opening by April 25 — the cutoff for this year’s Tony Award eligibility.

Spring 2024 musicals span a wide range of styles and genres, from adaptations of literary classics and histories, to timeless revivals and jukebox musicals from GRAMMY winners Huey Lewis and Alicia Keys . The season also features some recognizable singers including Deborah Cox, Jeremy Jordan, Shoshana Bean, and Brandon Victor Dixon.

Here’s a breakdown (in alphabetical order) of what’s playing; unless listed, all of the following musicals have open run dates.

"Cabaret"

August Wilson Theatre

Set within the seedy Kit Kat Club in 1930s Berlin as the Nazi regime was beginning to take over,  "Cabaret" premiered on Broadway in 1966. The hit play starred Joel Grey as the Emcee and Jill Haworth. Sally Bowles, with music and lyrics by the legendary John Kander and the late Fred Ebb. In 1972, the musical was turned into a movie starring Gray and Liza Minnelli ; it subsequently won eight Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Actress for Grey and Minnelli. 

The 2024 revival stars Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee, who will perform in the round on an  immersive set. While the stage may be different, fans can still expect unique renditions of iconic songs such as "Willkommen," "Cabaret" and "Don’t Tell Mama." 

"Hell's Kitchen"

Shubert Theater  

Sixteen-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys brings her artistry from the Super Bowl to the Broadway stage in the jukebox musical "Hell’s Kitchen." Loosely based on Keys' life growing up in the Manhattan neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, the story centers around 17-year-old Ali, played by newcomer Maleah Joi Moon, as she navigates her teenage years through love and loss.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-finalist playwright Kristoffer Diaz, "Hell's Kitchen" features songs by Keys with new arrangements, as well as the recently debuted "Kaleidoscope."  Shoshana Bean and two-time GRAMMY nominee Brandon Victor Dixon co-star in the musical, all reprising their roles from its premiere at the Public Theatre last fall.

"Illinoise"

St. James Theatre  

April 24 - Aug. 10

This new, dance-centered musical was the last show to announce its arrival on Broadway this season, and is moving from the New York’s Upper East Side Park Avenue Armory after a sold out run in order to meet the Tony Award eligibility deadline.

"Illinoise" features music by GRAMMY-nominated musician Sufjan Stevens and is based on his beloved 2005 concept album Illinois . The album features stories, people and places from the state. The show is conceived and choreographed by Justin Peck, of the New York City Ballet, who also choreographed Maestro and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story . "‘Illinoise’ is a coming-of-age story that takes the audience on a journey through the American heartland — from campfire storytelling to the edges of the cosmos — all told in through a unique blend of music, dance, and theater," Peck said in a statement.

Dancers featured in the show include Yesenia Ayala, Gaby Diaz, Jeanette Delgado and  Ben Cook, who also were in West Side Story .

"Lempicka"

Longacre Theatre

"Lempicka" is a brand new, original musical with a "pop infused sound" with a script and lyrics by Carson Kreitzer and book and music by Matt Gould.

The musical tells the tale of real Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka, who was famous for her art deco portraits of aristocrats and highly stylized nude paintings. While Lempicka changed art and culture in the late 1800s, she struggled with decades of political and personal turmoil. Eden Espinosa stars in the title role, and previously played Elphaba in "Wicked." Amber Iman, the first woman to perform on Broadway after the Coronavirus shutdown and Tony Award winner Beth Leavel also star in the show.

"The Great Gatsby"

Broadway Theatre

First it was a book, turned into a movie, and now a Broadway musical. "The Great Gatsby" is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic, and has all the glitz and jazz-aged glam of the 1925 novel.

Starring Jeremy Jordan as Long Island millionaire Jay Gatsby and Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan, the Broadway adaptation features all new music with a modern jazz and pop score by Jason Howland with lyrics by Nathan Tysen. As in the book, "Gatsby" tells the story of how Gatsby is after his long lost love Daisy and all the stops to bring her back into his life.

"The Heart of Rock and Roll"

James Earl Jones Theatre

Songs by GRAMMY winners Huey Lewis & the News appear in two new musicals this season. "The Power of Love" is featured in "Back to the Future" (which opened last summer) and the new jukebox musical, "The Heart of Rock and Roll." 

Set in 1987 and featuring many hits from the time, the story centers on the young couple, played by Cory Cottand McKenzie Kurtz, who work at the same company and eventually fall in love. Bobby, a rock and roller, trades his guitar for the corporate ladder and his boss Cassandra is always putting the family business first. The musical is jam packed with Huey Lewis megahits like "Do You Believe in Love", "Hip to Be Square," and "If This Is It." 

"The Notebook"

Schoenfeld Theatre

Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelon wrote the music and lyrics for this tear-jerker musical adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel and the classic romantic movie starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. Michaelson admits she’s best at the "weepy and romantic" songs.

The musical tells the story of how leads Allie and Noah shared a lifetime of love despite growing up in opposite socioeconomic classes. And if you’re wondering: yes, the famous rain scene from the movie makes a big splash with audiences on Broadway. 

"The Outsiders"

Bernard B. Jacobs Theater

"The Outsiders" transforms S.E. Hinton's novel — perhaps most famous for the 1983 movie starring Matt Damon, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise — into a Broadway musical. One of its co-producers is Angelina Jolie, who saw the show with her family when it debuted out-of-town in California. 

"The Outsiders" features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, along with music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade along with their fellow Outsiders  battle their rivals, the Socs.

"The Who’s Tommy"

Nederlander Theatre

Perhaps the most famous song from 1975 rock opera The Who’s Tommy is "Pinball Wizard" written by guitarist Pete Townshend . The musician won a GRAMMY for Best Musical Show Album in 1993 for the musical’s original cast recording. 

Des McAnuff — who co-wrote the musical's script with Townshend and also directed the original musical 30 years ago — is back in the director’s chair for this revival. The musical, about a boy who finds a knack for playing pinball, is based on the Who’s 1969 album, Tommy . It was also turned into a 1975 film called Tommy, which starred Elton John , Tina Turner, Ann Margaret and Roger Daltry as Tommy. On Broadway, Ali Louis Bourzgui stars in the title role. 

"The Wiz"

Marquis Theatre

Ease on down the road to the Marquis Theatre! "The Wiz" returns to Broadway for the first time since it premiered back in 1974 for a limited run followed by subsequent shows around the country. The show is based on The Wizard of Oz and, in 1978, was turned into a film starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Tinman. 

The revival features music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, and book by William F. Brown with script updates by Amber Ruffin (whose Some Like It Hot won Best Musical Theater Album at the 2024 GRAMMYs ). JaQuel Knight, who choreographed Beyoncé’s "Single Ladies," choreographed "The Wiz."

Newcomer Nichelle Lewis plays Dorothy along with Wayne Brady as The Wiz and Deborah Cox as Glinda. Look out for Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow; the R&B singer appeared on "The Voice" and their single "Kiss The Sky" cracked the Top 20 on Billboard’s R&B chart. 

"Suffs"

Music Box Theatre

On the heels of "Hamilton" is a historic musical called "Suffs." It’s 1913 and the women’s suffrage movement is heating up in America. The suffragists, or "Suffs," are relentless in their pursuit of the right to vote. 

Shaina Taub stars as Alice Paul, one of the leaders of the National Women’s Party. Taub also wrote the book, music and lyrics (She’s also collabing with five-time GRAMMY winner Elton John on the "Devil Wears Prada" musical). "Suffs" is produced by Hillary Clinton, tying the suffrage movement to contemporary politics in a tangible way.

"Water for Elephants"   

Imperial Theatre

Sara Gruen’s novel and 2011 film adaptation has now turned into a musical with music/lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. 

Rick Elice (known for writing the book for "Jersey Boys") puts his stamp on this show about Jacob Jankowski, who jumps on a train finding a new home with a traveling circus. 

Like "The Notebook," this "memory musical" is told from his point of view as an old man and goes back and forth between the present and the past when he worked for the circus. Audiences will love the aerial tricks and impressive elephant puppetry. "

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Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

9 Reasons Why Usher's 'Confessions' Is R&B's Definitive Blockbuster Album

Just before Usher kicks off his extensive world tour, the R&B superstar celebrates the 20th anniversary of his magnum opus, 'Confessions.' Here's a look at the ways the album changed the genre — and cemented Usher as an icon.

"All of us have our Pandora's boxes or skeletons in our closets," Usher told MTV News while promoting his 2004 album, Confessions . "I've got a lot of things and stuff built in me that I just want to let go of."

He sure wasn't kidding. The concept album, and loosely based around his relationship with TLC 's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas — essentially played out like a prime-time soap opera set to music. But its brutally honest narrative and earworm hooks connected like no other contemporary R&B record before or since, solidifying Usher as one of music's modern greats.

In fact, Confessions was the second-best selling album of the 2000s (only behind *NSYNC 's 2000 juggernaut, No Strings Attached ), thanks in part to four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers and a string of attention-grabbing videos that allowed Usher to showcase his skills as a singer, dancer, actor, and all-round loverman.

Just after delivering a career-defining Super Bowl halftime show performance, Usher celebrates  20 years of Confessions on March 23. To commemorate the anniversary, here's a look at why Confessions remains the R&B scene's definitive blockbuster.

It Saved The Record Industry 

Thanks to the rise in illegal downloads and decline of "Total Request Live" - friendly blockbusters, the music industry began 2004 staring down a fourth consecutive year of declining sales. Step forward their savior, Usher Raymond IV.

Confessions shifted a colossal 1.1. million copies in its first week, the highest number since Eminem 's The Eminem Show in 2002, and didn't stop selling. By the end of December, its total had ballooned to nearly eight million — double its closest competitor, Norah Jones ' Feels Like Home , to become the year's biggest commercial smash.

Usher's magnum opus was widely credited with getting the American public back into record stores again, resulting in a 1.6 percent increase in overall album sales. But Confessions ' journey wasn't done there. In 2012, it was awarded diamond status, joining TLC's CrazySexyCool and Boyz II Men 's II as the only R&B representatives in the exclusive club, with its current tally now reportedly standing at 18 million!

It Invented Crunk&B 

Crunk, an energetic form of southern hip-hop defined by its 808 basslines, kick drums, and general party-starting vibes, originated in the mid-1990s. But it took nearly a decade for the sound to crossover from the Miami underground to the top of the charts. And then the lead single from Confessions took the scene to another level.

With its high-pitched synth hook, emphatic beats, and hype man chants from the subgenre's self-proclaimed king Lil Jon , "Yeah!" had all the hallmarks of a crunk classic. But Usher's smooth, soulful tones and Ludacris ' playful rhymes gave the dance floor anthem a much stronger melodic edge, prompting critics to coin a new term, Crunk&B.

Several artists took note of the crunk and contemporary R&B crossover, with both Ciara 's "Goodies" and Chris Brown 's "Run It" also topping the Hot 100. But "Yeah!" remains the sound's crowning glory, as proven by the diamond status it achieved right before Usher's Super Bowl halftime show (Usher is also now only the third ever Black artist to have a diamond-certified single and album, alongside Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston ).

It Further Bridged The Gap Between R&B And Hip-Hop 

While previous albums Usher , My Way, and 8701 had all been grounded in slick, soulful R&B, Confessions was a concerted attempt to bridge the gap between his signature sound and the grittier world of hip-hop. The man himself admits that he took just as much inspiration from Eminem and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony as his usual suspects, like Michael Jackson and James Brown, to create an album that was aimed equally at the bedroom and the clubs.

Alongside the famous guest appearances from Lil Jon and Ludacris, the LP also drew upon the production talents of Roc-A-Fella regular Just Blaze . Meanwhile, on the special edition, Jadakiss laid down some bars on "Throwback," while the remix of "Confessions Part II" boasted rhymes from Shyne, Twista , and Kanye West .

That's not to say thatNot that Usher forgot his roots, though., Has proven by his collab with Keys ("My Boo"), recruitment of legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis , and contributions from long-time collaborators Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox all helped remind of his R&B prowess. "I feel like it is the base of everything," Usherhe said about his love of R&B at the time. "I want to make it more prominent."

It Was A GRAMMY Favorite 

Although Ray Charles posthumously won the most awards of the night, the 2005 GRAMMYs undoubtedly still belonged to Usher. The R&B star not only took home three golden gramophones, but he also brought the house down thanks to a spellbinding duet with the Godfather of Soul.

A sharp-suited Usher first took to the stage for an epically choreographed performance of Confessions ' fifth single "Caught Up," before James Brown — who even at the age of 71 still had several moves of his own — popped up for a joint rendition of his classic, "Sex Machine."

Usher was no doubt in a celebratory mood. By this point, he'd picked up three of the eight categories he'd been nominated in: Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Yeah!," and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal alongside Alicia Keys for "My Boo." (As of press time, Usher has won eight GRAMMYs and received 23 GRAMMY nominations.)

It Brought A Confessional Side Back To R&B 

From Marvin Gaye 's Here, My Dear to D'Angelo 's B rown Sugar , some of the greatest R&B records of the 20th century resulted from artists baring their souls as if their lives depended on it. This was an approach that had largely fallen by the wayside as time went on, with some suggesting that the genre gradually became more emotionally stunted.

Usher, on the other hand, had no qualms whatsoever about laying it all on the line, namely the ups and downs of his relationship with Thomas. On the falsetto-voiced "Burn," he willingly displays devastation over his breakup ("I'm twisted 'cause one side of me's telling me that I need to move on/ On the other side I wanna break down and cry"). And even by the penultimate track, "Take Your Hand," he still seems to be in a state of torment ("In your loving, every time I feel your touch/ Second thoughts, more doubts started building up").

Usher's confessional approach continued in 2008 with Here I Stand 's love letter to then-wife Tameka Foster and then again in 2010 with the divorce-themed Raymond vs. Raymond . And many other R&B artists, including Janelle Monae and Beyoncé , have since made career bests by delving similarly deep into their personal lives.

It Inspired A Generation Of R&B Lotharios 

Think of any R&B lothario who's emerged in the last 20 years and chances are they've been heavily inspired by Confessions . Jason Derulo has said as much, describing it as a "classic album" and "just start to finish awesome"; Ne-Yo echoed that sentiment to BBC Radio 1 , calling it "flawless top to bottom." While Bryson Tiller explicitly told Fuse he wanted to make a record in the same vein. And you can hear its influence in everything from Drake 's more romantic offerings to August Alsina's intimate revelations.

And 10 years after Robin Thicke co-penned and co-produced Confessions ' sensuous bedroom jam, "Can U Handle It," he released his own breakup tale with 2014's Paula .  Though he hasn't ever explicitly cited Confessions as an influence, Paula is a concept album about Thicke's real-life marriage breakdown, which essentially doubled up as a begging letter to his estranged wife.

It's A Storytelling Masterclass 

In 2023, it was announced that an untitled drama series inspired by Usher's back catalog was in the works. No doubt that the project, said to be "about Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home," will draw heavily upon the storytelling masterclass that is Confessions .

Take "Truth Hurts," for example, the relationship tale in which Usher initially presents himself as the wounded party before revealing that he was, in fact, the one being adulterous ("I've been blaming you when I'm the one that's doing wrong/ I'ma go on/ My guilty conscience is the real reason I wrote this song").

Usher also appeared to enjoy keeping audiences guessing about whether his confessions were truly autobiographical or borrowed from the album's male-centric production team. See the two title tracks, which suggested the lothario had himself become a father following a one-night stand, when in reality, the paternity drama was all Dupri's.

"We wanted the media to ask us questions," the latter admitted to Vibe in 2014, citing Michael Jackson as a key attention-grabbing influence. "Nobody knows who the f— Billie Jean is. We're still looking for her."

It Helped Breathe New Life Into Several Soul Classics 

While much of Confessions was interested in pushing R&B forward, it wasn't entirely averse to getting a little nostalgic. The record is filled with cleverly chosen samples from the soul of yesteryear, from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes ' "Is There a Place for Me" on "Take Your Hand" to Willie Hutch 's Mack's Stroll on "Superstar" and Preston Love's "Chili Mac" on "Whatever I Want."

And nearly 20 years before Doja Cat repurposed a Dionne Warwick classic to chart-topping effect on 2023's "Paint the Town Red," Usher brought the Motown legend into the contemporary R&B world by borrowing from "You're Gonna Need Me" on the aptly titled "Throwback."

It Broke Multiple Chart Records  

You know an artist has reached true greatness when they start being mentioned in the same breath as The Beatles . In 2004, Usher became the first act since the Fab Four to have both the biggest and second biggest-selling singles of Billboard's year-end chart with "Yeah!" and "Burn," respectively. And this was far from the only major milestone Confessions achieved. 

Until Taylor Swift 's Fearless spent an additional fortnight in the top spot in 2009, the album's nine weeks atop the Billboard 200 was the longest run of the millennium. And with "Confessions Part II" also reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 (ironically, replacing "Burn"), Usher not only became the first artist in  history to achieve three consecutive chart toppers, but also the first act to spend more than half a calendar year atop the Hot 100 at 28 combined weeks. 

Twenty years on, Confessions is still the highest-selling record by a Black artist this century. And further exemplifying his staying power and impact across the globe, Usher will soon embark on a lengthy world tour that has sold out from Brooklyn to Berlin — a momentous way to honor the album that changed the R&B game.

24 Songs Turning 20: Listen To 2004's Bangers, From "Yeah!" To "Since U Been Gone"

• 1 Country Legend Jimmy Dean Dies
• 2 National Recording Registry Inducts Music From The Notorious B.I.G., Green Day, Blondie, The Chicks, & More
• 3 Coachella 2024 Weekend 1 Recap: 20 Surprises And Special Moments, From Billie Eilish & Lana Del Rey To Olivia Rodrigo With No Doubt
• 4 New Broadway Musicals To See This Spring: "Hell's Kitchen," "The Wiz" & More
• 5 9 Reasons Why Usher's 'Confessions' Is R&B's Definitive Blockbuster Album

Jimmy Dean dies at 81; country music star and sausage king

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When the Country Music Assn. announced in February that Jimmy Dean would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year, Dean joked, “I thought I was already in there.”

“Seriously, it brought a huge grin to my face,” he said in a news release. “I am honored.”

Dean already had been inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

That’s not to mention his 2009 induction into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame.

Indeed, Dean, who died Sunday evening at his home in Henrico County, Va., at age 81, may be better known by some today as “the sausage king” of TV commercial fame than a hit-making country music star and one-time TV show host who helped bring country music into the mainstream in the 1960s.

The Texas-born entertainer and businessman, who began his recording career in the 1950s, scored a No. 1 hit on both the country and pop singles charts in 1961 with his spoken-narrative song about a coal miner — “a giant of a man” — who saves fellow workers from “a would-be grave” after their mine collapses.

“Big Bad John,” which Dean said he wrote in an hour and a half on a flight from New York to Tennessee, earned a Grammy Award for best country and western recording.

The 1960s were the down-home entertainer’s heyday.

He went on to record hits including “Dear Ivan,” “Little Black Book,” “P.T. 109” (inspired by the Naval vessel commanded by John F. Kennedy during World War II) and “The First Thing Ev’ry Morning (And the Last Thing Ev’ry Night).”

From 1963 to ‘66, he hosted “The Jimmy Dean Show,” an hourlong TV musical variety show that ran on ABC and featured singers including Roger Miller, George Jones and Buck Owens. The show also regularly featured Dean’s humorous banter with a “dog” named Rowlf, the first of Jim Henson’s Muppets to attract national attention.

Along with headlining in Las Vegas and performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall and the London Palladium, Dean played fur trapper Josh Clements on Fess Parker’s “Daniel Boone” series in the late ‘60s and had the supporting role of a reclusive billionaire in the 1971 James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever.”

He launched the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in the late ‘60s, after previously buying a hog farm in his native Texas.

“Everything was fine and dandy until hog prices dropped out,” he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2004. “One morning I was having breakfast at a little old diner in Plainview — sausages and eggs — and reached up and plucked a [large] piece of gristle out of my teeth.”

It was then, he said, that he became determined to produce a quality sausage.

“It was not something I just put my name on,” he said. “It was my money and my sausage and my work — and those commercials that they think are so funny.”

After selling his meat company to what later became known as the Sara Lee Corp. in 1984, he remained as chairman of the board and TV spokesman. After he was dropped as spokesman in 2003, Dean reportedly stopped eating the products that bear his name and changed his license plates that read SSG KING.

Dean was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Olton, Texas, and grew up in Plainview. He and his brother Don were raised on a farm by their mother after their father left when Dean was still a child. They were so poor, he once said, he wore shirts that his mother made out of sugar sacks.

Poverty, Dean told the Times-Dispatch, “was the greatest motivating factor in my life.”

He began singing early on, and his mother taught him to play his first chord on the piano when he was 10. He later taught himself to play the harmonica, guitar and accordion.

Dropping out of high school at 16, he joined the Merchant Marine and later served in the Air Force. While stationed at a base inWashington, D.C., Dean and three other airmen formed a country music quartet that played local honkytonks.

After his discharge in 1948, Dean formed the Texas Wildcats. He began developing a following with a show on an Arlington, Va., radio station and had his first country top 10 hit, “Bumming Around,” in 1953.

Dean and the Texas Wildcats moved to local television in 1955, and from 1957 to 1959 he hosted the first version of “The Jimmy Dean Show,” a half-hour daily variety series on CBS.

“Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham: Jimmy Dean’s Own Story,” a 2004 autobiography, was co-written with his second wife, Donna Meade Dean, a singer and songwriter he married in 1991.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children from his first marriage, Garry Dean, Connie Dean Taylor and Robert Dean; and two granddaughters.

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Jimmy Dean, country music legend, dies at 81

Jimmy Dean, the country music icon and famous sausage entrepreneur, died in his home in Henrico County, Virginia, on Sunday at the age of 81, the Associated Press reports . Dean’s wife, Donna Meade Dean, told the AP that her husband had suffered some health problems, but nothing that indicated he was near death. He was eating in front of the television this evening, and his wife left the room. When she returned, he was unresponsive. She told the AP that he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

Dean’s biggest country music hit was “Big Bad John,” a 1961 classic about a coal miner who saves his co-workers when the mine collapses, and it earned Dean a Grammy award.

The singer, who was born in 1928 in Plainview, Texas, grew up to have his own television show, first on CBS and then on ABC in the 1960s. In 1969 he founded The Jimmy Dean Meat Co., and for many years served as the folksy voice and friendly face of Jimmy Dean sausage in national television commercials. He sold his company to Sara Lee in 1984. In 2003 he got into a public battle with the company when it fired him as the brand’s spokesman.

Last year, a fire destroyed Dean’s home on his 200-acre estate outside Richmond. He and his wife had only recently moved back into their rebuilt house. His wife told the AP that he liked boating and watching the sun set over the James River.

Dean had just been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this February. He is survived by his wife, three children, and two grandchildren. Dean’s wife said the memorial service would be private.

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Country Music Hall of Fame Member Jimmy Dean Dies at Age 81

Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Dean died Sunday night (June 13) at his home in Varina, Va., at age 81.

His wife, Donna Meade Dean, told The Associated Press her husband had health problems but was still functioning well and was looking forward to his formal induction into the Hall of Fame later this year in Nashville. She said he was watching television when she left the room for a short time. When she returned, he was unresponsive.

In February, Dean, record producer Billy Sherrill and singers Ferlin Husky and Don Williams were announced as this year's Hall of Fame inductees. Husky and Sherrill were formally inducted last month during a private ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Dean was scheduled to be inducted alongside Williams during a similar ceremony on Oct. 24.

In addition to his status as a recording artist, Dean was a television pioneer who brought country music to a national audience. In later years, he attained an additional identity nationally as the founder and spokesperson for the Jimmy Dean sausage brand.

Born Aug. 10, 1928, in Olton, Texas, he was playing piano, harmonica and accordion by the time he was a teenager. Dropping out of high school at age 16, he served in the Merchant Marines and U.S. Air Force. Stationed in Washington, D.C., he began performing at area clubs. Signed to Four Star Records, Dean's debut single, "Bummin' Around," reached No. 5 on Billboard 's country chart in 1953.

The success led broadcaster Connie B. Gay to offer him the opportunity to host Town and Country Time , a three-hour television show that aired Saturday nights in Washington, D.C. In 1957, he moved to New York, signed with Columbia Records and hosted The Morning Show , an early morning television variety show for CBS. In 1961, Dean wrote and recorded his signature song, "Big Bad John," in Nashville. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard 's pop and country charts and earned him a Grammy for best country & western recording.

He topped the chart again in 1965 with "The First Thing Ev'ry Morning (And the Last Thing Ev'ry Night)" and scored five more Top 10 hits during his tenures on Columbia, RCA Victor and Casino Records. With his success during the early '60s, Dean became the first guest host of The Tonight Show . From 1963-1966 on ABC, The Jimmy Dean Show introduced mainstream America to artists such as George Jones, Roger Miller, Buck Owens and Charlie Rich.

Dean headlined concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and the London Palladium and was the first country performer to play the Las Vegas strip.

During the late '60s, Dean expanded his business interests after buying a Texas hog farm and transforming it into the Jimmy Dean Meat Company. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corporation in 1984 and continued to be the company's spokesperson and chairman of the board for nearly 20 years.

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Country star Jimmy Dean dies at 81

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Country music star Jimmy Dean, who later became a North American household name for his eponymous sausage brand, has died at the age of 81.

The Grammy-winning singer died at his Henrico County, Va., home on Sunday evening, according to his wife, Donna Meade Dean. According to police, Dean died of natural causes.

Though the singer had suffered some health issues, he had been doing well, so his death came as a shock, she said.

Born in Plainview, Texas, in 1928, Dean grew up in poverty and dropped out of school in the ninth grade. Raised in a musical family, Dean's mother gave him early piano lessons and he taught himself how to play the accordion and harmonica.

Dean got his start in the music business as an accordion player at a Washington, D.C., tavern during his stint in the air force in the 1940s. By the latter part of the decade, he and his band the Texas Wildcats had attracted a local following.

By the 1950s, the band had its first hit — Bummin' Around — and continued to gain more prominence. However, his best-known, Grammy Award-winning track came in 1961: Big Bad John , which he wrote in just a couple of hours. It told the story of a coal miner who saves his fellow workers during a roof collapse. Other popular Dean songs included Little Black Book and P.T. 109.

Dean became a headliner, playing top venues and becoming the first country music star to play on the Las Vegas strip. He appeared in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever and the TV series Daniel Boone , guest hosted The Tonight Show and even had his own TV gig — The Jimmy Dean Show — for a few years. He helped boost the career of the late puppeteer Jim Henson by featuring one of his characters (the piano-playing dog, Rowlf) regularly on his variety show.

In 1969, Dean branched out from entertainment with a sausage-making business — something he had some experience in from childhood, after growing up in a family of hog butchers.

The fledgling company he started in his hometown, The Jimmy Dean Meat Co., quickly became profitable. He eventually sold the business to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984 (staying on as the brand's spokesman until 2003). By the early 1990s, his fortune was estimated at about $75 million US.

In February, Dean was unveiled as one of the latest batch of inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was slated to be honoured at an induction ceremony in October.

With files from The Associated Press

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Jimmy Dean obituary

During the winter of 1961-62, British record-buyers indulged themselves in one of their periodic flirtations with American country music. But as Leroy van Dyke's Walk On By, Don Gibson's Sea of Heartbreak and Jim Reeves's You're the Only Good Thing – conventional country songs of deception, desertion and devotion – cantered into the charts, they were overtaken at a gallop by Jimmy Dean's Big Bad John.

Dean, who has died aged 81, wrote the piece as a dramatic monologue, the heroic story of a coal miner who "stood six foot six and weighed two forty-five" and held up a collapsing roof until his fellows had escaped, but could not save himself. Hammer-rings punctuate the recording, which ends with the epitaph: "At the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man – Big Bad John."

The disc spent nine weeks in the UK charts, six of them in the top 10, and was only just held off the top spot by Elvis Presley's His Latest Flame. In the US, however, it reached No 1 on both country and pop charts, receiving a Grammy award as best country and western recording, and instigating a series of parodies such as Phil McLean's Small Sad Sam (of the same year). It would be Dean's biggest hit, though he followed it with the recitation Dear Ivan, addressed to another "plain, ordinary human being" in the USSR, and the song PT-109, based on John F Kennedy's experiences during the second world war. But Dean's career did not depend on recordings. He was one of country music's earliest television stars.

He was raised in what he called dirt-poor surroundings in the small west Texas town of Seth Ward, near Plainview. (Curiously, an earlier country singer named Jimmie Dean came from nearby Lubbock.) After leaving the armed forces in 1948, Dean began to make his name as a country singer around Washington DC, then a nexus of country music activity, thanks in part to the promoter Connie B Gay. In 1953 he had a regional hit with Bummin' Around, for the independent label 4 Star.

He secured a spot on radio at WARL in Arlington, Virginia, then, from 1960, on television, hosted the show Town & Country Jamboree, which was quite widely syndicated. An attempt at a network show was frustrated by lack of sponsors, but a few years later ABC's The Jimmy Dean Show was playing in millions of homes, and country music infiltrated middle America, thanks to what has been described as the "cornflake charm" of its youthful host.

He took his pleasant looks into TV drama, too, playing Fess Parker's sidekick in the popular series Daniel Boone, and appearing in some episodes of Fantasy Island. In 1971 he took the part of the millionaire recluse Willard Whyte in the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. By then, he had more or less retired from the music business. He had a final No 1 record in 1965, The First Thing Ev'ry Morning (And The Last Thing Ev'ry Night), then in 1968 he founded the Jimmy Dean Meat Company. Many Americans will remember him less as a rural recitalist than as the Sausage King of TV ads.

In the 1970s he made occasional returns to record-making, cutting Slowly, a duet with Dottie West, in 1971, and in 1976 the recitation IOU, a tribute to his mother, sporadically reissued around Mother's Day. He was frequently called upon to deputise for talkshow hosts such as Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin, and he continued to promote his sausages on TV, even after selling the company, but by 2004 the new owners judged him too old to be the public face of the product. That year he published his autobiography, Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, and by three children from an earlier marriage.

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Jimmy Dean Dies at 81

The singer's wife, Donna Meade Dean, told the Associated Press that "he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock." She said Jimmy was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a bit and when she came back, he was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 7:54 PM.

Also known for his Jimmy Dean sausage brand, the entrepreneur, who was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade, went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised 'Jimmy Dean Show.'

Jimmy's mother showed him how to play his first chord on the piano. He taught himself how to play the accordion and the harmonica. The future star played for his first audience while stationed near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. in the '40s. He and his band, the Texas Wildcats, were a staple on local radio stations by the time Jimmy left the Air Force in 1948.

It was in 1953 that Jimmy gained national stardom with his hit, ' Bummin' Around .' No other single that decade lived up to the success of that song. But in 1961, the ambitious singer had a career resurgence with ' Big Bad John ,' a tune about a coal miner who saves his co-workers when a mine roof collapses.

In 1969, Jimmy started the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. He sold the company to the Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

The country legend lived in semi-retirement with his wife -- a songwriter and recording artist herself -- on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he was an avid boater and relished watching sunsets over the James River. Jimmy had reportedly already picked his burial spot near the river.

In 2009, a fire gutted the Dean's home, destroying much of his prized country music memorabilia, including photos of him with Elvis Presley . He was able save his Grammy for 'Big Bad John,' a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson and a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana. And most importantly, the couple made it out of the blaze unharmed. They had just moved back into their reconstructed home when Jimmy passed away.

In February, Jimmy was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October.

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Country Music Legend Jimmy Dean Dies at 81

April 2, 1964: Jimmy Dean smiles while he gets ready for a taping of his show "The Jimmy Dean Show" in New York.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Jimmy Dean , a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, "Big Bad John," and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.

His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their Henrico County, Va., home.

She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and watching the sun set over the James River.

In 2009 a fire gutted their home, but his Grammy for "Big Bad John," a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson , a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana and other valuables were saved. Lost were a collection of celebrity-autographed books, posters of Dean with Elvis Presley and other prized possessions.

Donna Meade Dean said the couple had just moved back into their reconstructed home.

With his drawled wisecracks and quick wit, Dean charmed many fans. But in both entertainment and business circles, he was also known for his tough hide. He fired bandmate Roy Clark, who went onto "Hee Haw" fame, for showing up late for gigs.

More recently, a scrap with Sara Lee led to national headlines.

The Chicago-based company let him go as spokesman in 2003, inciting Dean's wrath. He issued a statement titled "Somebody doesn't like Sara Lee," claiming he was dumped because he got old.

"The company told me that they were trying to attract the younger housewife, and they didn't think I was the one to do that," Dean told The Associated Press in January 2004. "I think it's the dumbest thing. But you know, what do I know?"

Sara Lee has said that it chose not to renew Dean's contract because the "brand was going in a new direction" that demanded a shift in marketing.

Dean grew up in a musical household. His mother showed him how to play his first chord on the piano. His father, who left the family, was a songwriter and singer. Dean taught himself to play the accordion and the harmonica.

His start in the music business came as an accordionist at a tavern near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he was stationed in the 1940s. After leaving the Air Force in 1948, he fronted his band, the Texas Wildcats, and drew a strong local following through appearances on Washington-area radio.

By the early 1950s, Dean's band had its first national hit in "Bummin' Around."

"Big Bad John," which is about a coal miner who saves fellow workers when a mine roof collapses, became a big hit in 1961 and won a Grammy. The star wrote it in less than two hours.

His fame led him to a string of television shows, including "The Jimmy Dean Show" on CBS. Dean's last big TV stint was ABC's version of "The Jimmy Dean Show" from 1963 to 1966.

Dean in February was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October and his wife said she thinks he was looking forward to it.

Dean became a headliner at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star to play on the Las Vegas strip. He was the first guest host on " The Tonight Show ," and also was an actor with parts in television and the movies, including the role of James Bond's ally Willard Whyte in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever."

Besides his wife, Dean is survived by three children and two grandchildren, Donna Meade Dean said. Arrangements have not be made, but it will be a private service, she said.

In the late '60s, Dean entered the hog business -- something he knew well. His family had butchered hogs, with the young Dean whacking them over the head with the blunt end of an ax. The Dean brothers -- Jimmy and Don -- ground the meat and their mother seasoned it.

The Jimmy Dean Meat Co. opened with a plant in Plainview. After six months, the company was profitable.

His fortune was estimated at $75 million in the early '90s.

Having watched other stars fritter away their fortunes, Dean said he learned to be careful with his money.

"I've seen so many people in this business that made a fortune," he told the AP. "They get old and broke and can't make any money. ... I tell you something, ... no one's going to play a benefit for Jimmy Dean."

Dean said then that he was at peace at his estate and that he had picked a spot near the river where he wanted to be buried.

"It's the sweetest piece of property in the world, we think," he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "It sure is peaceful here."

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Jimmy Dean: Sausage Maker, Country Singer, Dead at 81

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Jimmy Dean , television show host, Hall of Fame country music singer, and American entrepreneur famous for his sausage brand, passed away on Sunday . In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. Apparently he knew the field quite well: "His family had butchered hogs, with the young Dean whacking them over the head with the blunt end of an ax. The Dean brothers — Jimmy and Don — ground the meat and their mother seasoned it." He later sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984, but he remained as spokesman until he was let go in 2003. While he may be gone, his legacy of pork products, mostly precooked and ready to heat and serve, lives on.

Above, a slideshow of Jimmy Dean products throughout the years, including the Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick (surely he had nothing to do with it). Below, the classic complaint phone call from a customer emphatically complaining about the size of the sausage roll going down from 16 ounces to 12 that in no way can feed "three men that weigh over 200 pounds a piece and a woman that's a little plump."

Video: Jimmy Dean Sausage Complaint Call

· Jimmy Dean Sausage Complaint call [YouTube] · Singer, sausage businessman Jimmy Dean dies at 81 [AP]

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Singer, sausage king Jimmy Dean, 81, dies

RICHMOND, Va. — Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, “Big Bad John,” and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, "Big Bad John," and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.

His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their Henrico County, Va., home.

She said he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean lived in semi-retirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond .

In 2009 a fire gutted their home, but his Grammy for "Big Bad John," a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson, a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana and other valuables were saved.

Donna Meade Dean said the couple had just moved back into their reconstructed home.

With his drawled wisecracks and quick wit, Dean charmed many fans. But in both entertainment and business circles, he was also known for his tough hide. He fired bandmate Roy Clark, who went onto "Hee Haw" fame, for showing up late for gigs.

More recently, a scrap with Sara Lee led to national headlines. The Chicago-based company let him go as spokesman in 2003, inciting Dean's wrath. He issued a statement titled "Somebody doesn't like Sara Lee," claiming he was dumped because he got old.

"Big Bad John," which is about a coal miner who saves fellow workers when a mine roof collapses, became a big hit in 1961 and won a Grammy. The star wrote it in less than two hours.

His fame led him to a string of television shows, including "The Jimmy Dean Show" on CBS. Dean's last big TV stint was ABC's version of "The Jimmy Dean Show" from 1963 to 1966.

Dean in February was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October .

Dean became a headliner at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star to play on the Strip.

He was the first guest host on "The Tonight Show," and also was an actor with parts in television and the movies, including the role of James Bond's ally Willard Whyte in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever."

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Watch CBS News

Jimmy Dean, Singer and Sausage Impresario, Dies

June 13, 2010 / 10:29 PM EDT / CBS

Updated at 12:09 a.m. EDT

Country music singer and business entrepreneur Jimmy Dean has died at the age of 81.

The country music legend, singer, television host, actor, and businessman died Sunday night inside his Henrico, Va., home overlooking the James River, reports CBS station WTVR in Richmond.

The station spoke with Dean's wife, Donna, Sunday night. She was grieving and said the following:

"I definitely need my privacy right now, and am not available for interviews. My husband died of natural causes, and funeral services are pending."

Donna Dean told the station her husband died at 7:54 p.m. Sunday night.

She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive.

"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."

Four months ago, Dean, who had a number one hit "Big Bad John" in 1961, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and watching the sun set over the James River.

In 2009 a fire gutted their home, but his Grammy for "Big Bad John," a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson, a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana and other valuables were saved. Lost were a collection of celebrity-autographed books, posters of Dean with Elvis Presley and other prized possessions.

Donna Meade Dean said the couple had just moved back into their reconstructed home.

With his drawled wisecracks and quick wit, Dean charmed many fans. But in both entertainment and business circles, he was also known for his tough hide. He fired bandmate Roy Clark, who went onto "Hee Haw" fame, for showing up late for gigs.

More recently, a scrap with Sara Lee led to national headlines.

The Chicago-based company let him go as spokesman in 2003, inciting Dean's wrath. He issued a statement titled "Somebody doesn't like Sara Lee," claiming he was dumped because he got old.

"The company told me that they were trying to attract the younger housewife, and they didn't think I was the one to do that," Dean told The Associated Press in January 2004. "I think it's the dumbest thing. But you know, what do I know?"

Sara Lee has said that it chose not to renew Dean's contract because the "brand was going in a new direction" that demanded a shift in marketing.

Dean grew up in a musical household. His mother showed him how to play his first chord on the piano. His father, who left the family, was a songwriter and singer. Dean taught himself to play the accordion and the harmonica.

His start in the music business came as an accordionist at a tavern near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he was stationed in the 1940s. After leaving the Air Force in 1948, he fronted his band, the Texas Wildcats, and drew a strong local following through appearances on Washington-area radio.

By the early 1950s, Dean's band had its first national hit in "Bummin' Around."

"Big Bad John," which is about a coal miner who saves fellow workers when a mine roof collapses, became a big hit in 1961 and won a Grammy. The star wrote it in less than two hours.

His fame led him to a string of television shows, including "The Jimmy Dean Show" on CBS. Dean's last big TV stint was ABC's version of "The Jimmy Dean Show" from 1963 to 1966.

Dean in February was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October and his wife said she thinks he was looking forward to it.

Dean became a headliner at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star to play on the Las Vegas strip. He was the first guest host on "The Tonight Show," and also was an actor with parts in television and the movies, including the role of James Bond's ally Willard Whyte in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever."

Besides his wife, Dean is survived by three children and two grandchildren, Donna Meade Dean said. Arrangements have not be made, but it will be a private service, she said.

In the late '60s, Dean entered the hog business - something he knew well. His family had butchered hogs, with the young Dean whacking them over the head with the blunt end of an ax. The Dean brothers - Jimmy and Don - ground the meat and their mother seasoned it.

The Jimmy Dean Meat Co. opened with a plant in Plainview. After six months, the company was profitable.

His fortune was estimated at $75 million in the early '90s.

Having watched other stars fritter away their fortunes, Dean said he learned to be careful with his money.

"I've seen so many people in this business that made a fortune," he told the AP. "They get old and broke and can't make any money. ... I tell you something, ... no one's going to play a benefit for Jimmy Dean."

Dean said then that he was at peace at his estate and that he had picked a spot near the river where he wanted to be buried.

More from CBS News

Here's Who Inherited Jimmy Dean's Money After He Died

Jimmy Dean was one of country music's biggest stars. He was a Grammy-winning artist who was best known for his hit song "Big Bad John, "and today, food products with his name on them can be found in millions of American kitchens. 

The Texas-bred singer was born on August 10, 1928, in Olton, Texas, says Biography . His birth name was Jimmy Ray Dean, and he grew up poor in the city of Plainview. Very early on, though, he discovered a talent in his love for music by playing a variety of instruments. But growing up in poverty meant struggle, and this led Dean to drop out of school when he was a teenager to join the U.S. Air Force. While in service, he performed music, which helped get him signed to a label and earned him a radio show in the '50s. His show eventually ended up on television, and he was a recognizable figure in entertainment with "The Jimmy Dean Show." Success quickly came to Dean in music, television, and even in business. 

In the late '60s, Dean stepped into the entrepreneurial ring by launching the Jimmy Dean Meat Company . It was a triumph — Dean earned millions and turned into a sausage king. He sold his company in 1984 but remained a spokesman for it until 2003. Dean died on June 13, 2010, at the age of 81 of natural causes, per Rolling Stone .

The heir to Jimmy Dean's estate

At the time of his death, Jimmy Dean was married to his second and last wife, Donna Meade Dean. The couple had no children, but Dean had three with his first wife, Mary Sue Wittauer  — two sons, Robert and Garry, and a daughter named Connie. He was survived by all of his children and his wife when he died.

Dean was a famous man in entertainment and business as well as the news. He often made headlines for his money and legal issues and was sued often. Notably, Dean was sued by his own brother , his ex-wife , and even his divorce lawyer . When he died, Dean was worth $50 million, says Celebrity Net Worth . In 2014, his remarried widow shared that she was still investing in the home they shared. According to Dean's widow, she's spent $1 million on a home makeover since his death (via the  Richmond Times-Dispatch ). Just over a month before he died, the home was reconstructed following a devastating fire.

Seemingly, the majority of Dean's money went to his widow, Donna Meade, who continues to live on their Virginia estate, where he is also buried (via CMT ). She is responsible for the management of the Dean Family Estate (via Find a Grave ). "I promised Jimmy I would maintain it so that it looked like it belongs to him still, and no amount of money could buy it from me. I'm the steward of this property, she said.

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James Dean, Founding Director of NASA Art Program, Dies at 92

He arranged for artists to have access to astronauts, launchpads and more. “Their imaginations enable them to venture beyond a scientific explanation,” he once said.

By Richard Sandomir

James Dean, a landscape painter who ran a NASA program that invited artists like Robert Rauschenberg , Norman Rockwell and Jamie Wyeth to document aspects of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo projects, died on March 22 in Washington. He was 92.

His son Steven confirmed the death, at an assisted living facility.

From the final Mercury mission in 1963 until 1974, Mr. Dean gave dozens of artists access to astronauts, to areas near the launchpads at Cape Canaveral (and the Kennedy Space Center) and to ships that recovered astronauts after their ocean splashdowns.

Mr. Dean believed that artists offered a perspective that could not be found in photographs.

“Their imaginations enable them to venture beyond a scientific explanation of the stars, the moon and the outer planets,” Mr. Dean and Bert Ulrich wrote in their book, “NASA/ART: 50 Years of Exploration” (2008).

One night before L. Gordon Cooper blasted off on the last Mercury mission in May 1963, Mr. Dean allowed the painters Peter Hurd and Lamar Dodd to work from a field near the rocket’s launchpad, and provided them with huge lamps for illumination.

Mr. Hurd’s watercolor, “Predawn,” offers an eerie vision of a red structure against a dark blue background.

A security guard who saw the two artists amid the bushes with their paints and brushes quickly determined that they did not pose a threat — and escorted them to the top of the launchpad, where they looked inside the Mercury capsule, which gave Mr. Dodd the inspiration for his abstract gouache painting, “Max Q .”

In 1965 Jamie Wyeth, then 19, painted “ Support,” a watercolor of the launch of Gemini 4 from a nearby gantry, the massive structure that encloses and services rockets before they lift off.

“Jamie went off to the edge and let his legs hang over, and he’s painting like he’s sitting on a dock up in Maine someplace,” Mr. Dean said in an interview in 2019 with Carolyn Russo , the art curator at the National Air and Space Museum .

Mr. Rauschenberg roamed the space center’s grounds in the weeks before the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.

“He didn’t bring a sketch pad or anything like that with him but what he wanted to do was look at our photo files to experience the action real-time,” Mr. Dean told Ms. Russo.

The experience led Mr. Rauschenberg to create “Stoned Moon,” a series of 34 lithographs, including “Sky Garden,” in which he superimposed a negative image of the Saturn 1-B rocket, with many of its parts labeled, over images of it blasting off.

In the hours before Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, Mr. Dean got permission for the illustrator Paul Calle to sketch Neil Armstrong , Col. Buzz Aldrin and Lt. Col. Michael Collins having breakfast and then suiting up — the only artist allowed in those spaces.

James Daniel Dean was born on Oct. 14, 1931, in Fall River, Mass. His father, John, was a pastry chef. His mother, Sadie (Griffin) Dean, managed the home.

James recognized that he had artistic talent in high school when a history teacher told students to draw their homework, and he began sketching airplanes and ships. In 1950, he entered the Swain School of Design in New Bedford, Mass., and graduated in 1956, with time in between for his Army service in Panama.

He was hired as a graphic designer in the Secretary of Defense’s office; five years later, he joined NASA’s office of Educational Programs and Services. In 1963, a year after James Webb, the NASA administrator, created the fine art program, Mr. Dean was named its founding director, one of his many responsibilities in the office.

While Mr. Dean handled the art program’s logistics, Hereward Lester Cooke, a curator of painting at the National Gallery of Art, reached out to the artists, who were paid $800 each. They collaborated on the 1971 book, “Eyewitness to Space,” a collection of Apollo-related paintings and drawings.

“Jim had the foresight to know that artists would make an important contribution to the space age,” Mr. Ulrich said by phone. “The history of the agency unfolds through art and through the eyes of the artists.”

The concept of commissioning art at an agency devoted to science was not universally accepted early on, Mr. Dean recalled. He told The Orlando Sentinel in 1983 that some space technicians “regarded the artists with amused tolerance.”

He added, “Later as they saw their space hardware converted by the artists’ imagination and skill into images of fantasy and beauty, they increasingly became respectful.”

The artwork led to exhibitions in 1965 and 1969 and to several traveling tours.

Mr. Dean — who referred to himself as the “other” James Dean to differentiate himself from the actor — left NASA in 1974 to join the Air and Space Museum (which opened two years later), as the curator of art under Colonel Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut who was its director.

Mr. Dean was in charge of transferring some 2,000 paintings and drawings from NASA to the museum as well as preparing exhibits and acquiring other artworks. He also contributed paintings of the space shuttle program to NASA.

He retired in 1980 to focus on his own painting from a studio in Alexandria, Va. He also designed stamps for the U.S. Postal Service, including one in 1985 that celebrated Frederic Bartholdi, who sculpted the Statue of Liberty.

His friendship with Colonel Collins resulted in Mr. Dean creating sketches that depict NASA’s history in “Liftoff: The Story of America’s Adventure in Space” (1988).

In addition to his son Steve, Mr. Dean is survived by another son, Richard; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Rita (Williams) Dean, whom he married in 1952, died in 2019. His son James died in 2018.

Mr. Dean arranged for Mr. Rockwell, whose paintings were renowned for their nostalgic evocations of small-town America, to meet the astronauts John Young and Virgil (Gus) Grissom during a countdown demonstration test before their Gemini 3 flight in 1965.

Mr. Rockwell, who was working for Look magazine at the time, left with photographs of the two astronauts. But after returning to his studio in Stockbridge, Mass., he realized that he needed more details about their spacesuits. He asked Mr. Dean for one.

Mr. Dean’s request was initially denied because material inside the suit was classified and could not be mailed. So he contacted Joseph W. Schmitt, a suit technician, who brought one to Stockbridge. Mr. Schmitt stayed for a week as Mr. Rockwell painted Mr. Young and Mr. Grissom suiting up .

When the painting was being hung at the National Gallery for an exhibition in 1965, Mr. Dean asked John Walker, the museum’s director, what he thought of it.

“And he looked at me seriously and he said, ‘I never knew Norman Rockwell had such quality,’” Mr. Dean told Ms. Russo. The next morning, Mr. Dean called Mr. Rockwell to tell him what Mr. Walker had said.

“He said, ‘Oh, now I can die happy.’”

Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer. He previously wrote about sports media and sports business. He is also the author of several books, including “The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic.” More about Richard Sandomir