Country legend Jimmy Dean died at 7:54 pm on June 13 at the age of 81, the Associated Press is reporting. His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said he died at their Henrio County, Virginia, home while he was eating in front of the television. She added that it was a shock, because even though he had health problems, he was still “functioning well.”

While Dean is remembered most for his Grammy-winning song ‘Big Bad John,’ he started his career in the 1950s on his nationally televised show ’The Jimmy Dean’ show. He became an entrepreneur in 1969 when he started his sausage business, the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. Dean sold the brand to the Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean was semi-retired when he died, and lived on a 200-acre estate just outside of Richmond. She went on to say that he was looking forward to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October. She also said that as of now, burial arrangements have not been made, but there will be a private service.

Written by: Karen Benardello

Jimmy Dean