Country Music Legend (and Breakfast Meat King) JIMMY DEAN Dead at 81

MUSIC NEWS - Country music Hall of Famer, TV show host and country singer Jimmy Dean, best known for his hit 'Big Bad John', died on Sunday at his home in Henrico County, Virginia reports his wife,  Donna Meade Dean.  She said to the Associated Press that Mr Dean had some health problems but was still functioning well, and his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the tv and left the room for a time.  When she returned to the room he was unresponsive. Dean was pronounced dead at 7:54PM.

His big hit, the tune, 'Big Bad John' was released in 1961, and later covered by Johnny Cash and Sammy Davis Jr.  Dean later began The Jimmy Dean Meat Company in 1969, selling the company in 1984 to the Sarah Lee corportation, but stayed on as their chairman and TV spokesperson (until 1983 when they dumped him). 

Texas born Dean should also be foundly remembered as giving The Muppets one of their early big breaks. He introduced Jim Henson to the public through the piano playing dog Rowlf who he featured regularly on his 1950s TV show.