(CBS) 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.
Four months ago, Dean, who had a number one hit "Big Bad John" in 1961, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dean started his musical career touring with his band, The Texas Wildcats and in the 1960s hosted his own variety show, "The Jimmy Dean Show." His career included talk show and game show appearances and an acting stint in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever."
In 1969, he and his brother Don founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company, which they sold in 1984, to what is now the Sara Lee Corp. Dean remained as spokesperson for the company until 2004.
In 2004, he published a memoir titled "30 Years of Sausage, 50 Years of Ham."
He has three children and two grandchildren
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.
Four months ago, Dean, who had a number one hit "Big Bad John" in 1961, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dean started his musical career touring with his band, The Texas Wildcats and in the 1960s hosted his own variety show, "The Jimmy Dean Show." His career included talk show and game show appearances and an acting stint in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever."
In 1969, he and his brother Don founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company, which they sold in 1984, to what is now the Sara Lee Corp. Dean remained as spokesperson for the company until 2004.
In 2004, he published a memoir titled "30 Years of Sausage, 50 Years of Ham."
He has three children and two grandchildren