Billy Joe Shaver, the outlaw country music legend once praised by Willie Nelson as “the greatest living songwriter,” has died at the age of 81, according to Rolling Stone. He suffered a fatal stroke on Wednesday in Waco, Texas.
With a body of work that has been lauded as the pioneering songs of the outlaw country genre, Shaver’s songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.
The outlaw country genre became popular in the 1970s and ’80s. Influenced by earlier genres like rockabilly and honky-tonk, outlaw is characterized by its blend of rock, folk, country, and thoughtful lyrics.
Billy Joe Shaver’s greatest hits include tunes like “Live Forever,” “Georgia on a Fast Train,” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” and “Old Five and Dimers Like Me.”
Other outlaw country musicians include Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Hank Williams, Jr., and Leon Russell.
Shaver was also known for leading a life as colorful as his genre. His song “Wacko from Waco” is said to be inspired by a 2007 incident at a Waco, Texas bar in which Shaver shot a man in the face. He was later acquitted of the aggravated assault charge, according to the Austin-American Statesman.
Billy Joe Shaver was born in Corsicana, Texas — which fans of Netflix’s “Cheer” will recognize as the home of Navarro College — in 1939. He later moved to Houston, where he met singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt and struck up a friendship that would lead him to Nashville, where he eventually broke into a songwriting career with the help of Kristofferson, according to Rolling Stone.
Other interesting tidbits from Shaver’s fascinating life include losing two fingers in a sawmill accident when he was 21 and marrying the same woman three separate times.
17 Pop Stars Who Transitioned Into Movies, From Cher to Lady Gaga (Photos)
Scroll through for TheWrap's look at pop stars who have made the leap to film.
Frank Sinatra
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David Bowie
David Bowie was undoubtedly one of the world's biggest rock stars, but he also had a wide-ranging acting career. From eclectic films like "The Man Who Fell to Earth" to more serious movies like the World War II drama "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," Bowie showed his acting chops. He had a strange and unforgettable cameo in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" and also starred in Jim Henson's 1986 family fantasy "Labyrinth."
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Cher
The pop icon started her music career as half of Sonny and Cher in the 1960s. The two starred in "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" in the '70s, and then Cher broke into a solo music career before pursuing acting in the '80s. It was a good career move. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in "Silkwood" and won the award for Best Actress for her role in "Moonstruck."
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Madonna
The pop icon acted in several movies throughout the '80s, '90s and '00s, and even moved into directing. She was quite good in "A League of Their Own," but she also starred in "Swept Away," which won Madonna and the picture Worst Actress of the Decade and Worst Movie of the Decade at the 2010 Razzie Awards. Another stinker that helped land her low on our list: the widely panned 1993 psycho-sexual thriller "Body of Evidence."
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Will Smith
Smith started his hip-hop career as part of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. He starred on the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" for six seasons before becoming a box office titan in titles like "Men in Black" and "I Am Legend." And -- oh, yeah -- he's been nominated for two Oscars.
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Mark Wahlberg
Marky Mark ditched that moniker after his TV movie debut in "The Substitute" in 1993, which helped him pivot onto the big screen with roles in films ranging from the iconic "Boogie Nights" to "Transformers: The Last Knight." And yes, he's got two Oscar nods under his belt to boot.
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Jennifer Lopez
Jenny from the block has made herself known as a triple threat. She starred as the late iconic Tejano singer in "Selena" in 1997, and since has gathered several movie and TV credits, including for the critical hit "Out of Sight," opposite George Clooney.
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Britney Spears
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Mandy Moore
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Jennifer Hudson
Hudson starred in her very first film with Beyonce Knowles in "Dreamgirls" as Effie White. The performance landed the "American Idol" alum an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, launching her multi-hyphenate acting and singing career.
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Beyoncé Knowles
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Paramount
Ludacris
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Universal
Harry Styles
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Lady Gaga
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These singers have moved from music to movies with varied levels of success
Scroll through for TheWrap's look at pop stars who have made the leap to film.
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