UPDATED “Little” Jimmy Dickens in Critical Condition
***UPDATE: “Little” Jimmy Dickens Has Passed Away
A country music legend, and one of the oldest living country music performers from country’s golden era is in critical condition in a Nashville area hospital. “Little” Jimmy Dickens, one of the most venerable members of The Grand Ole Opry and a country music Hall of Famer, was admitted to the hospital on Christmas for an undisclosed illness. He just turned 94-years-old on December 19th, and performed on December 20th as part of the Opry’s birthday celebration on his behalf.
“Little” Jimmy’s wife, his family, and The Grand Ole Opry are asking for prayers for the ailing artist, who symbolizes one of the very last living links to country music’s legendary past. Dickens became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1948 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. When Hank Locklin died in 2009, “Little” Jimmy became the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry, and still regularly appears on the program. He was born in Bolt, WV in 1920, and was nicknamed “Tater” by Hank Williams for his short, 4′ 11″ stature.
Cards and well wishes can be sent to “Little” Jimmy Dickens via the Grand Ole Opry at the address below. Saving Country Music sends its thoughts and prayers out to the ailing star.
Jimmy Dickens c/o Grand Ole Opry House 2804 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214 – – – – – – – –***UPDATE (12-31) – “Little” Jimmy Dickens is improving according to Grand Ole Opry general manager Pete Fisher. “Each day brings noticeable improvements, and his doctors seem very pleased with the progress he is making,” Fisher says. “I, along with his family, are grateful to all for your thoughts and prayers.”
December 28, 2014 @ 7:04 pm
Prayers!
December 28, 2014 @ 7:17 pm
Prayers for him and his family. He’s always been a sentimental favorite of mine and a link to my lovely mom who loved his songs.
December 28, 2014 @ 7:25 pm
We’re slowly losing some of the best artists that served this genre. Praying for Jimmy and his family right now. It’s sad, but it makes it even more important that we pass this music along to the next generation. I have a 4 year old daughter and I’m doing the best I can to already introduce her to the golden age of country.
December 28, 2014 @ 8:37 pm
What I learned…..Out behind the barn…my fav jimmy dickens song
December 28, 2014 @ 9:16 pm
I have always liked Little Jimmy, prayers to him and his family. I still remember when I was younger, my grandpa had the May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose playing and instantly liked the song!
December 28, 2014 @ 11:59 pm
May he experience a speedy recovery and enjoy many more years to come with his family.
December 29, 2014 @ 12:17 am
Have missed Jimmy on Family Reunions RFD my favorite since I was little and my folks watched him on TV, prayers for you love you Jimmy
December 29, 2014 @ 12:34 am
Praying for Little Jimmie & family
December 29, 2014 @ 3:39 am
Thoughts and Prayers for Little Jimmy’s family and Friends. My Uncle Charles Peaters is Little Jimmy’s 1/2 Brother.
December 29, 2014 @ 5:06 am
Taters never did taste good with chicken on the plate, but I had to eat ’em anyway. So take an old cold tater and wait! Wishing you the best, Jimmy and praying a speedy recovery!
August 31, 2022 @ 8:34 am
Was Jimmy’s wife from Baxley, Georgia? When country was country.
December 29, 2014 @ 5:44 am
Our prayers and well wishes are with Jimmy. We have listened to your singing and music for years. We love you….
December 29, 2014 @ 6:07 am
I’m just so sorry! He’s the first old country artist I discovered (and started listening to) because he was featured in Brad Paisley’s 5th Gear and Time Well Wasted, the first two country records I’ve ever bought. I’ll pray for him, hope he will feel better soon! I loved his last performance at the grand Ole Opry, he really looked good!
December 29, 2014 @ 7:33 am
Prayers from WV!!!
December 29, 2014 @ 8:12 am
Wishing Jimmy a speedy recovery
December 29, 2014 @ 8:17 am
May God successfully heal him to a speedy recovery!
December 29, 2014 @ 9:13 am
🙁 Prayers and warm thoughts to Little Jimmy and his family…
December 29, 2014 @ 10:38 am
I will say a prayer for you, i pray for a speedy recovery. You were always so kind to me and my daughter Taria.. Get well soon ! God Bless…
December 29, 2014 @ 12:48 pm
Prayers for you.You are an amazing performer and person.
December 29, 2014 @ 2:14 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are going your way. Stick around country music needs you. From one hillbilly to another. Bolt WV and Arnett WV….
December 29, 2014 @ 4:12 pm
Praying
December 29, 2014 @ 5:19 pm
I’ve been racking my brain, and I can’t think of anybody else still living that actually knew Hank Williams.
December 30, 2014 @ 8:13 am
Do you mean performers who knew Hank, or just anyone who knew him?
December 30, 2014 @ 8:54 am
I meant anyone. But I did a little research, and Joe Pennington is still alive. Can you think of anyone else? And I don’t mean people who only met him. I mean people who were acquainted with him, either personally or professionally.
December 30, 2014 @ 8:53 am
Former Drifting Cowboys guitarist Joe Pennington was still alive last I knew. Jean Shepard’s career was just starting out when Hank died, she may have known him but it’s a stretch. A quick search suggests all the significant country hitmakers of the late ’40s-early ’50s have passed on. I’m sure there are some more musicians and industry folks who knew him professionally still living.
Hank Jr. knew him, at least to the extent a three-year-old really knows anybody.
His widow, Billie Jean is still alive; but like RD, I’m not sure if you’re talking about anybody who knew him or just his professional contemporaries.
December 30, 2014 @ 8:56 am
Ah yes, I forgot about Billie Jean. Thanks Tom.
December 30, 2014 @ 9:17 am
I’ve got to figure that there are lots of people still alive who knew him pretty well. If they were in their early 20’s when he died, they’d only be in their early 80’s now.
In a similar way, this always amazes me: My grandfather was born in 1923. When he was young, he worked as a bellhop at a hotel and for the local VFW post. He personally knew several veterans of the War Between the States, including one guy who had shaken hands with Lincoln several times. This was in the late 1930’s / early 1940’s, and these guys were in their late 80’s or 90’s at the time.
December 29, 2014 @ 5:23 pm
When my granddaughter was about a year old we were in the front row at the Opry and during the breaks Little Jimmy sang and danced for her she’s turning 9 and still feels a special connection to Little Jimmy
December 29, 2014 @ 6:29 pm
praying for little jimmie and family he get well soon ilove his music I was brought upon his music when iwas akid and still listen to him
December 29, 2014 @ 10:39 pm
Praying for Jimmy tonight. May God Bless, protect and restore him back to full health.
December 30, 2014 @ 12:06 am
Prayers for Little Jimmy Dickens whose my mother Lora Rhodes Saddler third cousin from the hills of West Virgina.
December 30, 2014 @ 8:16 am
Love and prayers to Aunt Mona & Uncle Jimmy…
December 30, 2014 @ 11:06 am
Little Jimmy is perhaps the greatest ambassador Country Music has ever had, bar
none. He has always understood that the audience is the most important part of any show, and that without his fans, he wouldn’t be in business. But with Jimmy, it is real.
He is as genuine as anyone I’ve ever met. A truly great American. There are great pictures of that troupe that went to England back in the 1940’s. And there is Hank and
Minnie Pearl and Red Foley and the great Jimmy Dickens. To me, he is an American
hero.
December 30, 2014 @ 12:33 pm
Prayers for a recovery for Jimmy Dickens, that he may recover and be the rest of his life in good condition!
December 30, 2014 @ 1:03 pm
Dear Lord please watch over Jimmie and Mona be with them and show them all the people that care about them.Your the best Jimmie
December 31, 2014 @ 5:20 am
Many thoughts and prayers to Jimmy, Mona & The family! Thank you both, for showing such kindness to my parents, Tom & Leoda Arnold on Dec. 20th. You helped to make their 50th Wedding Anniversary, a very memorable occasion. Also, they enjoyed seeing both Mona & Jimmy, at the Grand Ole Oprey! Sincere Thanks to Mona, for the special seating arrangements. They truly enjoyed the show. Many “GET WELL WISHES” & prayers, to Little Jimmy. God Bless!!
December 31, 2014 @ 6:19 am
Sending prayers to him and his family. He is a really sweet man. I met him when i was a 16 y.o. awkward teen with a broke out face and a little over weight. I dont know if he could tell or not but I was shy about getting my picture done with him and he told me “You’re a very beautiful girl, dont be shy.” Im 45 y.o now so it goes to show that a few kind words do stick with you for a long time. <3
December 31, 2014 @ 3:14 pm
http://tasteofcountry.com/little-jimmy-dickens-health-update/
December 31, 2014 @ 5:05 pm
Prayers are being said for Little Jimmy and his family. Get well “Little Man”. Lots of us love you.
January 1, 2015 @ 12:16 pm
Get well soon. My dad James Woodrum talks about Little Jimmy Dickens all the time . My Great Grandmother was Laura Dickens.
January 2, 2015 @ 5:59 pm
I hate to be the beerer of bad news but Little Jimmy has passed
http://tasteofcountry.com/little-jimmy-dickens-dead-dies/
May god have good entertainment from him in heaven
January 2, 2015 @ 6:21 pm
RIP
January 2, 2015 @ 7:05 pm
I’m 17 and I appreciated the music that he put out. Rest In Peace buddy, we’ll talk about everything when I see you in heaven.
January 15, 2015 @ 4:53 am
RIP loved him n I know he is singing glory
December 11, 2021 @ 11:03 am
I loved Jimmys songs, & miss him greatly, we watched him on Family Reunion all the time! God bless him.
May 2, 2023 @ 12:31 am
We loved Jimmy and during my Kmart days he came to town and spent the afternoon laughing and signing records for fans he climbed up in a chair beside me for a photo he wanted to be tall as me Jimmy said, we all loved the man for he was a trielt good person and legend.