Kinky Friedman, the legendary country singer-songwriter known for his unique blend of humor and outspokenness, has died at the age of 79.
Friedman, who passed away on Wednesday at his home in Texas, was a beloved figure in the music and literary worlds. His career spanned several decades, during which he became a close friend and collaborator of Willie Nelson. The cause of death was Parkinson’s disease, according to Texas Tribune.
“Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends,” a statement read on X on Thursday. “Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Early in his life, Friedman relocated to Austin for college and ventured overseas with the Peace Corps to Borneo, before ultimately settling in Nashville in the early Seventies to pursue songwriting. To manage his stage fright, he adopted the stage name “Kinky,” inspired by an old college nickname. He first gained attention as the leader of the band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys in the early 1970s.
