This is truly sad news for those of us whose best memories of weekend mornings is waking up to the smell of Jimmy Dean sausages wafting up from the kitchen. The man behind the delicious dishes has passed away at the age of 81.

Of course, before Jimmy Dean became synonymous with yummy pork patties, he was a TV personality — he hosted an early version of CBS’ The Morning Show — and country star with hits like “Big Bad John.” He leveraged his fame into a fortune when he opened Jimmy Dean Meats in 1969.

In 1984, Jimmy sold the sausage company to Sara Lee.

“He was amazing,” Donna Meade Dean said of her late husband, who passed away in their Virginia home. “He had a lot of talents.”

Jimmy Dean, sausage king and country music star, dies at 81 [NY Daily News]

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