Before Jimmy Dean became known for his famous sausage brand, which he promoted himself, he was a popular country singer and television actor.

Jimmy Dean made his television debut in 1957 on CBS. He rose to fame in the music industry with his 1961 country rock hit, Big Bad John.

His 1963 television show, The Jimmy Dean Show, gave puppeteer Jim Henson his first national spotlight with his puppet, Rowlf.

He came up with the idea to start a sausage company after growing up on a Texas farm and enjoying sausage for breakfast himself.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010, shortly before he passed away.

He sold the sausage company to Sara Lee in 1984 but continued to appear in the commercials.

His tombstone reads: “Here lies one hell of a man.”