who was kicked out of the grand ole opry
In 1952, he divorced Sheppard and was dismissed by the Grand Ole Opry because of his unreliability and alcohol abuse. On January 1, 1953, he suffered heart failure while traveling to perform at a concert in West Virginia, and died as a result. His death came in the wake of many years of back pain, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse which led to his health deterioration and eventual death. Despite his short life, Williams is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, especially in regard to country music.