Post-Surgery Update on Grand Ole Opry Star Little Jimmy Dickens

Posted by Lisa L. Rollins Jan 17, 2009

Country music treasure Little Jimmy Dickens, 88, underwent brain surgery in Nashville on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, to alleviate a build-up of blood caused by subdural hematoma.

Per a press announcement, it was shared that the performer was “recovering in a Nashville-area hospital following surgery to repair a subdural hematoma. … He is resting comfortably. The family asks for your thoughts and prayers for Jimmy as he recovers.”

Widely known for his comedic appearances in several Brad Paisley videos, Little Jimmy was honored by the Opry in November 2008 for the 60th anniversary of his induction, where Paisley Trace Adkins and George Jones were among the artists present to help honor him.

Additionally, in honor of his six decades with the Opry, Nashville's city administrators declared “Jimmy Dickens Day,” and coinciding with the new designation, a new hybrid rose--appropriately named the Little Jimmy Dickens rose--was revealed.

A native of West Virginia, Dickens is not the first country performer to fall victim to this type of traumatic brain injury. Kenny Chesney suffered a subdural hematoma in spring 2008 spring after his foot was caught between a concert stage and a hydraulic lift during his debut stadium concert of 2008. Also, Nashville sax legend Boots Randolph lost his life as a result of a subdural hematoma in 2007.

According to a Jan. 16, 2009, broadcast report on WSM-AM, earlier that same day Dickens “ate like a horse” and talked about football and the recent plane crash into the Hudson River that topped the news, all suggestions that indicated his recovery was moving forward.

Those country fans interested in sending Dickens a “get-well” wish may do so by addressing cards and letters to Little Jimmy Dickens, c/o Grand Ole Opry, 2810 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tenn., 37214.