Comedian, Singer Tim Wilson Dies of Heart Attack

Tim Wilson, who successfully married his country-tinged comedy with songs, died of a massive heart attack Wednesday. Wilson was 52.

The performer was Michigan bound for a family visit on the way to a Birmingham gig when he took ill.

I talked to him yesterday afternoon and said he felt bad, was short of breath, and I said, ‘get to the hospital now,” said [Wilson’s manager, Chris] Dipetta, fighting tears. “His brother took him to the hospital and he had a massive heart attack and passed away at 9:15 p.m.

Among Wilson’s more popular songs were Garth Brooks Ruined My Life and First Baptist Bar & Grill. His following never matched the size of fellow country comics like Ron White or Jeff Foxworthy, but his work continued to resonate with fans all the same.

His first big break was a stand-up competition with Cinemax, followed by a spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Decades later, he continued to tour clubs across the South, and in 2011, shared a spot on stage on “Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops” on CMT.