Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Daniel Lee Martin, Country Singer, Commits Suicide Amid Child Sex Abuse Probe

Daniel Lee Martin
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Country singer Daniel Lee Martin, according to the Florida office of Pasco Sheriff, has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, via TMZ. His body was found on Friday by police who were at his home serving him with a warrant.

Martin was initially arrested on 27 January after the alleged victim, who is a minor, told police that the singer had exposed himself while the two were sitting on a sofa next to each other. Martin fondled himself while showing her pornographic movies, according to the alleged victim.

He was arrested in connection with obscenity for lewd and lascivious exhibition and prohibition of certain acts, though he was released on $15,000 bail within hours. His charges included sexual exploitation on a minor, aggravated sexual battery, and solicitation of a minor to commit rape.

Originally, the trial on those charges was set for March.

Martin, a former professional baseball player and golfer, has turned to a modest country music career starting in 1997. He was the first artist to sign with ChinMusic Records, where he released two albums; All That I Am (2003) and On My Way to You (2007). Martin also toured with the likes of Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, and Vince Gill during his tenure on stage, according to his online biography on AllMusic. He also played the 2004 CMA Festival, as well as the Nashville, TN Annual Fan Fair.

Martin then went on to television, having hosted a pair of outdoors theme television shows, including Brotherhood Outdoors by The Sportsman Channel, as well as Till Death Do Us Part, an online series broadcast on CarbonTV with now ex-wife Julie McQueen.

Latest Stories

Hayden Panettiere poses at an event in a black outfit as the coroner confirms her cause of death remains under investigation.

Coroner Says Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Remains Pending After Autopsy

Hayden Panettiere’s official cause of death has not been determined. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed the day after she was found unresponsive. The examination showed ...

Ella Langley poses in a white embroidered dress at the doorway of her tour bus during the Choosin Texas chart run.

Choosin’ Texas Is Still No. 1 on Billboard After 18 Weeks as Ella Langley Closes In on History

The song that started with a kangaroo story is still sitting at the top of the biggest chart in music. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” held No. 1 on the Billboard ...

Hayden Panettiere, beloved actress who starred as Juliette Barnes on the hit country music drama “Nashville,” has died at 36.

Hayden Panettiere Has Died at 36 and Country Music Lost the Woman Behind Juliette Barnes

She played a country star for six seasons. What most people forget is that she actually became one. Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip ...

Ella Langley and Taylor Swift as Langley breaks Swift’s Billboard record with “Choosin’ Texas.”

Ella Langley Broke Taylor Swift’s Billboard Record and Has Now Held It Five Times Longer

Taylor Swift set the record in 2012 and held onto it for 13 years. Ella Langley didn’t just break it. She lapped it. “Choosin’ Texas” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 ...

Jon Pardi, wife Summer, and their two daughters together, before the couple's divorce announcement.

Jon Pardi and His Wife, Summer, Are Divorcing After Nearly Six Years and Two Daughters Together

One of country music’s most grounded couples is calling it quits. Jon Pardi and his wife, Summer, announced their divorce, confirming they’ve decided to part ways after nearly six years ...

Clint Black on stage, before the hospitalization that forced him to cancel his July 3 show.

Clint Black Canceled His July 3 Concert After Being Hospitalized, but He’s Expected to Fully Recover

The good news comes first. Clint Black is going to be just fine. The country icon was forced to cancel his July 3 appearance at Pearl River Resort Casino in ...

An emotional Rhett Akins on the Opry stage, finally getting his membership invitation.

Rhett Akins Finally Got His Grand Ole Opry Invitation After 30 Years and Could Barely Find the Words

A man who has written over 30 No. 1 hits for a living stood on the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night and couldn’t think of a single word to ...

Ella Langley performing live, marking "Choosin' Texas" returning to No. 1 for an 11th week and breaking a chart record that stood since 1977.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Is Back at No. 1 for an 11th Week and Broke a Record That Stood Since 1977

They kept knocking her off, and she kept coming back. Drake bumped her. Ariana Grande bumped her. Taylor Swift bumped her. And every single time, “Choosin’ Texas” climbed right back ...

Shania Twain commanding the Wembley stage in the daring look that divided fans.

Shania Twain Wore a Bold Outfit at Wembley and Fans Can’t Agree If It Was Too Much or Perfect

Shania Twain walked onto the Wembley Stadium stage in front of 90,000 people wearing a see-through black lace dress with a white bra and matching shorts underneath, and the internet ...

Miranda Lambert performing "The House That Built Me," the tearjerker that topped the charts back in 2010.

Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” Hit No. 1 Sixteen Years Ago and It Still Wrecks People

Sixteen years ago, a song that was never supposed to be Miranda Lambert’s gave her the first No. 1 of her career. And every Father’s Day, every homecoming, every time ...