Is Faron Young’s Death Caused by Depression?

Faron Young’s death shocked the country music world. Faron Young was an American songwriter, singer, and music producer. He was recognized as a honky-tonk singer with several chart-topping hits such as “It’s Four in the Morning” and “Hello Walls.” 

As a young boy, he started singing and dreamed of becoming a pop singer. However, he changed his mind after watching the performance of Hank Williams. Instead of becoming a pop singer, he wanted to become a country music artist. Webb Pierce discovered him while performing at the local Optimist Club.

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RELATED: Inside The Illustrious And Sometimes Stormy Career Of Faron Young

Young’s first song, which was included in the chart, was “Goin’ Steady.” He joined the United States Army in November 1952 and was discharged in November 1954. Between the period of 1954 and 1962, he sang honky-tonk songs. One of the most famous Faron Young songs was his version of Willie Nelson’s “Hello Walls.” He was able to sell more than one million copies, and as a result, he was given a gold disc award.

Faron Young also ventured into films and can be frequently seen on television shows. He toured with his band, the Country Deputies, for several years. His last number 1 chart hit was “It’s Four in the Morning.” Unfortunately, during the mid-1970s, his behavior changed and in turn, he was making headlines. Apparently, Young felt that the music industry rejected him.

How Did Faron Young’s Death Transpire

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Young met his wife, Hilda Macon, at Fort McPherson. After Young was discharged from the army, the couple got married. Sadly, the latter part of Young’s life was filled with alcoholism and depression. In 1972, the country singer was arrested for spanking a girl who watched his concert. On December 4, 1984, he fired a pistol into the ceiling because he does not want to seek help for his alcoholism. Eventually, the couple divorced in 1986.

On December 9, 1996, Young committed suicide by shooting himself. Perhaps the death of Faron Young was caused by depression due to his deteriorating health and being abandoned by country music. He died the next day and was cremated. His family spread his ashes over Old Hickory Lake.