7 Country Stars That Were Robbed
Country music with all the twists, and turns throughout time has always been about real life. Family, heartaches, loss are all fair game when you put pen to paper or voice to iPhone. Unfortunately, the ideal backdrops of some of our favorite tunes are not always the case in real-life.
From theft to fraud, musicians have been targeted by criminals throughout the years, and sadly country music stars are not immune to this type of criminal activity. Robbery cases involving country music stars have been reported for decades, and they continue to be a concern especially on the road.
Country music stars are often targeted because of valuable instruments and equipment that can be sold for a high price on Ebay, and pawn shops. Parked tour buses carrying merchandise and money can also be targeted by thieves looking for a quick score.
We came across seven country stars that were robbed, and most were not able to recover the stolen items. Read till the end as we have some suggestions to help everyone stay safe on the road.
Yes, Hank Williams, believe it or not was the victim of theft. Widely considered one of the most influential country music stars of all time, Hank had many chart-topping hits in the 1940s and 1950s, including "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Your Cheatin' Heart." He is the only solo country artist to win the Pulitzer Prize.
In 1949, Hank Williams' guitar was stolen during a show in Montgomery, Alabama. The guitar was later recovered, but the incident left Williams feeling violated and frustrated. The theft of his guitar, which he considered a part of him, was a traumatic experience for the singer.
Unfortunately, Rockin' Randall Hank had a similar experience as his father.
Hank Jr's custom 68 Les Paul guitar was stolen from his cabin in Alabama in 2010.
The guitar is said to have been valued at $15,000! The guitar was eventually recovered, and Adam Dale Broach, of Notasulga, Ala was arrested for the crime.
Can you believe Dolly was robbed? The Queen Of The World as Mariah Carey calls her was a victim of jewelry theft.. 1 Million Dollars worth of jewelry, and cash were stolen to be exact.. In 1980, a man named Joseph Haggerty stole $1 million worth of jewels and cash from Dolly Parton's tour bus while it was parked in Hollywood. The stolen items included Parton's wedding ring, which is irreplaceable. The jewelry was never recovered, and Haggerty was later sentenced to four years in prison.
Details of the Robbery and Investigation
The robbery was a significant loss for Parton, not just financially, but also emotionally. The theft of her wedding ring was especially devastating, and she later revealed that she had nightmares for years afterward. The investigation and trial were highly publicized, and Parton's team worked closely with the authorities to recover the stolen items. However, the jewelry was never found.
Can you imagine awaking to an armed man hovering over you demanding money?
That's exactly what happened to Alan Jackson. The Country Music Hall Of Famer, and Opry member is probably best known for Where Were You When The World Stop Turning, along with his 40 number one hits & albums. He's absolutely one of my personal faves.
In 2010, Jackson and his family were asleep in their Franklin, Tennessee home when they were woken up by an intruder. The intruder, who was armed, and demanded money and valuables from the family. Jackson and his wife were able to escape and call for help, but the intruder was able to escape with an undisclosed amount of money and jewelry.
Impact on Jackson and His Family
Jackson and his family were understandably shaken by the incident, but thankfully no one was hurt. Jackson has been relatively private about the incident, but did release a statement shortly after it happened saying, "It's one thing to have your home broken into and robbed, but when it happens when your family is home and in jeopardy, it's a whole other thing."
Who can forget the 2011 American Idol win! It was such a tight one with Lauren Alaina favored to win on some platforms. Alas, Scotty walked away with the prize, and the hearts of America. Juggling music, and school, Scotty was attending North Carolina State, and visiting friends when three men forced their way into the apartment of an acquaintance.
Scotty, and his friends were robbed at gunpoint. Their money, cell phones, and a computer was taken. The robbery took place in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 5th, 2014, right around 2:00 AM. During the robbery, one of the men pointed a gun to Scotty's head. Two years later, one of the assailants was captured and convicted. A 17 year prison sentence was handed down, but the other two thieves were not identified.
