American country singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor born October 23, 1956, in Pikeville, Kentucky. Associated with the "Bakersfield sound" revival of the 1980s, drawing on Buck Owens and Merle Haggard as primary influences.
Released over 15 studio albums starting with Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. (1986). Commercial peak: Hillbilly Deluxe (1987), Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room (1988), If There Was a Way (1990), and This Time (1993). Notable acting roles include Sling Blade (1996), Panic Room (2002), and Crank (2006).
