# Born 82 Years Ago Today in Chicago, the Outlaw Country Rebel Who Parodied Merle Haggard and Later Ran for Texas Governor

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/born-82-years-ago-today-in-chicago-the-outlaw-country-rebel-who-parodied-merle-haggard-and-later-ran-for-texas-governor/
- Published: 2026-11-01T18:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T19:27:14+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/born-82-years-ago-today-in-chicago-the-outlaw-country-rebel-who-parodied-merle-haggard-and-later-ran-for-texas-governor/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Kinky Friedman was born 82 years ago in Chicago.
- His career spanned country music, novels and politics.
- He died in 2024, aged 79.

## Summary

Kinky Friedman, the singer, songwriter, novelist and political candidate, was born in Chicago on 1 November 1944. Known for provocative humour and social satire, he became a distinctive figure in country music and Texas public life.

Friedman formed Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys in 1973 and released his debut album, *Sold American*, that year. He toured with Bob Dylan, performed at the Grand Ole Opry and recorded nearly two dozen albums; later, he wrote detective novels, became a columnist and ran unsuccessfully for Texas governor in 2006. He died aged 79 in 2024 from Parkinson’s disease.

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