Webb Pierce was one of the most successful and influential country singers of the 1950s and early 1960s. He had more number one hits than any other country artist during that decade, and his flamboyant style and lavish lifestyle made him a recognizable icon of the genre. But behind his fame and fortune, Pierce also faced many health challenges that eventually led to his death in 1991. Here is a brief overview of Webb Pierce’s cause of death and how he fought against pancreatic cancer.
Early Signs of Illness
Webb Pierce was born on August 8, 1921, in West Monroe, Louisiana. He began his musical career as a teenager, performing on local radio shows and nightclubs. He enlisted in the Army during World War II, where he met and married his first wife, Betty Jane Lewis. After the war, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride radio program. He also founded his own record label and publishing company, and signed with 4 Star Records in 1949.
Pierce’s career took off in the early 1950s, when he switched to Decca Records and began to record hit after hit, such as “Wondering”, “There Stands the Glass”, “Slowly”, “More and More”, “In the Jailhouse Now”, and “I Don’t Care”. He also became known for his flashy Nudie suits, decorated with rhinestones and silver dollars, and his custom-made convertibles. He was a one-time member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously.
However, Pierce’s health began to deteriorate in the mid-1980s. According to AllMusic, he had a part of his colon removed in 1984, and underwent open-heart surgery three years later. He also suffered from diabetes and arthritis, which affected his mobility and appearance.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In 1990, Pierce was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer. According to Country Thang Daily, he had been going back and forth from the hospital for nearly a year before his death. He tried various treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, but none of them were effective in stopping the spread of the disease.
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas, an organ that produces enzymes for digestion and hormones for regulating blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer is often hard to detect and diagnose, because it does not cause any symptoms until it has grown large enough to affect nearby organs or spread to other parts of the body. Some of the common symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
Pancreatic cancer is also difficult to treat, because it is resistant to many drugs and therapies. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is very low, with only about 10% of patients living for five years after diagnosis. The treatment options depend on the stage and location of the cancer, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences. Some of the possible treatments include surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas or other affected organs, chemotherapy to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors, radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells or relieve pain, targeted therapy to block specific genes or proteins that help cancer cells grow or spread, immunotherapy to boost the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells, or palliative care to improve the quality of life and reduce suffering.
Final Days and Legacy
Webb Pierce spent his final days at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by his family and friends. He died on February 24, 1991, at the age of 69. He was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville.
Pierce left behind a legacy of music that influenced many generations of country artists. His songs have been covered by artists such as Willie Nelson, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Jason Aldean ,and many more.
