Johnny Paycheck Once Allegedly Shot a Man Over Deer Meat and Turtle Soup

It’s country music. What would it be if it didn’t have its tall tales and fabled troublemakers? Pop? Who knows, but country music has produced some of the greatest folk stories in all of popular culture. Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and other artists are just a few of the folks who lived through some crazy experiences and lived to tell the tale. However, nothing gets crazier than this Johnny Paycheck story.

Johnny Paycheck known for “Take This Job and Shove it,” as well as “She’s All I Got” has always been viewed as an authentic rough around the edges figure. Ever since he entered the scene in the late ’60s, the man has been the epitome of country masculinity. This wasn’t just some industry marketing tool—he was the real deal, and here is a story to prove it.

Videos by American Songwriter

December of 1985

Paycheck, who was 47 at the time, was driving to his hometown of Greenfield, Ohio for the holidays. He then stopped at The North High Lounge and was approached by a fan named, Larry Wise. The two got to talking and then Wise “invited [Paycheck] back to his place for a home-cooked meal of deer meat and turtle soup,” per Rolling Stone. Subsequently, Paycheck said, “Do you see me as some kind of country hick?”

It was then that Paycheck pulled out his pistol, fired a round, and grazed the head of Wise. Wise testified in court stating, “No, I didn’t see the gun. My hat flew off… my ears were ringing real bad. I reached down to get my hat, and blood was running down my face. I knowed I had been shot.”

Paycheck’s Prison Sentence

For two years following the incident, Paycheck continuously fought the sentence on the grounds of self-defense. It was during this time that Paycheck released his hit single “Old Violin.” Despite his legal rebuttals and musical success, Paycheck was sentenced to nine years in jail at the Chillicothe Correctional Institute in 1989.

After serving two years of his sentence, Ohio Governor Richard Celeste, pardoned Paycheck. He was released on parole in 1991, and would go on to tragically die just 12 years later due to respiratory failure. This is a story for the ages, but you can’t help but feel for the guy. Paycheck’s career had already been at a low point and the musician had been having financial trouble. Though, the man did live out the tale of his tunes. A prophetic way to close out a career.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images