Charlie Robison Dies: Country Singer-Songwriter & Original ‘Nashville Star’ Judge Was 59

Texas singer-songwriter Charlie Robison died Sunday at a San Antonio hospital. According to a family representative cited by AP, Robison died after suffering cardiac arrest and other complications. He was 59.

After spending the 1980s as member of various bands, including his own Millionaire Playboys, Robison released his debut solo album Bandera in 1996. Following the success of his 2001 album Step Right Up, which included his only Top 40 country song, “I Want You Bad,” Robison became a judge on the first season of the USA Network music competition Nashville Star. The show went on to run for six seasons, with Bret Michaels, future The Voice mainstay Blake Shelton and Jewel among those who succeed Robison in his judge chair.

In 2018, Robison announced his retirement from music after a throat surgery left him permanently unable to sing.

Robison is survived by his wife, Kristen Robison, and four children and stepchildren. He had three of the children with his first wife, The Chicks’ Emily Strayer.