He was a victim of a con artist.
While playing at a club, a man approached Yoakam and promised him a musical contract. Sadly, the man turned out to be a fraud. Still, he moved to Music City and pursued a career in country music. While country pop and Nashville sound were more popular at the time than Yoakam’s honky-tonk and bluegrass music style, he persevered.
He’s also a movie actor.
In 1991, Yoakam made his acting debut through CBS crime drama P.S. I Luv U. Since then, he has appeared in various shows. This includes a leading role in the drama film Sling Blade, where he earned a nomination for Screen Actors Guild Award.
Yoakam once remarked that “acting is a different form of creative expression” for him.
He is Johnny Cash’s favorite modern country artist.
During an interview on the Larry King Live show, Cash answered that Yoakam is his favorite male artist. And he agreed with King when the host said that Yoakam is a great actor, too.
These facts definitely show why Yoakam has been critically and popularly acclaimed.