Dwight David Yoakam was born on October 23, 1956 in Pikeville, Kentucky, USA. He is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor.

When he began his career, Nashville was oriented toward pop "Urban Cowboy" music, and Yoakam's brand of Bakersfield Honky Tonk music was not considered marketable.

His debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. was a hit on both the pop and country charts in 1986 and established Yoakam as a sly Nashville expatriate with a California twang.

His other albums include Hillbilly Deluxe (1987), If There Was A Way (1990), A Long Way Home (1998) and Blame the Vain (2005).

As an actor, Yoakam proved to be more than a hack with his role in Billy Bob Thornton's 1996 movie Sling Blade. In 2000 he wrote, directed, starred in and composed the music for the feature South of Heaven, West of Hell, an offbeat western whose eclectic cast included Peter Fonda, Paul Reubens and Vince Vaughn.

Yoakam currently resides in Southern California, but still maintains close ties with his family in the Columbus area.

Filmography

• Two:Thirteen (2008)
• Crank (2006)
• Bandidas (2006)
• Wedding Crashers (2005)
• The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
• Three Way (2004)
• Hollywood Homicide (2003)
• Panic Room (2002)
• South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000)
• The Minus Man (1999)
• "King of the Hill" (1 episode, 1998)
• When Trumpets Fade (1998)
• The Newton Boys (1998)
• Painted Hero (1997)
• "Ellen" (2 episodes, 1997)
• Sling Blade (1996)
• Don't Look Back (1996)
• The Little Death (1995)
• Roswell (1994)
• Red Rock West (1992)
• "P.S.I. Luv U" (1 episode, 1991)

Awards

• Grammy Country Collaboration with Vocals "Same Old Train" 1999
• Grammy Best Country Vocal Performance, Male "Ain't That Lonely Yet" 1993