This outlaw country singer just lost his greatest inspiration

Facebook/Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson has lost the man who started him out on the path to loving and playing country music.

Videos by Rare

In a Facebook message posted March 15, Sturgill says his grandfather, Lawrence “Dood” Fraley, passed away peacefully that morning. Fans who’ve listened to Sturgill’s breakthrough album, “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music,” will remember Dood’s voice is the one that you hear at the very beginning of the project.

RELATED: We can’t get over Sturgill Simpson’s reaction to this pantsless pop duo’s Grammy win

Sturgill writes, “He was without a single doubt the greatest man and finest human being I will ever know in my time here on this Earth and there will never, ever be another like him.”

Without his grandfather’s influence, Sturgill probably wouldn’t be the Grammy-winning artist he is today.

RELATED: When a fight broke out during his sold-out concert, Grammy nominee Sturgill Simpson took care of business

He says, “There were times in my younger life when I was not a good man…when I didn’t always make the right choices…and looking back I can honestly say that the only thing that kept me from jumping headfirst off the proverbial cliff of life was knowing how much I would have let him down. And that’s the truth.”

Sturgill goes on to say his Papaw taught him to both play country music and how to love it, too.

He continues, “Above all else that has happened in my life and career in the last four years, nothing comes close to knowing that he lived long enough to see it as he could not have been more proud. Goodbye old man…You will be forever missed by all who knew you.”

Sturgill then included a link to his song, “Hero.” Take a listen. It sums everything up just perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z2WKskX-00&feature=youtu.be

What do you think?

Adam Sandler dishes on “Billy Madison” and hitting kids with dodgeballs

In honor of warmer weather, these are the most popular spring baby names