What Happened to Ricky Van Shelton?

Do you remember Ricky Van Shelton? The country music star scored big hits with "I'll Leave This World Loving You," "Keep it Between the Lines," "Hole in my Pocket," "I Meant Every Word He Said," "Wild Man," "Statue of a Fool" and his Dolly Parton duet "Rockin' Years." Over the course of his 20-year career, Shelton had 10 No. 1 hits and was among the ranks of timeless country singers like Conway Twitty, George Strait, Randy Travis and Garth Brooks.Show more

Shelton released his debut album Wild-Eyed Dream in 1987. The album, which spawned the hits "Crime of Passion," "Life Turned Her That Way," "Somebody Lied" and more, hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. He followed up the album's success with his sophomore release Loving Proof, which featured "From a Jack to a King," "Don't We All Have the Right" and a the Hank Cochran-penned "He Got You," which was originally recorded by Patsy Clineas "She's Got You."

Shelton would go on to release RVS III in 1990, Backroads in 1991, Greatest Hits Plus and gospel album Don't Overlook Salvationin 1992 and Making Plans in 1998.

In May 2006, Shelton announced that he was retiring from country music to spend time with his family and his wife Bettye. The "I Am a Simple Man" singer had made enough money and decided to finally kick off his boots. Born in Danville, Virginiaand raised in Grit, Virginia, Shelton didn't need fame to be happy.

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