Timothy “Tim” Wilson, an American comedian, country music artist, and regular on The Bob and Tom Show, died of a heart attack on Wednesday night.

Wilson was born in Columbus, Georgia and spent most of his life making people laugh, including his school teachers. He would often emcee his high school’s talent shows and was known for his impersonations.

After attending college in South Carolina as an English major, because he took guitar lessons as a teen, Wilson pursued country music before stepping into the comedy world.

Wilson co-wrote Jeff Foxworthy’s 1996 single “Redneck 12 Days of Christmas” and other parodies for Pinkard and Bowden, an American country comedy troupe. One of his first big breaks came with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Wilson toured across the southern states, a regular in cities such as Louisville, KY, and performed with Lewis Black on Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops on Country Music Television (CMT).

Ron White posted a statement: “I regret to tell you my friends that we have lost comedian Tim Wilson today he died of a heart attack in Nashville he was with his brother. I cannot tell you how much he will be missed in the comedy community. He died on the 20th anniversary of the death of Bill Hicks. FUCK!”

Tom Griswold from The Bob and Tom Show posted on their website: “Tim is a brother to all of us at the BOB & TOM Show. He had a comedic voice like none other. He will be terribly missed.”

Tim’s first appearance on The Bob and Tom Show happened on April 13, 1995. The first comedic song he played on air was “Acid Country.”

Chick McGee, also of Bob and Tom fame, posted on Twitter this morning:

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." unknown Irish quote

— Chick McGee (@chickmcgee1) February 27, 2014

Chick also posted a photo in remembrance:

My friend Tim Wilson http://t.co/qcLPNIwLOZ

— Chick McGee (@chickmcgee1) February 27, 2014

Some of Wilson’s most famous comedic songs included “Garth Brooks Ruined My Life,” “First Baptist Bar & Grill,” and “Church League Softball Fist Fight.”

Other comedians who knew Wilson also mourned his loss online:

“Horrible news. Comedian Tim Wilson passed away tonight. I hope you were one of the lucky ones that got to see him preform. One of the best. Tim was a mentor and friend to a lot of us comedians that started in the south, Him, Foxworthy and James Gregory. One of the big 3. Hat off. My heart goes out to his wife and kids. You’ll be missed Tim and thank you for all the memories.” – Larry the Cable Guy

“Comic Tim Wilson died a few hours ago. God bless u my friend. I loved and respected you so much. Safe travels!!! — feeling sad” – Etta May

According to The Comic’s Comic, Wilson was scheduled to headline The Comedy Club Stardome near Birmingham, Alabama this weekend.

Wilson leaves behind a wife and and two children.

Image via YouTube