Outlaw country music stalwart Billy Don Burns has disclosed he remains in a Southern California hospital following a severe incident of self-harm in November, which he attributes to a destructive spiral involving drugs and alcohol.
A Chaotic Descent into Crisis
The 76-year-old Arkansas native explained, via a Facebook statement posted by an associate, that the near-death episode began when he was involved in a car accident while searching for illegal street drugs. Burns stated he 'ran over a big concrete thing and tore up my car.' In the ensuing confusion, he left his phone in the vehicle and walked to a liquor store.
After discovering his phone had been stolen from the damaged car, Burns said he entered a state of 'frustrated confusion.' This led to a dangerous decision: he began injecting a mixture of cocaine and Jim Beam whiskey. 'Instead of putting water in the spoon, I started using whiskey,' Burns recounted. 'I was shooting Jim Beam whiskey and cocaine.'
The Moment of Self-Destruction
Describing himself as 'out of my head,' Burns said a powerful instinct for self-destruction emerged. He recalled thinking, 'Why don't you just kill yourself Billy?' Acting on this impulse, he took out a pocket knife with a roughly 4.5-inch blade and began stabbing himself.
Burns revealed he stabbed himself multiple times, losing over a pint of blood from one wound alone. 'I thought I stabbed myself 3 times, but there is actually about 4 or 5,' he said, noting he did not remember the final two stabs due to his condition.
Hospitalisation and a Plea for Support
The singer-songwriter was rushed to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California, where he was placed in a lockdown floor within the telemetry heart unit. From his hospital bed, Burns expressed hope of being discharged 'in the next few days' and mused on his brush with death.
'It’s pretty crazy s*** man,' he stated, adding that anyone wanting to know what happens next might have to 'buy the book.' He mentioned reading the Bible during his recovery, calling the ordeal 'crazy times.'
Burns concluded his statement with a direct appeal: 'Everyone, pray for me BDB.' The post was met with an outpouring of supportive comments from followers, urging him to focus on his physical and mental health and to avoid further substance abuse.
One supporter reminded him of the pandemic era, suggesting he might need to perform music online until he replaces his car. Another heartfelt comment read: 'Praying for you, BDB. You are loved and cherished by many!!! Please don't hurt yourself... When you hurt yourself, Billy, you hurt everyone who loves you.'
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