Robert Duvall — yes, the late Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker — was once instrumental in helping Billy Joe Shaver beat an aggravated assault charge.
As the story goes, Shaver, got into serious legal trouble in 2007 when he allegedly shot another man in the face outside of a bar. He was facing a possible 20-year prison sentence.
The man that Shaver shot in the face was a patron of Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon in Lorena, Texas, named Billy Bryant Coker. Coker was wounded and hospitalized, but was described as talking and alert afterward.
During Shaver’s trial in 2010, one of his friends, Duvall, showed up at court and advocated on his behalf.
Duvall explained to the jury that Shaver was a good man and had good character. He said under oath that Shaver would not have acted like this had he not felt his life was in jeopardy.
It’s important to note that Duvall did not cover any of Shaver’s legal fees, nor did he pull any strings that he might have had from his decades of fame. He just said what he felt in front of a jury.
His statements might have made all the difference. Shaver was later acquitted of aggravated assault charges in April 2010, avoiding what could have easily been 20 years, or the rest of his life, behind bars.
Another big-name friend, Willie Nelson, was photographed with Shaver outside the courthouse after Shaver received his “not guilty” verdict.
Duvall’s career is legendary, and in country music, so is Shaver’s. I spoke with country singer Paul Cauthen on Taste of Country Nights and he said “I thought he [Shaver] was the pinnacle of outlaw country — I mean the guy shot a guy in the face and got away with it.”
When Did Robert Duvall Die?
The legendary actor died at the age of 95 on Feb.15, 2026. His death was a peaceful one at his home in Middleburg, Va., according to a statement from his wife, Luciana.
Read More: Robert Duvall, Hollywood Legend and ‘The Godfather’ Star, Dies at 95
How Long Were Robert Duvall and Billy Joe Shaver Friends?
Shaver and Duvall were great friends since the 1970s. Duvall was a fan of Shaver’s music and the two hit it off and kept in touch for decades.
According to Saving Country Music, Duvall’s wife, Luciana, had also directed the 2004 documentary Portrait of Billy Joe, which was produced by Duvall himself.
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When country stars are laid to rest, their grave sites become powerful memorials to their music — and pilgrimage destinations for particularly devout country fans. Scroll through this list to see some legendary country music tombstones and read the words inscribed in their stones.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
15 Country Legends Snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
With Dolly Parton’s 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and, even more recently, Willie Nelson’s nomination for the 2023 class — it’s clearer than ever that country artists have a place in the Cleveland-based institution’s hallowed halls.
But the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has always shown love to country performers, to a certain extent: Johnny Cash, Chet Akins, Brenda Lee, the Everly Brothers and Hank Williams are all past inductees.
Based on the criteria the Hall has set forth, that nominees should be acts who have had “a profound impact on youth culture,” there are still many more country artists who deserve their spot in the Hall. Flip through the gallery below to see Taste of Country’s top picks for who the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should induct next.
