Who was Popcorn Sutton? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Marvin Sutton

Died At Age: 62

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Pam Sutton (m. 2007)

father: Lavator Sutton

mother: Bonnie Mness Cagle

children: Sky Sutton

Born Country: United States

Writers American Men

Died on: March 16, 2009

place of death: Parrottsville, Tennessee, United States

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1

Who was Popcorn Sutton and why was he famous?

Popcorn Sutton was a legendary moonshiner known for his illegal moonshine production in the Appalachian region of the United States.
2

What was Popcorn Sutton's moonshine recipe?

Popcorn Sutton's moonshine recipe was a closely guarded secret, but it is believed to have included corn, sugar, yeast, and water.
3

How did Popcorn Sutton gain a reputation as a moonshiner?

Popcorn Sutton gained a reputation as a moonshiner due to his high-quality moonshine, his defiance of the law, and his colorful personality.
4

Was Popcorn Sutton ever arrested for moonshining?

Yes, Popcorn Sutton was arrested multiple times for moonshining and faced legal troubles throughout his life.
5

What happened to Popcorn Sutton in his later years?

In his later years, Popcorn Sutton gained national fame through documentaries and books about his moonshining activities, but he ultimately took his own life in 2009 to avoid serving a prison sentence for illegal distilling.

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Childhood & Early Life

Sutton was born Marvin Sutton, on October 5, 1946, in the tiny town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, to Bonnie and Vader. His parents lived in a wooden house in a mountain perched beside a tumbling stream.

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Career

Sutton began his moonshining and bootlegging empire with just one barrel, that too, at a time when they were considered illicit businesses in the US. Back then, he lived on Snowbird Mountain. To start the business, Sutton borrowed money from Nick Price. He later paid him back with liquor. Every time Sutton finished filling a barrel, he would give Nick a gallon and sell the rest to him. He would sell a gallon of alcohol for just 6 dollars. Thus, it took him forever to clear his debts.

Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. Whatever he earned from trading the barrels to Nick would go back into the next batch of products, and he would leave with little to spend on his household. However, Sutton continued producing liquor barrels, and the business eventually grew more prominent.

Sutton earned massive fame as a liquor king by the time he turned 60. In 1999, he launched his self-published autobiography, 'Me and My Likker,' which also chronicled the incredible journey of moonshine production. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley.

Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' Following this, he featured in another of Neal's documentaries, titled 'This Is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make,' which was a cult classic of the time and eventually caught the attention of many TV producers in Boston and New York.

In 2007, 'The History Channel' featured Sutton's next documentary, 'Hillbilly: The Real Story.' He also appeared in the Western 'Ghost Town: The Movie.' Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' Released in 2008 and broadcast on 'CBS,' the documentary received a 'Southeast Emmy Award' in 2009.

Two of Sutton’s other documentaries, 'Popcorn Sutton: A Hell of a Life' and 'Squzz Corn N' Ole Scratch' (short), were released in 2014 and 2012, respectively, after his death. His archive footages were featured in the 2016 docuseries 'Moonshiners.'

Legal Charges

As Sutton's business continued to flourish, he got involved in several legal issues, such as selling untaxed liquor, possessing controlled substances, and assaulting with a deadly weapon (between 1981 and 1985). However, he always received only probation sentences. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. This led the firefighters to discover 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol. Following this, he was put on probation by Cocke County authorities.

In March 2008, Sutton informed an undercover federal officer about the moonshine gallons in Tennessee and Maggie Valley, which he wanted to trade. However, the ‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) raided the spots.

In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months of federal imprisonment.

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However, since he was diagnosed with cancer, Sutton requested US District Judge Ronnie Greer to grant him house arrest instead of sending him to prison. Moreover, there were several petitions made to reduce his sentence.

Family, Personal Life & Death

Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. They had two daughters. They dated for a month before getting married. Sutton committed suicide 2 years after their marriage.

On March 16, 2009, Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. It was said he did this to avoid the federal prison term that was supposed to start a few days later. Additionally, Sutton had had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sutton's daughter later revealed that Sutton had once told her mother that he would prefer dying than going to jail. Sutton was first interred at a family graveyard in Mount Sterling, North Carolina. On October 24, 2009, his body was moved to his Parrottsville estate.

His gravesite footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You.'' He had got the footstone made in advance and had kept for years by his front porch. He also had a coffin ready in his living room.

Soon after Sutton's demise, there were rumors that suggested his grave had been vandalized. Some speculated that Pam might have secretly moved the body.

Legacy

The nickname "Popcorn" was given to him in the 1960s or the 1970s, after Sutton attacked a broken popcorn vending machine with a pool cue.

In 2009, Sutton's estranged daughter Sky published a book titled 'Daddy Moonshine: The Story of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton,' which gave a lot of details about her father's life. The revised version of the book includes details of his death.

Singer-songwriter Hank Williams III attended Sutton's funeral and later sang 'Moonshiner's Life,' a song about Sutton, which is part of the singer’s 2010 album 'Rebel Within.'

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In 2012, Hillbilly Hero and Tom Wilson Jester teamed up to release a photographic book about Sutton, 'The Making and Marketing.' It was composed by photographer Don Dudenbostel.

On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. partnered with 'J&M Concepts LLC' and Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a whiskey brand titled 'Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey.'

On October 25, 2013, Tennessee whiskey brand ‘Jack Daniel's Properties’ sued Popcorn Sutton's whiskey brand for copying their newly redesigned bottle. The lawsuit was settled in 2014.

In December 2016, ‘Popcorn Sutton Distillery’ was sold to the alcoholic beverage company 'Sazerac Company.'

Facts About Popcorn Sutton

Popcorn Sutton was a legendary moonshiner from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, known for his expertise in making high-quality moonshine.

Despite his outlaw reputation, Sutton was also a skilled craftsman who built his own stills and equipment by hand.

He gained a cult following for his colorful personality and unique approach to moonshining, which he documented in his autobiography "Me and My Likker."

Sutton was a self-taught moonshiner who learned the trade from his father and perfected his techniques over decades of practice.

In addition to his moonshining skills, Sutton was also an accomplished storyteller and entertainer who captivated audiences with his tales of Appalachian tradition and lore.

Popcorn Sutton Biography

You wanted to know

Who was Popcorn Sutton and why was he famous?

What was Popcorn Sutton's moonshine recipe?

How did Popcorn Sutton gain a reputation as a moonshiner?

Was Popcorn Sutton ever arrested for moonshining?

What happened to Popcorn Sutton in his later years?