Country Singer Earl Thomas Conley Dies at 77, Family Says

Country Singer Earl Thomas Conley Dies at 77, Family Says
Earl Thomas Conley performs 'Holding Her And Loving You.'2017 Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 23, 2017. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Jack Phillips
4/10/2019
Updated:
4/10/2019

Country singer Earl Thomas Conley, known for several hit songs, died on April 10 at the age of 77, his family confirmed.

Fred Conley, his brother, said the singer had a dementia-like condition and was in hospice care for months, USA Today reported.

“He just kept losing ground,” Fred Conley said. “I’m brokenhearted.”

His daughter, Erinn, said her singer father “was a great dad, and he filled our lives with color.”

His cause of death was not revealed.

Country musicians reacted to his death.

“Earl was my all time favorite singer, hero and my friend,” country superstar Blake Shelton tweeted, adding that he was “absolutely destroyed“ by the news. “Prayers to his family. We will all miss you deeply my brother. Now go rest ...”

Conley collaborated with Shelton in 2002 and wrote a Top 20 song, “All Over Me.”

Conley had 18 No. 1 country hits and 25 top 10 songs over his career.

When he was younger, “he decided he needed to grow up, and the Army was the best place to do that,” said Carole Scates, who is the mother of his children.

She added, “He said the Army was the best thing he ever did, that he went from being a punk kid to an adult who had a great work ethic. He could do anything. His talents were unlimited.”

Country singer T.G. Sheppard appeared on the stage with Conley a number of times.

“There are artists in our business that are great singers and stylists that you recognize, but just ever so often there are those special artists that have that voice that you know instantly when you hear the first word,” Sheppard told the Tennessean newspaper.
He said Conley “was one of those voices. And, he was always such a kind man. Once again, it’s going to leave a void in country music to lose a legendary artist such as him.”

Notable Celebrity Deaths in 2019

Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London arrive at the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Celebration at Nomad Hotel Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2019. The rapper was shot dead in late March. (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London arrive at the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Celebration at Nomad Hotel Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2019. The rapper was shot dead in late March. (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Luke Perry
Undated file photo of Luke Perry. (photo by Newsmakers)
Undated file photo of Luke Perry. (photo by Newsmakers)
Peter Tork
Peter Tork of the Monkees passed away at 77 in February 2019 (Getty Images | Noel Vasquez)
Peter Tork of the Monkees passed away at 77 in February 2019 (Getty Images | Noel Vasquez)
Albert Finney
British actor Albert Finney died in February 2019 at the age of 82. (Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images)
British actor Albert Finney died in February 2019 at the age of 82. (Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images)
James Ingram
Longtime R&B singer James Ingram died in late January. Quincy Jones, a collaborator of his, wrote: “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical ... every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home.”
Singer James Ingram has died at the age of 66 after a battle with brain cancer, according to reports on Jan. 29. (Getty Images)
Singer James Ingram has died at the age of 66 after a battle with brain cancer, according to reports on Jan. 29. (Getty Images)
Fatima Ali

“Top Chef” alum Fatima Ali died on Friday, January 25, after a battle with terminal cancer. She was 29.

Former “Top Chef” contestant Bruce Kalman paid tribute to her: “It’s with a heavy heart we say goodbye to Fatima Ali today, as she has lost her battle with cancer,” he wrote

“Top Chef” star Fatima Ali died at the age of 29 after battling a form of bone cancer, said her family. (Instagram / Selfie)
“Top Chef” star Fatima Ali died at the age of 29 after battling a form of bone cancer, said her family. (Instagram / Selfie)
Carol Channing
Carol Channing in Concord, N.H. Channing, whose career spanned decades on Broadway and on television has died at age 97. Publicist B. Harlan Boll says Channing died of natural causes early in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2019. (Jim Cole/AP Photo, File)
Carol Channing in Concord, N.H. Channing, whose career spanned decades on Broadway and on television has died at age 97. Publicist B. Harlan Boll says Channing died of natural causes early in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2019. (Jim Cole/AP Photo, File)
Bob Einstein
Bob Einstein in Hollywood, Calif., on June 27, 2018. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Bob Einstein in Hollywood, Calif., on June 27, 2018. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Comedian and actor Bob Einstein died on Jan. 2 after a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Daryl Dragon

Daryl 'The Captain' Dragon beside his ex-wife, Toni Tennille, wearing his signature captain's hat. (Hillel Italie/AP)
Daryl 'The Captain' Dragon beside his ex-wife, Toni Tennille, wearing his signature captain's hat. (Hillel Italie/AP)

Daryl Dragon, or “Captain,” of pop group Captain and Tennille, died on Jan. 2 of renal failure.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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