Country Music Pioneer Charley Pride Has Died Of COVID-19 Complications

December 13, 2020 / Posted by:

A legend and trailblazer was lost yesterday when country icon Charley Pride died at the age of 86 in Dallas, TX. Charley’s family says that he died of complications from coronavirus. And last month on November 11, Charley made his last public appearance at the CMA Awards, which was indoors, pretty much maskless, and was also half-assed when it came to social distancing. So many, including other country stars, are wondering if the CMA Awards are where Charley caught coronavirus and the CMA Awards has already responded.

Because it’s still 2020 and 2020 still has to show us what a smegma-filled real demon it is, Charley Pride died yesterday after spending weeks battling coronavirus. His family gave this statement on Facebook:

It is with great sadness that we confirm that Charley Pride passed away this morning, Saturday, December 12, 2020, in Dallas, Texas of complications from Covid-19 at age 86. He was admitted to the hospital in late November with Covid-19 type symptoms and despite the incredible efforts, skill, and care of his medical team over the past several weeks, he was unable to overcome the virus. Charley felt blessed to have such wonderful fans all over the world. And he would want his fans to take this virus very seriously.

At the CMAs last month, Charley was honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award and performed with Jimmie Allen. After the sad news came out about Charley’s death, country star Maren Morris, who was at the CMAs, tweeted (and later deleted) that everyone should be mad if the CMA Awards’ indoors ceremony was to blame for Charley getting coronavirus.

“I don’t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley.”

After Maren got some hate for that tweet, Brandi Carlile backed Maren up, tweeting that Maren was right to question the CMAs and the CMA’s indoor ceremony is something that has been bothering her for weeks. But the CMAs and Charley Pride’s reps put out a joint statement, saying that the show followed all protocols and that he was tested multiple times before and after the show:

“Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions. Charley was tested prior to traveling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the Country Music community are heartbroken by Charley’s passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further.”

However Charley caught coronavirus, country music lost a light.

Charley Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi, and although his love of music started at a young age, he really wanted to be a professional baseball player. Charley played in the Negro American Baseball League and the Pioneer League before he was drafted into the Army in 1956. When he was discharged a couple of years later, he got back into baseball but an injury to his throwing arm just wouldn’t let him be great (in baseball). But baseball is what started his journey to becoming a country superstar.

Charley’s Wikipedia page says that the manager of one of the teams he played for knew he could sing so he was paid extra to sing for 15 minutes before each game and that put more asses in seats. That led to more singing gigs, which led to Charley getting signed by RCA Victor. His debut album, Country By Charley Pride, made it into the top 20 on the US country charts, and in 1967, his album, The Country Way, hit #1 on the country charts.

Rolling Stone says that when RCA Victor sent Charley’s singles out to radio stations and the press, they didn’t include a publicity photo of him because well: RACISM. They were afraid that country radio stations wouldn’t play songs by a Black artist and some radio stations showed their racist asses by not playing his music. But even after Charley made his TV debut by performing on The Lawrence Welk Show, he kept bringing in hits and knocking down doors. One of Charley’s biggest hits, Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone, hit #1 in 1970:

Another one of his biggest hits, Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’ (Side note: We need a mash-up of Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’ and Angel Of The Morning), got Charley yet another #1 in 1971. Here’s Charley performing that hit with Jimmie Allen at last month’s CMAs:

Charley continued to deliver hit after hit after hit throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Charley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1993. He’s only one of three Black members of the Opry. The other two are DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker. And Charley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

Many of Charley’s fellow country legends and stars paid tribute to him, like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, and Billy Ray Cyrus:

Charley is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ebby Rozene Cohran, their three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Rest in peace, Charley Pride.

Pic: Getty

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