Country music legend Mel Tillis dead at 85
 

Country music singer Mel Tillis, whose six-decade career included hits such as “I Ain’t Never” and “Coca Cola Cowboy” and who never let his stutter get in the way of him becoming a legend, died on Sunday, his publicist confirmed. He was 85.

Tillis passed away at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Fla., his publicist Don Murry Grubbs said. The music legend is believed to have died from respiratory failure after he never recovered from intestinal issues he has been battling since 2016. He leaves behind his longtime partner, Kathy DeMonaco, his six children and six grandchildren.

Tillis recorded more than 60 albums and had 35 top ten singles in his decades-long career. His 1979 “Coca-Cola Cowboy” was one of his biggest hits, along with “Southern Rains” in 1980 and “I Believe in You” in 1978.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...ead-at-85.html

A wonderful entertainer, so long Mmmmeeelll.

RIP

Dang. Amazing performer and legend. RIP

Dammit! I was just listening to him yesterday. I also hung out with his daughter, Pam about 20 years ago. Sweet gal.

He was a stutterer. Always appreciated that about him.

He told the best stories in the most unique way with that stutter. He always had people laughing.

Great showman. Dad loved him. I hope the meet in Heaven.

RIP, Mel... takes a pretty special person to turn a disability into a charm

That's t-t-t-terrible to hear.

Damn. RIP

Loved him in those Burt Reynolds/ Hal Needham movies

RIP Mel great entertainer and nice man.

I met Mel and his wife in Branson while doing design survey for Rourke Valley Road. We we tying in a land corner and they came out to ask about what we were doing. He invited us up to warm up and coffee of course we couldnt but was nice gesture. The were really happy the work on that road had begun as getting home after shows was a pain for them. He didnt stutter talking with us but I read he had whooped it except during performance were he was always nervous. Just a genuine down home nice guy and gentleman and his wife was a looker to. This was really the start of the old guard Nashville entertainers moving to Branson so long ago. Sad day for Country music a legend is gone.

At least he didn't have to watch the Chiefs/Giants game.

Always liked him. Losing a lot of the old country music greats. New country doesn't compare.

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