’90s Country Singer and Grand Ole Opry Member Hal Ketchum Dead at 67

Hal Ketchum died on Monday evening (Nov. 23) due to complications with Dementia. He was 67 years old. The news…

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 24, 2020

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Hal Ketchum; Photo Courtesy Grand Ole Opry

Hal Ketchum died on Monday evening (Nov. 23) due to complications with Dementia. He was 67 years old.

The news of his passing was shared with fans via the singer’s official Facebook page.

“With great sadness and grief we announce that Hal passed away peacefully last night at home due to complications of Dementia,” the statement reads. “May his music live on forever in your hearts and bring you peace.”

Ketchum’s Alzheimer’s disease/dementia diagnosis was first revealed by his wife, Andrea, in the spring of 2019.

“He has been battling this for some time now, but because of his love for his fans, he continued performing as long as it was possible,” Andrea wrote at the time. “Dementia is an exhausting and confusing illness and now it’s time for Hal to stay home with loved ones. Hal is otherwise healthy and happy, enjoying time with his family and friends.”

Hal Ketchum was best known for songs such as “Small Town Saturday Night” and “Past the Point of Rescue.” He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1994.

Ketchum was born in Greenwich, New York and eventually made his way to Texas where he began to play the club scene. He began making trips to Nashville and eventually signed a publishing deal with Curb Records. In 1991, he released “Small Town Saturday Night,” which was named Radio & Records magazine’s No. 1 Single of the Year.

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