’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…
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.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
