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BREAKING: Grand Ole Opry Member Stonewall Jackson Dead at 89

Country music artist Stonewall Jackson, who was a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died. Jackson passed away…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

December 4, 2021

Stonewall Jackson; Photo by Bev Le Croy

Country music artist Stonewall Jackson, who was a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died.

Jackson passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021 following a long battle with vascular dementia. He was 89 years old.

Born in Tabor City, North Carolina on November 6, 1932, Jackson moved to Nashville in 1956.

He scored his first country hit with “Life To Go” in 1958.

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is known for songs such as “Waterloo,” “Don’t Be Angry,” “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water,” and “B.J. the D.J.” Over the course of his decades-long career, the North Carolina native charted more on the Billboard country singles chart over 40 times.

He joined the Grand Ole Opry on November 3, 1956, longer ago than any other current Opry member.

Tonight’s performance of the Opry will be dedicated in Jackson’s honor.

Further arrangements are pending.

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Lauren Jo Black

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.