Music Icon Mac Davis Dead at 78
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of music icon Mac Davis, who rose to fame after penning “A Little…
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of music icon Mac Davis, who rose to fame after penning “A Little Less Conversation” and “In The Ghetto” for Elvis Presley.
Davis died on Tuesday (Sept. 29) after undergoing heart surgery. He was 78 years old.
“He was surrounded by the love of his life and wife of 38 years, Lise, and his sons Scott, Noah and Cody,” his manager, Jim Morey, wrote on Facebook.
Morey went on to remember Davis as “a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend” and shared that he will “miss laughing about our many adventures on the road and his insightful sense of humor.”
Throughout his career, Davis wrote songs for artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Bruno Mars, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Avicii, Andy Williams, Conway Twitty, Tom Jones, Bobby Blue Bland, Tammy Wynette, Weezer and Merle Haggard.
A recording artist in his own right, the legendary artist chart over 40 singles and released 20 albums during his career.
Davis was a celebrated artist and songwriter. He was inducted into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998 and became a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. He was also inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and honored with the BMI Icon Award in 2015.
Additionally, Davis saw a bit of success as an actor and television personality. He had his very own variety series, The Mac Davis Show, on NBC from 1974 to 1976 and also appeared in a handful of movies.
Mac Davis is survived by his Lise, wife of 38 years, as well as his sons Scott, Noah and Cody, daughters-in-law, Tammy, Amy, Cassia, granddaughter Lindsey, mother Edith and sister Linda.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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