died on Saturday after a battle with COVID-19. He was 86.The iconic singer became the first Black artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the first Black country artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
His last public performance was at the CMA Awards in Nashville on Nov. 11, where he sang “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” with Jimmie Allen after accepting the CMA Lifetime Achievement Award.Upon hearing news of his death, many country artists like Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, and Brad Paisley took to social media to express their condolences.Morris expressed her condolences and said she hoped his death wasn't «a result of the CMAs being indoors.»«I don’t want to jump to conclusions because no family.