A country music legend has been hospitalised after suffering a shocking fall that resulted in a fractured neck. Ray Stevens, an 87-year-old Grammy-winning performer, was taken to a Nashville hospital on Sunday following the incident. His representatives later provided details about his injuries, confirming he was “briefly hospitalised in the Nashville area.” Medical professionals have advised him to wear a neck brace for approximately four weeks during his recovery. Despite the severity of the injury, his team highlighted that he remains positive and in good spirits.
The statement shared by his team said: “Despite the injury, he remains fully mobile and in good spirits as he continues his recovery.” The country star, known for hits like Everything Is Beautiful and Misty, has now returned home and is making progress with his rehabilitation. This incident marks another challenge in a series of health issues faced by the legendary artist. Last summer, Ray was also hospitalised after experiencing a heart attack, which required immediate medical attention.
At the time of the heart attack, a statement was released saying: “Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens is in recovery after undergoing minimally invasive heart surgery yesterday morning.” It continued: “After a heart catheterization procedure, it was determined he’d suffered a mild heart attack.” The announcement assured fans that the initial surgery was successful.
Following the operation, Ray had to cancel several performances at his CabaRay Showroom in Nashville while he recovered. His team provided updates on his condition, stating that he was already showing improvement. They mentioned: “Ray is out of ICU and beginning to walk the halls as therapy with a nurse’s assistance as he is working towards recovering from this surgery.”
They added: “Ray is very grateful for all of the cards and get well messages. Everything Is Still Beautiful!!!!” The singer had previously warned fans that he would be reducing his schedule. In January 2024, he announced plans to “stop performing regularly” at his Nashville venue. However, he later returned to the stage in December to promote new material, according to reports.
Despite his recent injury, Ray’s upcoming album is still scheduled for release. His new record, Favorites Old & New, is set to come out on Friday and will feature a mix of classic covers and original songs.
Speaking about the project, Ray said: “I had a lot of fun creating this album Favorites Old & New.” He added: “It really does contain a few of my favorite old songs as well as favorite new ones penned by some talented writers. I just hope Ray Stevens fans enjoy it as much as Ray Stevens!”
The 13-track album includes well-known standards such as The Look of Love, It Had To Be You, and Come Rain or Come Shine, alongside new material. Ray has won two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
