On Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, country music legend Charley Pride, the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died at age 86 due to complications from COVID-19 in Dallas, Texas.
Throughout his storied career in country music, Pride was a trailblazer in the industry — along with being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, Pride charted 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1969 and 1974, while earning a whopping 29 No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs charts throughout his career. The star’s last live performance came at the 2020 Country Music Association Awards, when Pride took home a lifetime achievement award and performed his single “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” with Jimmie Allen.
Country stars like Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Luke Combs and more took to their social media to mourn the loss of Pride on Saturday.
“The most generous, kind, trailblazing man has left us,” Brad Paisley wrote on his Instagram. “I am so blessed to have had so many memories with him. I’m devastated. You changed country music for the better, Charley. And you changed this kid’s life.We love you.”
Here’s what stars had to say about the loss of Charley Pride:
