Author: Juli Thanki, Nashville Tennessean

Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned various music genres, died of natural causes Friday night. He was 81.

Wiseman, one of country and bluegrass music’s greatest singers and a founding member of the Country Music Association, was known as “The Voice with a Heart.”

“We’re going to be the oldest guys to make it in rock ‘n’ roll,” says actor Dennis Quaid, who worked with T Bone Burnett on his album with the Sharks.

A publicist said country star Roy Clark, the guitar virtuoso and singer who headlined the cornpone TV show “Hee Haw” for nearly a quarter century, has died.

Country music celebrated its big night Wednesday. Chris Stapleton racked up awards for ‘Broken Halos,’ while Kacey Musgraves won album of the year.

Marty Stuart, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses and more saluted the newest Country Music Hall of Famers.

Tony Joe White was known for enduring classics like “Polk Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia.”