Country star Ray Stevens breaks his neck, rushed to hospital in Nashville
Country star Ray Stevens was hospitalized in Nashville, Tennessee, after a terrifying fall left him with a broken neck.
Stevens, 87, is in recovery and has been advised by doctors to wear a neck brace for “approximately four weeks.”
The Grammy winner fell on Sunday, according to a press release obtained by Page Six.
“Despite the injury, he remains fully mobile and in good spirits as he continues his recovery,” the release continued.
Stevens’ upcoming album, “Favorites Old & New,” which is set to release on Friday, remains on track for its debut.
Last summer, the singer underwent surgery after having a heart attack.
“Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens is in recovery after undergoing minimally invasive heart surgery yesterday morning,” a statement posted to Stevens’ Instagram account at the time read.
“Last Friday evening, Ray complained of chest pain and was admitted to a Nashville hospital.”
“After a heart catheterization procedure, it was determined he’d suffered a mild heart attack,” the statement continued, adding that his “initial surgery was successful.”
His scheduled performances for the rest of that month were subsequently canceled.
In January 2024, Stevens announced he was “slowing down” in his music career, telling fans he would “stop performing regularly” at his Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in Nashville by the end of that year.
But by that December, he went back on his decision and returned to the CabaRay Showroom to promote his album “Say Whut?”
Stevens has been a staple in the music industry for decades. He first signed to Capitol Records’ Prep Records at just 18 years old in 1957.
He wrote songs with iconic artists, including Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton, before winning his first Grammy in 1971.
Stevens was married to his wife, Penny Jackson Ragsdale, for over 60 years until her death in 2021. The couple had daughters Suzi and Timi.
