Country Music Hall of Fame Icon Charlie Daniels Passes Away at 83 After Suffering Hemorrhagic Stroke (May He Rest in Peace)

Iconic country singer/songwriter Charlie Daniels has died at the age of 83, it was confirmed on Monday by the Country Music Hall of Famer’s family. The full statement, announcing that Daniels passed after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke:

Country music and southern rock legend Charlie Daniels has passed. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member died this morning at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee. Doctors determined the cause of death was a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83.
 
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

RIP Charlie Daniels. – TeamCDB/BW read about it here : https://t.co/L6WCat7zqZ pic.twitter.com/Q1gFLalSf4

— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) July 6, 2020

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” written and performed by the Charlie Daniels Band on its 1979 album Million Mile Reflections, is Daniels’ signature song, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming something of a modern standard:

“To be able to be a member and to have my name linked with my heroes is some pretty heady stuff for a guy that loves music and loves the Grand Ole Opry as much as I do.” – Charlie Daniels

Charlie, thank you for all of the music and joy you’ve given us. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oecnKL2c19

— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) July 6, 2020

We lost a true force in music and life with the passing of Music City Walk of Fame family member @CharlieDaniels. His sound lives on. pic.twitter.com/A2uQRaWyYJ

— Nashville Tennessee (@visitmusiccity) July 6, 2020

Man I am heartbroken to hear that Charlie Daniels passed away this morning. He was one of the nicest/kindest people I have ever met. Thanks for the musical legacy u left all of us. We will miss you Mr. Charlie! pic.twitter.com/bKs49MlVlT

— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 6, 2020

Just learning of the passing of this great man. What a hero. A true patriot, Christian, and country music icon. Prayers to his family. Thank you for all your contributions on and off the stage. God bless you Charlie Daniels. pic.twitter.com/BiQ4FlAlPc

— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) July 6, 2020

The word "legend" gets tossed around so easily these days, but not in this case… he was #BeyondLegendary. This is one of my absolute favorites… "The Legend of Wooly Swamp" #CharlieDaniels pic.twitter.com/kSsqVwmsFf

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) July 6, 2020

I wrote these words for Charlie’s biography. They ring even more true now.
I’m so sad he’s gone.
We have so many memories together, and I am so blessed to have known him.
Rest In Peace my friend. We love you. @CharlieDaniels pic.twitter.com/3Pg5eWPtIf

— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) July 6, 2020

After Daniels moved to Nashville in 1967, his music career blossomed. Per Rolling Stone‘s look back at his life and times:

He soon began a steady stream of session work, playing fiddle, bass, and guitar on Leonard Cohen’s 1969 LP Songs From a Room and its 1971 follow-up Songs of Love and Hate, and appearing on recordings by Marty Robbins, Pete Seeger, Flatts & Scruggs, and Claude King. But it was Bob Dylan who would give him his biggest boost.

In 1969, he joined Johnston in the studio to record Dylan’s Nashville Skyline. Although initially admonished for playing too loudly in the sessions, Daniels would appear on three consecutive Dylan albums and also play on Ringo Starr’s 1970 post-Beatles foray into country, Beaucoups of Blues, produced by Pete Drake. During this period, Daniels had his songs cut by Barbara Mandrell and Tammy Wynette, and himself began to work as a producer, overseeing projects by Gary and Randy Scruggs and the Youngbloods.

Daniels was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Rest in peace, Charlie Daniels.