COUNTRY LEGEND DIES
Glen Campbell dead at 81: Rhinestone Cowboy singer dies from long battle with Alzheimer’s after incredible 50-year career
GLEN Campbell, the legendary country singer, has died aged 81.
The star – famed for his best selling hit Rhinestone Cowboy – passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
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Glen was surrounded by his family and friends when he died at the Nashville Facility for Alzheimer's patients.
They said in a statement: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.
"Glen is survived by his wife, Kim Campbell of Nashville, TN; their three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley; his children from previous marriages, Debby, Kelli, Travis, Kane, and Dillon; ten grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara, Sandra, and Jane; and brothers John Wallace “Shorty” and Gerald."
In March this year his daughter Ashley gave an emotional interview to where she revealed her father's health had deteriorated.
She said: "My dad is currently living in a beautiful memory care facility, and he is in the late stages of Alzheimer's.
"He has aphasia, so he can't really communicate, he can't really understand language as we do.
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"I kind of look at it like he can't really receive information. He hears just fine – he doesn't need a hearing aid – he just has trouble processing what he hears."
Over his incredible 50 year career, Glen released over 70 albums, 12 of which went gold, and was known as one of the best country singers to have ever lived.
Glen sold over 45 million records and had 75 chart hits.
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As well as forging a successful musical legacy, Glen was also a TV host and actor who fronted a self titled show called Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour on CBS.
He also worked alongside John Wayne in the 1969 hit western True Grit.
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Glen revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011 at the age of 75.
Just months later he announced his retirement from music.
Rather than walking away however, Glen embarked on a farewell tour to say goodbye to the fans who'd helped make him the famous musician he was.
His final album, Ghost On The Canvas, was quickly released and three of his children joined him on tour.
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A film about his farewell tour and battle with Alzheimer's disease was later made into a film.
I'll Be Me was released in 2014 and documented Glen's life as he continued to play to sell out crowds.
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His wife Kim said at the time: "Music utilizes all of the brain, not just one little section of it.
"Everything's firing all at once. It's really stimulating and probably helped him plateau and not progress as quickly as he might have.
"I could tell from his spirits that it was good for him. It made him really happy.
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"It was good for the whole family to continue touring and to just keep living our lives. And we hope it encourages other people to do the same."
As the news of his death broke, hundreds paid tribute to Glen and his musical legacy.
Dolly Parton wrote: "Glen Campbell was one of the greatest voices of all time. I will always love you, Glen!"
Lifelong Glen fan Piers Morgan added: "RIP Glen Campbell, 81. The Rhinestone Cowboy who melted hearts, broke hearts & sang from the heart. What a singer, what a life."
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