Country Music Hall of Famer Undergoes Surgery After Suffering Heart Attack

The voice behind hit songs like “Misty” and “Everything is Beautiful”, Ray Stevens watched as his career in country music landed him in the Christian Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and even the Country Music Hall of Fame. His song “Everything Is Beautiful” was even nominated for Song of the Year back in 1971 at the Grammy Awards. While 86 years old, Stevens continued to perform and entertain fans. But recently, the singer needed to cancel a string of shows after he suffered a “mild heart attack.” 

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As people all over the country celebrated July 4th, Stevens suffered from chest pains that ultimately caused him to go to the hospital. It wasn’t long after that that doctors informed the famed singer that he had suffered a heart attack. After being admitted, doctors moved quickly to address the situation. And on Monday, July 7th, Stevens underwent surgery to hopefully fix the issue that led to the heart attack. 

[RELATED: Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens Announces Final Run of Shows at His CabaRay Showroom in Nashville]

Future Unclear After Ray Stevens Suffered Mild Heart Attack

With Stevens needing surgery to correct the issue, the singer sadly had to cancel all his performances throughout July. Making the most out of the summer, Stevens wanted to perform to help promote his new comedy album titled Ray Stevens….Say Whut? For fans of the country star, they might remember that Stevens looked to retire back in 2024. But with the new album, he once again found his way to the stage to help shine a light on his newest work. 

Outside of the spotlight, Stevens shared his life with his wife, Penny Jackson Ragsdale, for over six decades. Sharing two daughters, the husband and wife eventually welcomed four grandchildren. Sadly, in December 2021, Penny passed away after a long battle with cancer. Heartbroken over losing his partner, Stevens decided to sell their Nashville home. 

While doctors continued to monitor Stevens as he recovered, it’s unclear if the singer will need to cancel other performances or even decide to retire once again. Although staying silent on his plans for the coming months, no matter what, the singer left his mark on the genre that helped define in career his the music industry.

(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum)