Country legend Eddy Arnold died Thursday morning at a care facility near Nashville. The baritone, known for songs like "Make the World Go Away," was just days short of his 90th birthday.
His wife of 66 years had died in March, the same month that Arnold fell and injured his hip.
Arnold is considered one of the most successful country artists in history, and is No. 1 on the Billboard country charts in terms of overall success. He also pioneered "The Nashville Sound," which fuses country and pop.
"I sing a little country, I sing a little pop and I sing a little folk, and it all goes together," he said in 1970.
In 1966 Arnold was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 1967 he was the first recipient of Country Music Association's entertainer of the year award.
"There was a special kind of happiness about him whenever he talked about music, and that is how I will remember him," said Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville. Galante also said Arnold was just talking about making a new album several weeks ago.
Arnold once had the following advice for aspiring singers: "Get a good lawyer, a good accountant and be on time."
According to friends, Arnold considered his wife his inspiration for many of his songs, and she also assisted him in business dealings.
"What hurts me more than anything else is that he died of a broken heart," said Arnold's friend and Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown. "I don't think he ever recovered from that."
Arnold lived in Brentwood, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville, and is survived by a son and daughter, both of Brentwood, as well.
