Country music star Hal Ketchum passed away peacefully at age 67 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. His wife Andrea shared the news on Facebook, noting that he had been battling the disease for some time before retiring from performing in April 2019.

As a Grand Ole Opry member, Ketchum released 11 studio albums throughout his three-decade career, producing hits like "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue," "Hearts Are Gonna Roll," and "Stay Forever." Beyond music, he was an accomplished painter with works displayed in Santa Fe's Pena Studio Gallery and a skilled master carpenter who crafted toys.

Fellow artists and fans paid tribute across social media:

• Kelly Willis recalled sharing the Austin City Limits stage with him in 1994
• LeAnn Rimes Cibrian called him "such a talent and a dear soul"
• Elizabeth Cook remembered him as an incredible performer and welcoming presence
• The Oak Ridge Boys noted his passing as another significant loss to country music in 2020

Ketchum joins other notable country music figures who passed in 2020, including Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie, and John Prine, marking a particularly difficult year for the genre and music industry as a whole.

Through his music, artistry, and craftsmanship, Hal Ketchum left an indelible mark on country music and will be remembered as a multifaceted talent who enriched the lives of fans and fellow artists alike.

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