The country music world lost a legend on Christmas day as Stu Phillips died.
He was 92.
Phillips was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Opry acknowledged his death in a post on X and thanked him for his “music, friendship, and 58 years as part of the Opry family.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame also posted a short statement following Phillips’ death, noting that he joined the Opry in 1967.
“I am very saddened to learn Stu Phillips passed today,” Roger Ball wrote on Facebook on Christmas. “He was a great singer and a very kind gentleman. I was a member of his band, the Balladiers, back in the 1970s. Stu was my first Grand Ole Opry gig. Rest in peace my friend.”
Phillips was born in Montreal, and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music hall of Fame in 1993.
He released his first album, “Feels like Lovin’” in 1965, and went on to release eight more, the last of which, “You Love the Hurt Away,” coming in 1998.
His biggest hit was “Kathy Keep Playing,” which reached No. 1 in Canada, and he also had several songs including “Juanita Jones” which did well in the United States.
Taste of Country noted that Phillips also hosted “Music Place” a TV variety series in the 1970s, and also became an ordained Episcopalian minister.
The outlet reported that Phillips became a United States citizen in 1998.
