'The Stars Mourn Their King': How country music responded when Roy Acuff died in 1992

Note: On Monday, November 23, 1992, Roy Acuff died at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital. The news devastated the country music world. A day later, November 24, the Tennessean ran a collection of remembrances from the genre's biggest names.

Here is the original article.

The stars of Music City mourned the biggest star of all yesterday.

As word spread of the death of Roy Acuff, his fellow country-music celebrities paused to reflect on the King of Country Music.

Randy Travis

In the midst of filming an epidose of TV's Matlock in Hollywood, Travis paid his respects to the man who introduced him on the Grand Ole Opry.

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"Mr. Acuff made Lib [Hatcher, Travis's wife and manager] feel very welcomed in the early days," Travis said. "From our very first meeting, he made us feel a part of the family.

"On our first meeting he hold me, 'Boy, don't ever let those record company people talk you into singing pop; and don't let your hair grow long and you'll be OK.

"I will miss Mr. Acuff tremendously: I used to always try and do his segment of the Opry because I loved being with him.

"For everyone that loves country music...it will never be the same."

Skeeter Davis

The Opry singer was escoring European visitors to Opryland yesterday when she heard the news that Roy Acuff had died.

"When I was a little girl, we always worked so hard in the fields," Davis reflected. "I remember when I was about 10 our reward was $1 and a trip to the movie theater to see Night Train to Memphis starring Roy Acuff.

"I worked many shows with him and went to England with him.

"He's the greatest thing on the Opry...because he never got above the common ppeople (sic). There was something so special about him.

"I don't care who came out there — Garth Brooks or Randy Travis or whoever — Roy Acuff took the spotlight. The People loved Roy Acuff."

Lorrie Morgan

The million-selling singer grew up backstage at the Opry, since her late father George Morgan was a start there. She was at home in Goodlettsville preparing for her concert last night at the Opry House when she heard the news.

"I feel as though the main part of the Opry is gone, a part of our hearts is gone and a large part of my childhood is gone," she said. "I was proud to be a part of this man's life. I'm proud to be a part of the legacy of his music that will live on forever.

"God bless Roy Acuff."

Charlie Daniels

The renowned country-rocker had Acuff on several of his famed all-star Volunteer Jams.

"Roy Acuff personified the Grand Ole Opry," Daniels said yesterday, "and it will be hard to imagine the Opry without Mr. Acuff."

Marty Stuart

On Saturday, Stuart will become the newest member of the Opry cast. So he truley represents "the passing of the torch."

"I always loved watching him perform," Stuart reflected yesterday. "Even in his later years, Roy never lost touch with what was going on with country music. I noticed [this summer] that he had his piano player sing I'd Be Better Off (In a Pine Box) and Acuff sat to the side on a stool, silently singing along to every word.

"After the show I talked with him about the current state of the industry, and I discovered he knew exactly what was going on. As well he should, since he practically invented country music.

"He is truly an irreplaceable piece of Americana."

Mark O'Conner

Country music's Instrumentalist of the Year is a fiddler, as was Roy Acuff. O'Conner was in Utah for a concert when he learned of Acuff's passing.

"Roy put me on the Opry when I was 12 years old," O'Connor recalled yesterday, "and I recognize him for giving me my start in Nashville. Through the years, I would informally drop by his Opry dressing room to play him a few tunes. He just loved to hear the old fiddle tunes being played by us youngsters.

"It has truly been a gift to have shared so many happy times with him."

Jimmy C. Newman

The Cajun star remembered Acuff's generosity to his fellow Opry acts.

"I had met him way back in the early '50s," Newman recalled. "He'd recorded two of the songs that I'd written — What Will I do and Don't Say Goodbye — way back before I was a member of the Opry. [On the Opry], a lot of times he'd give up a song and let us do two songs. He was such a supporter of the Opry, so he would try to help promote the Opry and the artists."

Patty Loveless

Although not currently singing because of recent throat surgery, Patty is still an Opry memeber. She was backstage visiting with the show's stars when she was just a teen-ager.

"Roy Acuff...always gave us his love through each and every performance. He had a heart of gold and always treated us like his children."

Barbara Mandrell

The superstar's father, Irby Mandrell, is in intensive care at Baptist Hospital in the wake of an angina attack he suffered after last THursday's Lawrence Welk tribute TV taping. Barbara is by his side, but still paused to offer her eulogy to Acuff.

"Mr. Acuff has given me so many beautiful experiences and precious memories," Mandrell said in a prepared statement. "He inducted me as a member into the Grand Ole Opry. This portion of the Opry was always the one I appeared on.

"He joked with me, he told me great stories, he danced with me and he was my dear friend. I loved the The King of Country Music with all my heart."