Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner’s daughter who became a pillar of country music, has died.

Ronnie Hawkins, a brash rockabilly star from Arkansas who became a patron of the Canadian music scene has died at age 87.

And he did it by winning over millions of country music fans. Until the early 1990s, when Cleve Francis came along, Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label. “Then it was ‘first Negro country singer;’ then ‘first Black country singer.’ Now I’m the `first African-American country singer.′ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. Throughout his career, he sang positive songs instead of sad ones often associated with country music. Even a country singer,” said country singer Rissi Palmer on Twitter.

The Hot Country Knights have been a staple of Bentleys touring show for years, but during a break in recording and touring, Bentley produced a full album of parody songs called The K Is Silent. (Jim Wright/Capitol Records Nashville via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With their acid-washed jeans and mullets, the Hot Country Knights aren’t just nostalgic for the ’90s era of country music. The fascination with that decade of country music history and its icons is at an all-time high. AP: Have you seen the “ The Tiger King? I don’t think our lyrics are suggestive at all and anybody that thinks that needs to check their country music history.