NASHVILLE, Tennessee –– CMT will air a tribute to groundbreaking country music superstar Charley Pride this week. Pride, 86, passed away Saturday from complications of COVID-19.
CMT Remembers Charley Pride will air This will air Wednesday, December 16th at 8 PM ET on CMT and have encore presentations Thursday, December 17th at 9 am and Saturday, December 19th at noon.
The network said, “Despite facing pervasive racism throughout this legendary career, Pride’s perseverance and unmatched talent transcended generations, broke down barriers, and blazed a new path for black country artists.”
Among those honoring Pride’s legacy are Darius Rucker, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and members of Pride’s family.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride sold tens of millions of records and topped the country charts 36 times. His biggest hit was “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” a massive #1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles.
Pride was the Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” award in 1971 and the “Top Male Vocalist” awards of 1971 and 1972 and also won three Grammy awards.
Just a month before he died, Pride was presented with the CMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s CMA award ceremony.
Addressing speculation that Pride contracted COVID at the ceremony, the CMAs responded, “Charley was tested prior to traveling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the Country Music community are heartbroken by Charley’s passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further.”