April 7, 2026, 3:33 p.m. ET
Country star Ray Stevens is on the road to recovery after recently breaking his neck in a fall.
The Grammy-winning singer, 87, suffered a fall on Sunday, March 29, and broke his neck, according to a press release shared with USA TODAY on April 7 by a representative for Stevens, Don Murry Grubbs.
He was “briefly hospitalized” in the Nashville area but is now at home and recovering.
“Doctors have advised Stevens to wear a neck brace for approximately four weeks. Despite the injury, he remains fully mobile and in good spirits as he continues his recovery,” the release said, adding that he appreciates “any thoughts and prayers” as he recovers.
The injury came ahead of the release of Stevens’ latest album “Favorites Old & New.” The album, described as a mixture of “beloved standards alongside new selections from a range of talented songwriters,” is still scheduled for release Friday, April 10.
Stevens has earned two Grammy awards and 12 nominations throughout his decades-spanning career. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
The “Everything Is Beautiful” singer previously underwent minimally invasive heart surgery on July 7, 2025. Prior to the procedure, he had complained of chest pain and was admitted to a hospital, where doctors determined he suffered a mild heart attack, according to a release shared last year with The Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.
At the time, Stevens’ upcoming performances were canceled so he could recover. A post on his Instagram account said on July 9 that he was “out of ICU” and “very grateful for all of the cards and get well messages.”
In the release shared with USA TODAY on April 7, Stevens said he “had a lot of fun creating” his latest album, adding that it “really does contain a few of my favorite old songs as well as favorite new ones penned by some talented writers. I just hope Ray Stevens fans enjoy it as much as Ray Stevens!”
Contributing: Marcus K. Dowling, The Nashville Tennessean
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