Chronicle: Singer/songwriter Stonewall Jackson passed away Saturday (12/4) at the age of 89 after a long battle with vascular dementia. After serving in the Navy, the North Carolina native arrived in Nashville in 1956 and was quickly signed to Acuff-Rose Publishing. Introduced to Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay, Jackson was inducted into the Opry Nov. 3, 1956, becoming the first artist to join before having a recording contract. He was the longest-tenured Opry member to date. Jackson signed with Columbia Records in 1958. His second single, "Waterloo," spent five weeks at No. 1 and became his signature hit. He charted more than 40 singles during his career, including another No. 1 in 1964 with "B.J. The D.J." Jackson also recorded the first live album at the Ryman with 1971's Recorded Live At The Grand Ole Opry. Jackson was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2012. See his Opry bio here. Services are pending.

Singer/musician/songwriter Gary Scruggs passed away Wednesday (12/1) at the age of 72. Gary was the eldest son of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. He and his brother Randy released two albums as The Scruggs Brothers in 1969 and 1970. Gary then formed The Earl Scruggs Revue with his father. Scruggs went on to work with Waylon Jennings as guitarist and producer before retiring from the road in the mid 1980s to focus on songwriting. As part of Earl Scruggs And Friends, he won the 2001 Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 2pm CT in the chapel of Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN. Visitation will take place from 12pm until time of service. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Country Music Hall of Fame here or the Earl Scruggs Center here.