Country Music Hall of Famer Don Schlitz passed away yesterday (4/16) at a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness. He was 73. Schlitz's first hit as a songwriter came when Kenny Rogers recorded “The Gambler,” which became a hit in both country and pop upon its 1978 release. Among the singles Schlitz has written or co-written are Alabama’s “40 Hour Week (For A Livin’),” Mark Chesnutt’s “Almost Goodbye,” Paul Overstreet’s “Daddy’s Come Around,” Lorrie Morgan’s “Good As I Was To You,” Rogers’ “The Greatest,” Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” The Judds’ “Turn It Loose,” Collin Raye’s “I Think About You;” Garth Brooks’ “Learning To Live Again,” Tanya Tucker’s “My Arms Stay Open All Night,” Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing At All,” and Randy Travis’ “Deeper Than The Holler,” “Forever And Ever, Amen” and “On The Other Hand.” 

Schlitz is recognized as a co-creator of the “in-the-round” format of songwriter performances, along with his collaborators Fred Knobloch, Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler. He was awarded a CMA and a Grammy for “The Gambler” in 1979 (Song Of The Year and Country Song Of The Year, respectively); a CMA, ACM and NSAI Award for “On The Other Hand” as Song Of The Year in 1986; the CMA for Song Of The Year in 1987 and Grammy Award for Country Song Of The Year in 1988 for “Forever And Ever, Amen;” and was named ASCAP Country Songwriter Of The Year from 1988 through 1991. Schlitz was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and became the first songwriter invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. Read his complete bio via the CMHoF here; services are pending. Saturday night's Opry performance will be dedicated in his honor.