Country Singer Songwriter Tom T. Hall – Dead at 85

It has been reported that Tom T. Hall, known for penning hits including Jeannie C. Riley’s massive 1968 pop and country smash “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” as well as his own crossover hit “I Love,” died August 20th, 2021. The country crooner was 85 years old.

Nicknamed “The Storyteller,” Hall, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019, was renowned for his songs’ rich narratives, vivid descriptions and homespun observations.

“Few could tell a story like Tom T. Hall,” Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement following his death. “As a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, he was one of those triple threat artists who continued to make an impact on the next generation. I’ll  always remember growing up listening to Tom T.’s music with my father, who was a huge bluegrass and Country fan.”

Hall was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1971, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1978, the Kentucky Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. He received the poet’s award from the Academy of Country Music in 2010.

Hall’s wife of 50 years, Dixie passed away in 2015. He is survived by his son, Dean.

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