Sally Arnold wife of singer Eddy Arnold
busgal
By BEVERLY KEEL
Celebrity columnist
Sally Gayhart Arnold, the woman who gave meaning to husband Eddy
Arnold's love songs, died Tuesday in a Williamson County hospital. She
was 87.
For more than 66 years, the couple had one of the greatest romances in
the history of country music. The news of Mrs. Arnold's death came
late Tuesday afternoon as her country music legend husband, now 89,
remained in a Davidson County hospital after undergoing hip
replacement surgery last week.
Married on Nov. 28, 1941, the couple's relationship to friends and
family epitomized commitment, devotion and teamwork.
"I can tell you one thing, that she was willing to share him with the
whole world because she knew how much he loved her," said country
singer Jim Ed Brown, a close friend.
"I know that she just loved him and wanted him to have everything. He
is a hard worker. He is a great gentlemen, and she was a loving,
caring wife. Sally was behind him in everything he wanted to do."
Described as two peas in a pod, they both enjoyed a good laugh and a
great bargain.
In the last few years, the two relished morning walks together.
"He loved to go and have lunch and be with people, but she was not
doing well," Brown said. "He would go and get a sandwich and take it
home, and they would share the sandwich for lunch every day. He was
still working, up until very recently, in his office every day, and he
would always come back to her."
Mrs. Arnold was hospitalized over the weekend for breathing
difficulties, said her son-in-law, Richard Pollard.
She helped his career
The two met in Louisville, Ky., where Mr. Arnold was playing with Pee
Wee King, said Don Cusic, author of Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You In My
Heart. "I think she might have asked for his autograph after a show,"
he said. Arnold, who is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame,
has sold more than 85 million records and had hits such as "Make the
World Go Away" and "Bouquet of Roses."
"She helped him a lot in his career," Cusic said. "He told me more
than once that if it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't have had the
career he had. She supported him and took care of the books a lot. It
was a real partnership."
The day after the couple married, he departed to join the Camel
Caravan Tour. The bride was kept company in her new home by her mother-
in-law.
While Mr. Arnold toured, Mrs. Arnold ran the show at home, where she
raised their son and daughter. She also donated her time to help local
charities, including the Fannie Battle Day Home. "She kept him
grounded," Cusic said. "Stars can lose perspective so easily, but he
was always down to earth, and she was a major reason for it.
The Arnolds' last few days were spent apart as they underwent
treatment at different hospitals in different counties. In the end,
after all of the success, money and fame, the only thing that mattered
was being with each other.
Brown visited with Mr. Arnold earlier this week. "He wanted to be with
her because he knew something was wrong, and he couldn't. He made the
statement, 'There is only one thing I want, and money can't buy it.' I
know what he wanted was to be with her."
Mrs. Arnold is survived by her husband; their children, Richard Edward
Jr. of Nashville and Jo Ann Pollard, of Brentwood; and four
grandchildren.
La N
"busgal" <busg...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:0c67bb0d-f414-44d4...@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Eddy Arnold's wife dies in Williamson hospital
>
> By BEVERLY KEEL
> Celebrity columnist
>
> Sally Gayhart Arnold, the woman who gave meaning to husband Eddy
> Arnold's love songs, died Tuesday in a Williamson County hospital. She
> was 87.
>
> For more than 66 years, the couple had one of the greatest romances in
> the history of country music.
< snipped for brevity >
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.........
- nilita, who loves a good RL love story ...