Charley Pride, a pioneer in country music, died Saturday in Dallas, Texas at the age of 86 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. Not only an immensely talented artist in his own respect, but Pride also moved mountains for all African American singers and songwriters as a whole. Many “firsts” in the country music world have his name on them.
In 1975, Charley Pride became the first artist of color to host the Country Music Association Awards. Quite fitting that 45 years later, the CMAs would be home to his final performance. In 2000, Pride became the first African American artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame – with too many other monumental moments in between and after to mention.
Somehow, Pride was able to maintain a sense of distinguished humbleness that all of Nashville, and frankly the country as a whole, gravitated toward. Upon accepting his CMA Lifetime Achievement Award last month, he gave accolades to everyone but himself. It took only a few short moments for the internet to come together with an outpouring of tributes for the man who paved the way to country music as we know it today.
