Saturday, September 9, 2017

R.I.P.: Country Singer Troy Gentry Dead At Age 50


Singer Troy Gentry, of country music group Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter crash in New Jersey on Friday, the band’s website said.

Troy Gentry
The singer was 50, according to Reuters.

Details of the crash, which occurred in Medford township were not immediately known, the band said in a statement. Medford police did not immediately respond to a request for information on the crash.

Gentry was due to perform with his bandmate Eddie Montgomery on Friday evening at the Flying W Airport and Resort in Medford. Singer Montgomery did not appear to be involved in the incident.

Troy Gentry waited for what must have seemed like an eternity hoping aide from emergency units would show up before his helicopter crashed to the ground.

According to the emergency dispatch audio obtained by The Blast, the helicopter Gentry was aboard made a call to Burlington County, NJ officials reporting mechanical issues.


One of the dispatchers on the audio lets the other responders know to hurry to the Flying W Airport because the helicopter was hovering waiting for the fire department to arrive before attempting an emergency landing.  They make it clear the country star’s chopper had already been hovering for several minutes.

Unfortunately, the helo crashed shortly after emergency crews arrived,

Country music stars paid tribute to Gentry on social media on Friday, including Sheryl Crow, Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton, who tweeted an old photo of himself and Gentry, saying he was “heart broken”. Singer Brad Paisley tweeted, “God bless you Troy Gentry. Heartbroken and in disbelief”.

Kentucky band Montgomery Gentry formed in 1999 and scored hits such as “She Couldn’t Change Me” and “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” across eight studio albums.

The band has won awards from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association, and has been inducted into Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

Montgomery Gentry released its most recent album, “Folks Like Us” in 2015.

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