Dr. Ralph Stanley Hospitalized After Fall, Requires Surgery
88-year-old bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley is recovering in the hospital after suffering a serious fall last week, resulting a fractured pelvic bone. He was first admitted to the hospital on September 26, and also underwent minor surgery to install a pacemaker on Saturday. Stanley has canceled some of his upcoming events due to the health issue, but is expected to recover.
“I want to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns they have shown for my papaw,” Ralph’s grandson and protégé Nathan Stanley says. “He is currently recovering in the hospital from a fractured pelvis. I was with him all of last night, this morning, and this evening. His doctors say he is doing very well and will have a complete recovery. This man is my life and he is the only Dad I’ve ever known. He is one tough individual! I’m so thankful to the Good Lord for watching over him for so long. Doctors say he will get to come home Friday or Saturday.”
Ralph Stanley began his career in 1946 with his older brother Carter, touring and recording as the Stanley Brothers before Carter’s death in 1966. Over those 69 years, Ralph Stanley has mentored the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley, won three Grammy Awards, been inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and been a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Possibly his most crowning achievement was his participation in the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack in 2000 that sold over 7 million records and opened the gift of bluegrass to a whole new generation. He was also asked to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2000.
Stanley announced a farewell tour in June of 2013, and was planning to hang it up after a final 80 dates. But in December of 2014, he decided to continue on. “I meant it at the time, but I’ve decided to leave it up to the good Lord.”
October 1, 2015 @ 9:52 am
Fortunately he’s a short fellow, so he didn’t fall very far.
October 1, 2015 @ 12:08 pm
A couple summers back, I got to see Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh. The entire show was good, solid bluegrass, but I’ll never forget hearing him sing “Oh, Death”, a capella. It was haunting and otherworldly and felt like it came right out of the hollers of the Appalachians. I’ll be sure to offer a prayer for the good Dr. Stanley and wish him a quick recovery and hope death will spare him over till another year.
October 1, 2015 @ 2:58 pm
The patience of God is astounding. I am surprised that He hasn’t called Ralph home to entertain the angels. I know I would.
October 1, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Get well Dr. Stanley!
October 1, 2015 @ 9:02 pm
Scary story, but it’s great to hear that he’s ok.
Godspeed, Dr. Stanley.
October 2, 2015 @ 8:48 am
literally, a living legend.
October 2, 2015 @ 11:32 am
We saw Dr. Ralph and Nathan last May in Bremen, Georgia. You could have heard a pin drop during the performance of “Oh Death”. Prayers for a speedy recovery.
October 5, 2015 @ 12:16 pm
Yikes! Pur dude
Thomas Rhett Finishes Third; Hardly Strictly Video Archive; IBMA Awards Winners | Country California
October 6, 2015 @ 10:07 am
[…] Ralph Stanley had to cancel his Hardly Strictly Bluegrass appearance and other shows after falling and fracturing a pelvic bone. Stanley plans to be back on the road later this […]