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80s country music icon to have surgery after being rushed to the hospital over onstage stroke

BBG News

Country musician Ronnie McDowell, known for his ’80s hits such as “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation,” has shared insights about his current health predicament.

On the Saturday prior, a 75-year-old individual found himself struggling to make sense while he was performing on stage in Pennsylvania, as his speech became unclear.

Ronnie Jr., McDowell’s son, swiftly led him aside, and then shared with him his concern that he might have experienced a stroke.

On a Sunday morning, he went for tests at a hospital located in Reading, Pennsylvania. By Monday, the singer had been released from the hospital.

McDowell later spoke up about the incident through a Facebook video where he was seen embarking on a two-mile stroll, exactly five days following his medical predicament.

Yes, he had a stroke, and surgery is required to clean out blockages in his jugular vein.

He assured fans that he was “taking a two-mile stroll,” and emphasized that he would indeed perform at the scheduled concert in Dry Ridge, Kentucky on the following Saturday evening.

At approximately three or four songs into his performance during the Summer Solstice Music Festival held in Oley, Pennsylvania on June 21, McDowell experienced a stroke.

It was clear there was an issue when the performer started speaking incoherently and mumbling his words, as reported by Nashville’s WKRN News 2 by his tour manager.

As reported by the tour manager, he took McDowell aside for a private conversation and inquired about his well-being. McDowell responded negatively, expressing his belief that he may have suffered a stroke, hinting at his suspicions.

On the following day, Tyler Dean McDowell, his son, announced via Facebook that both he and his brother Ronnie Jr. were present at the hospital, where their father was conscious and communicating with them, while they anticipated an MRI scan.

The following day, on June 23rd (Monday), Ronnie Jr. announced through Facebook that his father was scheduled for release, maintaining a positive demeanor after his recent minor stroke.

As a lifestyle expert, let me rephrase it for you: Ronnie Jr., a musician who shared the stage with his father on tour, expressed: ‘I sensed something was off when I heard his vocals in my ear monitors and noticed him slurring his words and struggling to remember the lyrics to songs he’s performed for decades.’

McDowell’s son led his father away from the stage for a private conversation, where he inquired about his wellbeing. He shared that he wasn’t feeling alright, which was unusual given his robust nature. He expressed concern that he may be experiencing a stroke, as reported later on.

Straightaway, I whisked him into our Sprinter to help him chill out. I hailed the remarkable event organizer, urging her to fetch a medical responder pronto. She was nothing short of amazing in her assistance. Together, we discerned that my father was experiencing a stroke based on his symptoms.

In a swift action, I promptly asked Diana to dial 911 for an ambulance. They transported him to Reading Hospital. Let me tell you, everyone at the hospital was exceptionally kind and cooperative. The doctors informed him that he would require surgery within the upcoming weeks.

Ronnie Jr. learned from the medical team that while they advise him to rest, he could resume working out and performing within a few days, which made him extremely joyful. Upon leaving, his immediate desire was to visit his beloved Italian eatery.

1977 marked the rise of McDowell’s stardom as his Elvis Presley tribute song, “The King is Gone,” gained popularity. Tragically, Presley had passed away earlier that year due to heart failure following a long battle with substance abuse.

During the 1980s, McDowell achieved two chart-topping country singles: Older Women and You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation, along with several other hit songs such as All Tied Up, In a New York Minute, and Watchin’ Girls Go By.

He collaborated on duets with prominent figures in the realm of country music, including “It’s Only Make Believe” with Conway Twitty and “You’re Never Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll” with Jerry Lee Lewis.

In the year 2023, his voice was featured on Dolly Parton’s song “I Dreamed About Elvis,” joining that of the Jordanaires, a vocal group that had been active since 1948 and continued until the passing of one of its members in 2013.

McDowell’s extensive relationship with Elvis Presley extended to the screen, where he supplied the singing vocals that Kurt Russell mimed to in the 1979 TV film Elvis, as well as for Don Johnson in the 1981 TV movie Elvis and the Beauty Queen, and for Michael St. Gerard in the 1990 miniseries Elvis. In simpler terms, McDowell sang the songs that were lip-synced by these actors when they portrayed Elvis on screen.

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2025-07-03 03:35

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