Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams has died. He was 78.
Williams enjoyed a four-decade music career that included 17 number-one country hits. His 1980 single "I Believe in You" also peaked at number-24 on the pop chart.
He appeared in a number of Burt Reynolds films, most notably Smokey and the Bandit 2, in which he performed a number of songs.
Though he announced his retirement in 2006, he returned to performing in 2010. That year, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His final albums, 2012’s And So It Goes and 2014’s Reflections . . . reached the Top 20 of Billboard's Country Albums Chart. He retired from the music biz for good last year.
Williams's publicist says funeral arrangements are pending.
This is one of my all time favorite Don Williams tunes. Rest in peace, Gentle Giant.