Wife of Country Music Legend Eddy Arnold Dies
Sally Arnold, wife of country music singer Eddy Arnold, died on Tuesday after being hospitalized for breathing difficulties. She was 87 years old. According to Jim Ed Brown, an Opry member and close friend of the Arnold family, “…she was willing to share him with the whole world because she knew how much he loved her.” Mr. Arnold, whose hits included “Make the World Go Away” and “Bouquet of Roses,” is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame with record sales in excess of 85 million. When Mr. Arnold heard the news of his wife’s passing, he was himself hospitalized, having recently undergone a hip-replacement surgery.
Eddy and Sally Arnold had been married 66 years, during which she was consistently a positive influence on her husband — in terms of both his family life and his career. “She kept him grounded,” said Don Cusic, Mr. Arnold’s biographer. “He told me more than once that if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have had the career he had. She supported him and took care of the books a lot. It was a real partnership.” Mrs. Arnold also kept the Arnold family intact while her husband was on tour, she spent her time raising a son and daughter and remained active in the community through her support of various local charity organizations. “[Eddy] wanted to be with her because he knew something was wrong, and he couldn’t,” said Jim Ed Brown, who had visited Mr. Arnold in the hospital a few days earlier. “He made the statement, ‘There is only one thing I want, and money can’t buy it.’ I know what he wanted was to be with her.”
Sally Arnold is survived by her husband; two children, Richard Edward Jr. and Jo Ann Pollard; and four grandchildren. The Arnold family will remain in our prayers during this difficult time in their lives.