Prayers Pour In For Country Icon After ‘Freak Accident’

Country singing sensation Bill Anderson posted an update after he suddenly canceled a performance last weekend scheduled for the Grand Ole Opry. Anderson, 87, is the longest-serving member of the Opry and was part of the original lineup that featured legendary names like T. Graham Brown, Kylie Morgan, Monte Warden, and many others.

Anderson revealed that he was forced to cancel the show, along with several other commitments, after he sustained injuries in what he called a “freak accident.”

“Many of you have been reaching out to me and members of my team since the announcement was made that I wouldn’t be keeping my scheduled appearance on the Grand Ole Opry this past Saturday night,” the “Love Is A Sometimes Thing” hitmaker said in a post published on his official website.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m here to let you know I’m doing fine. It was a freak accident where I simply twisted or tore some ligaments or muscles or something in the back of my left leg trying to climb into bed, and I fell to the floor unable to walk,” he explained.

“I was in excruciating pain and had to cancel a songwriting appointment with T. Graham Brown on Friday, the Opry on Saturday, and an appearance at the State Fair for WSM on Sunday,” Anderson continued in the post. “If you know me, you know how much it bothers me to go back on any commitment I may have made.”

The living legend told fans to rest easy as he was healing well.

“Thanks to a bunch of ice packs and pain pills I’m feeling much better today, and hopefully this will all be behind me shortly. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and most of all for caring,” he stated.

According to Fox News, Anderson recently celebrated his 64th year with the Grand Ole Opry in July. In a post on his website published on Aug. 1, the singer revealed that he marked the occasion with a late-night party and two extra shows at the venue.

“I had been planning my Tuesday, July 15th, celebration for quite some time when the Opry reached out and asked if I could also appear the Sunday night before to help them celebrate Jamey Johnson’s 50th birthday,” he said in his post. “Naturally, I couldn’t turn that down.”

“Then, if my week wasn’t already full enough, they asked if on Thursday night I would help them re-create the last Opry show presented at the Ryman Auditorium back in 1974 prior to the Opry’s move to the new Opry House at Opryland USA. I am the only active living Opry member who was there that night, so naturally I said yes. I would have thought nothing of appearing on three Opry shows in five days back in the day, but when it was over I realized we are not ‘back in the day’ anymore!”

He then added, “I’m not complaining…beIieve me, I enjoyed every minute of it. The audiences were great, our fan club gathering was terrific, and those of you who came and took part were special beyond belief. Thanks to everybody who made the occasion one that I will remember for a long, long time.”

Anderson said he would be performing several more dates at the venue over the course of the next few months as the Grand Ole Opry continues its year-long celebration of its 100th birthday. On Nov. 28, there will be a three-hour show and television special to mark the anniversary of its founding.