Only weeks after having a stroke at a concert, legendary country musician Ronnie McDowell gave a positive update after undergoing surgery to remove plaque from his carotid artery.
On June 21, McDowell, 75, suffered a stroke while playing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the hospital. In a Facebook message informing fans, his son Ronnie McDowell Jr. recalled that his father started slurring words and forgetting lyrics in the middle of a performance.
According to a Facebook post by his son Tyler Dean McDowell, McDowell had a carotid endarterectomy on July 22. This minimally invasive treatment removed about 70% of the blockage in his carotid artery. According to Tyler, the procedure would include an overnight observation and would not call for a stent.
Ronnie Jr. informed followers on social media that he was at home recuperating the day following surgery for the King Is Gone singer.
He went on, “It goes without saying that yesterday was one of the most emotionally taxing days of my life.” It was really horrifying to witness the man who meant the world to me go through that. Throughout all of this, the last several weeks and months have been quite demanding for me.
He submitted another update on Sunday morning while writing while on vacation. I’ve talked to my dad multiple times a day. He is getting better every day and is recuperating at home. He expressed gratitude to the fans for their prayers and thoughts.
Tyler talked to Rolling Stone about his relationship with his father and his influence before Ronnie had surgery.
Tyler added, “He’s taught me everything from how to ride a bike to how to entertain a crowd—and most importantly, how to try and be a good man.” He is my friend in addition to being my father. It means the world to me to see how much he and his music have changed the world.
After starting his career in 1977, Ronnie McDowell has over 30 top 40 singles on the Billboard country charts. Eleven of these singles made it into the top 10, with Older Woman and You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation both reaching No. 1.
The King Is Gone, a tribute to the rock star that was published soon after his passing and went on to become a smash on both the country and pop charts, also brought him widespread recognition.
AI assisted in the writing of this narrative.
