Country legend ‘in great spirits’ following surgery after onstage stroke
Ronnie McDowell is doing well now that the country music legend had surgery a month after having a stroke on stage .
"I just got off the phone with my Dad. He is at home resting. He is in great spirits," McDowell's son, Ronnie Jr., wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday, July 23. "He said to tell everyone Thank you again for all of your thoughts, prayers and cards. He's been reading every one if them."
Fans and loved ones continued to show their support for McDowell by leaving supportive comments on his son's post.
"So glad to hear about your Dad. So thrilled he is doing well," one Facebook user commented.
"Thanks for posting this RD, we love you all and we're so glad that your dad is home and resting up," another comment reads. "Tell him we love him and his music, praise the Lord he is doing well."
McDowell, 75, underwent surgery on Tuesday, July 22 after suffering an onstage stroke in June. While McDowell's surgery was successful, there "was a slight complication," according to the singer's other son, Tyler.
"Today was quite the chapter. Tears, shaking, prayers — some shared with family, others alone. A couple of times, I walked outside, because everything unfolding made me believe he was gone," he wrote in a Facebook post . "I'm not sure it's appropriate for me to dive into specifics just yet — especially since we're still sorting through them ourselves. But from what I understand, there was a slight complication, likely related to the blood thinners. Thankfully, it was handled quickly and now, I finally feel comfortable enough to say: I do believe… Dad is okay."
McDowell was hospitalized after he began to slur his words and started "not making sense" after a few songs while he was performing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, on June 21, WKRN reported . A tour manager told the outlet the singer thought he had a stroke. He was then brought to a hospital in Reading for treatment.
On Sunday, June 22, Tyler revealed his father underwent an MRI and that he and his brother spent the day with their father in the hospital. Ronnie Jr. said his father was discharged the next day, June 23. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 25, Ronnie Jr. said his father was "doing much better" and later said he was "doing great" in a July 7 Facebook post .
Through it all, McDowell has continued to perform live — including two shows that were part of his "Fan Appreciation" weekend on July on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12.
"Well, it's about 5:00 in the morning, I just got home from getting everything squared away with the incredible concerts that DAD had for his Fan Appreciation Weekend," Ronnie Jr. wrote in a Facebook post . "Thank you all for coming out and making the concerts huge successes."
The singer does have shows scheduled throughout the rest of the year with his next performance coming up on July 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. Both Tyler and Ronnie Jr. have promised to update fans on their father's progress.
With a career spanning nearly five decades, Ronnie McDowell has charted more than 30 top 40 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Two of his singles — "Older Women" and "You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation" — reached were No. 1 hits.
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