Country legend Mel Tillis remains hospitalized, and his daughter is asking for prayers. Singer Pam Tillis conceded today that the 83-year-old singer is not healing as quickly as everyone hoped.

Her most recent post on Facebook indicates Mel Tillis has taken a turn for the worse within the last week. On Jan. 19, she wrote that he was “recovering and will make it just fine" following colon surgery. Initial reports indicated his post-surgery condition was critical. Artists — like the Oak Ridge Boys and Andrew Pope — took to Twitter to ask fans to pray for Tillis, citing complications from the surgery.

Fans were put on high alert, but a representative for Tillis characterized the assessment that he was in a poor state as “overstated.” That same representative told Taste of Country he had nothing more to add to Pam Tillis’ statement.

Mel Tillis is a Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Famer who has penned over 1,000 songs including “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” by Kenny Rogers, “Detroit City” by Bobby Bare, “Emotions” by Brenda Lee, “Burning Memories” by Ray Price, “Thoughts of a Fool” by George Strait, “Honey (Open That Door)” by Ricky Skaggs. “Good Woman Blues” and “Heart Healer” are amongst his solo hits from a lengthy career on country radio. His last studio album was You Ain’t Gonna Believe This from 2010.

Country Greats Who Passed Away in 2015

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