Eddie Arnold and Dottie Rambo: Local Tributes In Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee celebrates its music stars–in life and in death.

This May found us grieving for 2 legendary Nashville celebrities:  country music singer Eddy Arnold and gospel great Dottie Rambo.

Here’s a collection of local articles about Eddy Arnold and Dottie Rambo, including a detailed description of Rambo’s funeral celebration.

Eddy Arnold was known as the Tennessee Ploughboy.

He died May 8 in at NHC in Cool Springs, just outside Brentwood.

My favorite Eddy Arnold song was always Make The World Go Away.

As befits country music royalty, Eddy Arnold’s viewing was held in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame, with a memorial service conducted the next day in the historic Ryman Auditorium.

• The Tennessean’s obituary for Eddie Arnold.
• Special tribute page to Eddie Arnold, including his Country Music Hall of Fame video.
• Local music blogger remembers Eddie Arnold.
• Shelbyville blogger recounts a personal encounter with Eddie Arnold.

Here’s Eddy Arnold performing You Make The World Go Away, introduced by another great icon, Minnie Pearl:

Dottie Rambo died in a bus crash on May 12, 2008.  She was 74 years old.  Like Eddie Arnold, Rambo’s words and music were legendary in Nashville’s music community.

• Tennessean coverage of Dottie Rambo’s accident, with words from Dolly Parton.
• A local music blogger was one of the first to pay tribute to Dottie Rambo’s life and music.  Don’t miss the personal comments at the bottom!
• Another local blogger recounts some of her favorite Rambo songs.

Rambo’s funeral celebration was held at Christ Church on Old Hickory Blvd. near Brentwood.  It lasted over 2 hours and included music stars like Barbara Mandrell, Bill Gaither, Lulu Roman and Sandy Patty.

Local blogger Gingersnaps was there to honor Dottie Rambo.  Please read her fascinating and moving account of the service, its music and letters in remembrance of Rambo.

Here’s another local singer who attended the funeral, with agreat summary of Dottie Rambo’s tributes and some less-than-polite celebrity-loving fans.

I truly appreciate the bloggers who have shared local memories of Rambo and Arnold. It makes me feel like I know more these musical greats as people, instead of just stars.

That’s one of the most unique aspects of living in Brentwood — even if you aren’t connected to the music industry, your friends are.

I don’t think I’ll ever hear an Arnold or Rambo song again without thinking of them as neighbors.