Country Songwriter Don Schlitz Dies at 73
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- Don Schlitz died on April 16 at a Nashville hospital after a sudden illness, at age 73.
- Don Schlitz was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming only the sixth songwriter to receive that honor.
- Don Schlitz co‑wrote “The Gambler,” recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1978, which won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1978 and CMA Song of the Year in 1979.
- Don Schlitz earned two Grammys, three CMA Song of the Year awards, two ACM Song of the Year awards, and was ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years (1988‑1991).
- Don Schlitz co‑wrote “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “On the Other Hand,” “Deeper Than the Holler,” and “When You Say Nothing at All,” hits for Randy Travis and Keith Whitley that topped the country charts.
- Don Schlitz was the only non‑performing songwriter inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022, after regular appearances at the Opry and Bluebird Café.
- Don Schlitz also wrote music and lyrics for the 1999 Broadway musical “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
Why it matters: Country music loses one of its most influential songwriters, whose catalog shaped the genre and whose mentorship inspired new writers; artists and fans lose a living source of stories while the industry retains his timeless repertoire and the financial royalties that continue to benefit his family and publishing partners.
