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The Tennessee State Senate Thursday stood in prayer and in honor of country music star Jimmy Fortune asking that he have a speedy recovery from recent heart bypass surgery.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, said, “Our friend Jimmy Fortune, who has performed before this senate many times – those songs that have been such a part of our lives through the years – is recovering from heart surgery. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Senate Speaker/Lt. Gov. Randy McNally recognized Crowe for a prayer. In the Senate both Democrats and Republicans stood in silence, and Crowe prayed, “Lord, be with Jimmy as he recovers from heart surgery. Hold him in your arms, heal him and give him a speedy recovery. He has glorified you through his life and song. Help us to glorify you in all we do. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”

Fortune toured, sang and performed with the legendary Statler Brothers for 21 years. He played his first show with the Statler Brothers on January 28, 1982. Fortune quickly lived up to his name. He wrote the group’s second No. 1 hit, “Elizabeth,” on their 1983 album Today, and followed that with two more No. 1 hits–”My Only Love” (from 1984’s “Atlanta Blue”) and “Too Much On My Heart” (from 1985’s “Pardners in Rhyme”). Fortune also wrote the top-10 hit “Forever” from 1986’s “Four for the Show” and co-wrote the top-10 hit “More Than a Name on a Wall” from 1988’s “The Greatest Hits.”

Fortune and The Statler Brothers were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame on Oct. 29, 2007, and inducted into the Country Music Association Hall of Fame on June 29, 2008. After The Statler Brothers retired on Oct. 26, 2002, Jimmy seized the opportunity to launch a solo career to share new music with his fans. His first solo CD, “When One Door Closes,” was released August 2003 on Audium/Koch.

In 2015 Jimmy teamed up with the Gaither Music Group and recorded “Hits and Hymns” CD and DVD which debuted at No. 10 Billboard Country Album, No. 1 Southern Gospel, and No. 6 Billboard Contemporary Christian. The DVD debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Music Video charts. In 2020 he won a Dove Award for Country/Gospel/Roots Album of the Year for solo project “God and Country.”

Jimmy is currently living in Tennessee, writing, touring, recording music, and hosting television shows, including “My Life, My Songs.”