Mel McDaniel, Ferlin Husky Health Crises

Mel McDaniel photo courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry.

July 8, 2009 — Mel McDaniel and Ferlin Husky — a pair of heritage artists whose biggest hits came with Capitol Records — are currently hospitalized in Nashville with heart ailments.

Mel suffered a heart attack June 16, Country Weekly reported, and is in an "induced coma," according to his wife, Peggy. Mel, who nabbed a No. 1 hit in 1985 with the playful "Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On," has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since ’86. He was scheduled to appear on the Opry the same day he suffered the heart attack but did not perform.

A medically induced coma, according to a CBS News story, is a drug-controlled effort to put the brain in a state of hibernation, reducing blood flow and allowing time to heal from swelling. The Oklahoma-born singer’s status is "not good," Peggy told Country Weekly.

Ferlin, meanwhile, is improving after being admitted to Summit Medical Center last Thursday with an accelerated heart rate. Ferlin, who’s had multiple heart operations and was hospitalized in Missouri for congestive heart failure in April, was originally listed in critical condition, though he’s now expected to go home by the end of the week, the Associated Press reported.

Ferlin first came to prominence in country music during the 1950s. His recording of "Gone," featuring the Jordanaires and soprano Millie Kirkham on prominent backing vocals, has been labelled by some critics as the first example of a crossover style of country that was labelled "the Nashville sound." His 1960 recording of the gospel-themed "Wings Of A Dove" spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard country singles list.