Sugarland, Skynyrd Life Events

Sugarland photo by Kate Powers, courtesy of Mercury Records Nashville.

May 8, 2009 — Death, disease, surgery and a hall of fame induction: Major life events have touched such country figures as Sugarland, Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The developments follow:

• Sugarland vocalist Jennifer Nettles has been hit with a tonsil-related virus, forcing the duo to cancel three live dates in which they were slated to open for Keith Urban. Jason Aldean filled in for Sugarland Saturday, while Little Big Town claimed the opening slot Sunday.

• "This Kiss" songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman underwent brain surgery recently to remove a tumor. Given her husband’s death from cancer and her own bout with it in 2000, Beth could easily be angry about her situation, but she sent friends an email Wednesday with the title "This Place Of Abundance." The tumor was pressing on the part of the brain that processes language, which came with built-in fear. "As a professional songwriter and artist, the idea of having anything injuring the ‘poetry’ part of my brain was frightening," she wrote, "so I’m happy to say that the surgery went incredibly well." Beth performs later this month prior to a speech by Bishop Desmond Tutu.

• Lynyrd Skynyrd bass player Ean Evans died of cancer Wednesday in Mississippi, according to the Associated Press. The 48-year-old musician joined the band in 2001 after the death of bass player Leon Wilkeson.

• Willie Nelson’s road manager, Randall "Poodie" Locke, died Wednesday following a heart attack, The Tennessean reported.

• The late Hawkshaw Hawkins will join the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame later this year, according to WOWK-TV in Charleston. Kathy Mattea and session player Charlie McCoy will co-host the induction ceremony.