Don Schlitz dies at 73

Schlitz passed away at a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness, according to a statement from the Grand Ole Opry.

His career was defined by hits that became cultural touchstones, including Randy Travis's 'Forever and Ever, Amen' and Keith Whitley's 'When You Say Nothing at All.' He received two Grammy Awards and was named ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years in the late 1980s.

His ability to craft narrative-driven songs earned him universal respect among his peers and generations of country music fans.