Son of country music legend who suffered stroke on stage updates fans

Ronnie McDowell is “doing great” nearly three weeks after the country music legend had a stroke on stage, his son said.

“Well folks, I thought it was time to give you another Dad update after today’s appointment,” Ronnie McDowell Jr. wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, July 7. “There’s really not a whole lot to report as of yet. I’ve spoken to dad a few times today and he sounds great!”

Ronnie McDowell, 75, had a consultation with a vascular surgeon who then set him up with a neurosurgeon for July 14.

“That will be the day that we have more to report and pray we have a surgery date to report by then,” Ronnie Jr. said. “This will be to address the blockage in his carotid artery, that caused the stroke. Other than that, he’s sounding great and he’s doing great, so please keep the prayers coming!”

Ronnie Jr. added that his father has “been a trooper” and ensured that he will get “the best care there is.”

He also promised to keep people updated on his father’s progress.

“Thanks Ronnie Dean for the update,” one Facebook comment reads. “Keeping your Dad and family in my prayers!!! Sending love to all of you.”

Another user wrote, “Prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.”

Ronnie was released from the hospital Monday, June 23 after he began to slur his words and started “not making sense” after a few songs while he was performing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania the Saturday before, WKRN reported. A tour manager told the outlet the singer thought he had a stroke. He was then brought to a hospital in Reading for treatment.

“I know you’re all concerned. I promise — no one is more worried than I am,” Ronnie’s other son Tyler wrote in a Facebook post on June 21. “Please understand, this is an incredibly stressful time, and right now, my focus is on my Dad. If there’s anything that needs to be shared, I promise — we will.”

On Sunday, June 22, Tyler revealed his father underwent an MRI and that he and his brother spent the day with Ronnie in the hospital. Ronnie Jr. said his father was discharged the next day. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 25, Ronnie Jr. said his father was “doing much better.”

Ronnie Jr. last updated fans on Thursday, July 3, saying he was “proud of him for taking a few days off from touring to recoup” ahead of his consultation.

“This morning while Dana, Payton and I were having our morning coffee, we called Dad to check up on him and the first thing he did was answer the phone in his Porky Pig Voice,” Ronnie Jr. wrote in a Facebook post. “He then began to tell us some jokes. I told Dana ‘Yep, that’s my Dad. He sounds like Dad again’…. Thank you all again, and many more times after this for all of your Thoughts and Prayers.”

With a career spanning nearly five decades, Ronnie has charted more than 30 top 40 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Two of his singles — “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation” — reached were No. 1 hits.