Country icon, Charlie Daniels died on July 6 at the age of 83, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. Daniels' son, Charlie Daniels Jr. turned to his father's website on July 11 to share an update on his family and reflect on his father's final hours.

"I think it goes without saying, that this has been the worst week of my life, bar none," Charlie Jr. began. "The man I’ve known for 55 years, who, along with my mom, have always been there for me is gone. We’re still shell-shocked."

Charlie Jr. continued on to share further details on the day of Daniels' death. He shared that he received a call from his mom, Hazel Daniels, at 5:45 in the morning, informing him that Daniels' was sick. "I quickly drove up to the house and found mom and dad on the upstairs porch and dad was slumped over in his chair," he writes. "I asked him if he could breathe, he nodded and tried to say yes, but it was obvious that he was very weak."

Shortly after, an ambulance arrived and took Daniels to Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, with his son following. One they arrived, someone told Charlie Jr. and Daniels' longtime manager, David Corlew, that Daniels had a "massive stroke" and that his blood was not clotting due to the blood thinner he was on. Daniels was prescribed the blood thinner following a stroke in 2010.

"It probably kept him from having another stroke for 10 years, that and his pacemaker, and in December of 2018, he had cardiac catheter ablation surgery to improve his heart rhythm, which increased his energy even more," Charlie Jr. writes. "But unfortunately, the blood thinner is what did him in this time. Because his blood wasn’t clotting, the blood kept pouring into his brain stem."

"We asked if there was anything, ANYTHING that could be done," he continued. "He said they could try to reverse the effects of the blood thinner and see if they could stop the bleeding. But by the time the meds kicked in, they weren’t getting any brain activity. Mom had already been summoned, and we said our goodbyes."

"He was the strongest man I’ve ever known," Charlie Jr. added. "The best father, the best boss, the best friend I could ever ask for. My mom and I miss him terribly."

Daniels might've left his home on Earth, but Charlie Jr. has no doubt he'll one day reunite with his father in heaven. "I know he’s only gone in the physical sense," he wrote, "I have no doubt that at 9:52 AM on Monday morning on July 6th, dad heard 'Well done, my good and faithful servant,' and I know that I will see him again."

Daniels was laid to rest on Friday (July 10). In lieu of flowers, Daniels' family is asking fans to donate to The Journey Home Project, which Daniels and his manager, Corlew, founded in 2014 to help veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Donations can be made online or by mail (17060 Central Pike, Lebanon, TN 37090).

Photo: Getty Images

Music News

102.5 The Bull · Birmingham's #1 for New Country