Dolly Parton leads tributes to Charley Pride, 86, who died of Covid complications

Dolly Parton has paid tribute to her “dearest and oldest friend” country singer Charley Pride following his death aged 86.

The country music legend died on Saturday in Dallas following complications with coronavirus, according to his publicist.

Charley Pride was considered country music’s first black superstar and the first black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

His best known tracks included Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’, Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone and Mountain of Love.

Tributes for the star were flooding social media following the sad news of his death led by Dolly Parton.

She said on Twitter: “I’m so heartbroken that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Charley Pride, has passed away. It’s even worse to know that he passed away from COVID-19. What a horrible, horrible virus.

“Charley, we will always love you. Rest In Peace. My love and thoughts go out to his family and all of his fans.”

Born in Sledge, Mississippi, in 1934, Pride picked cotton, played baseball, worked in a smelting plant in Montana, and served in the U.S. Army before becoming country music’s first black superstar. 

He scored 52 Top 10 country hits, including 29 Number Ones in his long and distinguished career.