The COUNTRY music industry continues to be in shock and mourning following the death of Legend Eddy Arnold, who died early yesteday (5/8) morning in Cold Spring, TN. He was a few days away from celebrating his 90th birthday.

A public viewing at the Country Music Hall of Fame rotunda has been set for next Tuesday (5/13) from 5-9pm and Wednesday (5/14) from 9am-noon. The funeral service is Wednesday at 2pm at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, and is open to the public as well. The burial will be private.

Ironically, RCA Records (Eddy Arnold's label home throughout his career) and RCA/Nashville had been planning a special celebration of Arnold's 90th birthday next week.

Plans have been in the works to release one last Eddy Arnold song, To Life from his last album After All These Years and seeking airplay, particularly on Arnold's birthday next Thursday (5/15).

"Should this single garner enough airplay to appear on a chart, it will be a historic milestone for Mr. Arnold," says RCA VP/Promotion Keith Gale.

"It would mark the seventh decade that he has had a song appear on the country music charts, and he would be the only recording artist to be able to make that claim in any genre. This is a rare opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life and legacy."

Reactions continue to come in to AAC. Here are a couple:

From Kix Brooks:

“When I heard of Eddy Arnold’s passing this morning, I sat down and thought about this man’s life and what the word ‘legend’ means – it’s generally tied to hell-raising, wild-and-crazy stories and a lifetime of great music. Eddy Arnold was certainly a great singer, but ‘class’ is the word I think of when I think of him – a man with a sense of dignity and integrity that can only be described as ‘one of a kind.’ Like so many talented people I know, I’ll never be as good as him, but I thank God for putting him here, not only to have brightened my life with his amazing voice, but to have given me something much more important to aspire to as an individual. We’ll miss you, Mr. Arnold.”

From SonyBMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galente:

“I will miss his sense of humor...the twinkle in his eyes and his friendship. I will always have some very special memories and his music. He had a unique influence on the way I thought about what makes an artist and how I can help them. The last time I saw him a few weeks ago, he wanted to make another record. There was a special kind of happiness about him whenever he talked about music, and that is how I will remember him.”

Eddy Arnold passed away early this morning (5/8) in Cool Springs, TN at the age of 89. His wife, Sally Gayhart Arnold died less than two months ago. Left behind are their children, Richard Edward Arnold Jr., of Nashville, and Jo Ann Pollard, of Brentwood, TN. The Arnolds are survived by two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.