Singer/songwriter Mac Davis, 78, is “critically ill” following heart surgery, according to a statement on his Instagram page on Sept. 28.
“We are sorry to report that legendary singer/songwriter Mac Davis is critically ill following heart surgery in Nashville. Your love and prayers will be deeply appreciated at this time. #PrayForMacDavis. Thank you, The Davis Family.”
In addition to penning Elvis Presley’s “In the Ghetto,” “Don’t Cry Daddy,” “A Little Less Conversation” and more, Mac charted dozens of his own country tunes in the ’70s and ’80s, including the No. 1 pop hit, “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me.” With good looks and a charming manner, Mac was a natural for TV and landed his own variety show, The Mac Davis Show, which ran from 1974 to 1976. He also starred as an actor in a number of films and television shows, including North Dallas Forty and on Broadway’s The Will Rogers Follies.
In 1974, Mac earned the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year award. Mac was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2015, Broadcast Music Inc. honored Mac’s prolific songwriting career with the BMI Icon Award.
