Country music legend Mel Tillis is in stable condition following surgery, contrary to reports on social media that claimed the singer was in critical condition, The Tennessean reported. A rep for Tillis released a statement with an update on Tillis' condition and cleared up the confusion.
Don Murry Grubbs, Tillis' rep, said that reports claiming the 83-year-old country singer was in "critical condition" were exaggerated. He confirmed that Tillis is still being hospitalized after undergoing colon surgery on Jan. 8, but he's "on the road to recovery."
"Doctors said he's doing fine and on the right track," Grubbs told the Tennessean. "He's awake and watching television."
The concern spread after a post on the Country Music Cruise Facebook page from Jan. 12 stated that Tillis will no longer be performing on the 2016 cruise later this month because of "emergency colon surgery," according to the Facebook update.
Fans and country musicians took to social media to express their concern and ask for prayers for Tillis, which included singer Tony Orlando and country star Andrew Pope, The Boot reported.
"According to my friend Johnny Lee who has informed us that our friend Mel Tillis is in critical condition....please pray," Orlando wrote on Twitter.
"Just found out that Mel Tillis is in critical condition at the hospital right now. let's pray for him," Pope wrote on his Twitter page.
A Country Music Hall of Famer, Tillis gained popularity in the 1970s and is best known for his hits "Coca Cola Cowboy" and "Send Me Down To Tucson." He's also the father of famed country music singer/songwriter Pam Tillis.
