15 Country Artists Inspired by Eagles Guitarist Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey and the Eagles were truly ubiquitous. The guitarist died at the age of 67 on Monday after a short battle with illness. He leaves behind broken-hearted country stars like Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow and Toby Keith.
Many like Granger Smith spoke to how Frey influenced his songwriting. For Paisley, it's easy to see how the Eagles player inspired great melodic guitar playing. Others like Travis Tritt went beyond social media to express sadness. Calling Frey and the Eagles and inspiration, Tritt said Frey "always went out of his way to acknowledge and encourage me ever since (they first met). I'm a better person, better musician and a better songwriter having met him. I still can't believe he is gone!"
Frey died on Monday in New York City from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He helped found the Eagles in the early 1970s. At first they were just Linda Ronstadt's backing band but soon they'd break away to become one of the most commercially successful rock bands ever. Dozens of hit songs still get played on classic rock radio. Of their seven studio albums, several had country leanings but Long Road Out of Eden from 2007 was their first attempt to gather country radio airplay. "How Long" was nearly a Top 20 hit. The album would sell millions of copies.
Tritt is one of many stars who covered an Eagles song. His version was a hit in 1993 and 1994 and featured many from the late '70s version of the band in the music video. Click through the gallery above to see more stars who've expressed sorrow for Frey's death.
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