Our Country

A Final Goodbye To Mindy McCready: Friends, Colleagues Pay Respects In Nashville

Lorrie Morgan speaks at McCready's memorial (Photo: Rick Diamond)

The world can finally put to rest Mindy McCready, whose short and troubled--but often exhilarating --life was celebrated Wednesday by friends, fellow musicians, and family in Nashville.

A memorial was held at Music City's Cathedral of the Incarnation at 4 p.m., just a little over a week after the singer's official funeral in her hometown of Ft. Myers, Fla. Her musical colleages Bryan White, Lorrie Morgan and Bekka Bramlett sang at the gathering, which was attended by many close to her prior to her tragic suicide that took place in February.

According to E!, the service featured a flower-filled room and portraits of McCready, as well as a heartfelt opening tribute from her longtime friend Kat Atwood, who told the crowd, "Mindy was both invincible and vulnerable. With all that was laid before her in such little time, I know I could not have walked in her shoes...Music was her life, her therapy, her victory, her escape and her tragedy."

Morgan--a former labelmate--sang "Ave Maria" and spoke of their friendship back in the '90s, when McCready was establishing her music career, and the two had fun at various label events.

Morgan noted that McCready always had carried sadness in her eyes. "There’s a special place for her star above, and it will always be there and it will never burn out," she concluded.

McCready's mother attended the memorial; however, her father felt emotionally unable to attend and chose to have a letter read instead. In it, he reportedly stressed his daughter's love for her two young sons as well as late fiance David Wilson.

McCready was only 37 years old when she wa sfound dead on the front porch of her Arkansas home on February 17. Authorities have ruled the death a suicide. The tragedy took place just a month after her boyfriend, music producer David Wilson, was found dead in the same spot and of apparently the same cause.

Related:

Who was David Wilson? A look at his life

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