Country Legend Ray Stevens Battles Heart Scare at 86

Mia Reynolds, 7/11/2025Ray Stevens, the legendary country artist, is recovering from a mild heart attack and surgery at 86. Known for hits like "Everything Is Beautiful," Stevens has paused performances at his CabaRay Showroom, but remains optimistic about returning to the stage.

Thank heavens for modern medicine. Stevens is already up and about, taking supervised walks through the hospital corridors with nursing staff. His team couldn't resist a nod to his Grammy-winning classic when updating fans on Instagram: "Everything Is Still Beautiful!!!!"

The temporary pause in performances at his CabaRay Showroom feels particularly poignant. The 35,000-square-foot dinner theater, which Stevens opened in West Nashville seven years ago, stands as a testament to both his business savvy and his deep-rooted love for live entertainment. Rather than continuing the grind of touring life, Stevens crafted his own slice of showbiz heaven right in Music City.

"The reason I built the CabaRay was I was just tired of the road," Stevens once confided to The Tennessean, displaying the practical wisdom that's marked his later career choices. Who could blame him? After selling north of 40 million albums, perhaps he'd earned the right to let audiences come to him.

The story of Harold Ray Ragsdale — the seven-year-old piano student from Clarkdale, Georgia, who would become Ray Stevens — reads like a particularly well-written country song. His remarkable ability to dance between heartfelt sincerity and comedic genius hasn't gone unnoticed. The walls of his home must be running out of space, what with membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Not to mention that coveted star on the Music City Walk of Fame.

Just last year, Stevens shared what keeps him going: "I'm just doing what I've always done and trying to make music. I love what I do and I do just want to continue to do that as long as I can." From "Ahab the Arab" climbing to #5 on the pop charts back in '62 to his more recent performances, that love for his craft shines through every note.

While the CabaRay's performance calendar remains clear through July, the venue's daily operations continue humming along. Meanwhile, somewhere in a Nashville hospital, a living legend takes another careful step down the hallway, already planning his return to the stage. After all, that's what entertainers do — they keep the show going, one step at a time.

Nashville's music community held its breath last week when news broke that Ray Stevens, the beloved voice behind "Everything Is Beautiful," had suffered a mild heart attack. The 86-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer — whose wit and wisdom have brightened American airwaves for six decades — underwent heart surgery at a local hospital on July 9th after experiencing chest discomfort.Thank heavens for modern medicine. Stevens is already up and about, taking supervised walks through the hospital corridors with nursing staff. His team couldn't resist a nod to his Grammy-winning classic when updating fans on Instagram: "Everything Is Still Beautiful!!!!"The temporary pause in performances at his CabaRay Showroom feels particularly poignant. The 35,000-square-foot dinner theater, which Stevens opened in West Nashville seven years ago, stands as a testament to both his business savvy and his deep-rooted love for live entertainment. Rather than continuing the grind of touring life, Stevens crafted his own slice of showbiz heaven right in Music City."The reason I built the CabaRay was I was just tired of the road," Stevens once confided to The Tennessean, displaying the practical wisdom that's marked his later career choices. Who could blame him? After selling north of 40 million albums, perhaps he'd earned the right to let audiences come to him.The story of Harold Ray Ragsdale — the seven-year-old piano student from Clarkdale, Georgia, who would become Ray Stevens — reads like a particularly well-written country song. His remarkable ability to dance between heartfelt sincerity and comedic genius hasn't gone unnoticed. The walls of his home must be running out of space, what with membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Not to mention that coveted star on the Music City Walk of Fame.Just last year, Stevens shared what keeps him going: "I'm just doing what I've always done and trying to make music. I love what I do and I do just want to continue to do that as long as I can." From "Ahab the Arab" climbing to #5 on the pop charts back in '62 to his more recent performances, that love for his craft shines through every note.While the CabaRay's performance calendar remains clear through July, the venue's daily operations continue humming along. Meanwhile, somewhere in a Nashville hospital, a living legend takes another careful step down the hallway, already planning his return to the stage. After all, that's what entertainers do — they keep the show going, one step at a time.