Nashville music executive Jerry Bradley, who signed Alabama and Ronnie Milsap and helped brand the outlaws style of country music during a 40-year career, has died.

When news of Naomi Judd’s passing broke, celebrities went to Twitter to pay tribute.

“I’m so heartbroken that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Charley Pride, has passed away. 1 hits between 1969 and 1984, won the Country Music Association’s Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards in 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. But until the early 1990s, when Cleve Francis came along, Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label. “Then it was `first Negro country singer;’ then `first black country singer.′ Now I’m the `first African-American country singer.′ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. “The Texas Rangers join the country music world in mourning the loss of Charley Pride.

“I’m so heartbroken that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Charley Pride, has passed away. Other Black country stars came before Pride, namely DeFord Bailey, who was an Grand Ole Opry member between 1927 and 1941. But until the early 1990s, when Cleve Francis came along, Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label. “Then it was `first Negro country singer;’ then `first black country singer.′ Now I’m the `first African-American country singer.′ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. “The Texas Rangers join the country music world in mourning the loss of Charley Pride.

This combination photo shows, from left, songwriter Dean Dillon, singer Hank Williams, Jr., and singer Marty Stuart, who are the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

This combination photo shows, from left, songwriter Dean Dillon, singer Hank Williams, Jr., and singer Marty Stuart, who are the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and songwriter Dean Dillon are the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Announced by the Country Music Association on Wednesday, Williams, who often is referred to as Hank Jr. or the nickname Bocephus, will join his father, country legend Hank Williams Sr., in the Hall of Fame's rotunda. 1 Billboard Hot Country songs with his first one coming at the age of 21 in 1970. To be officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is beyond words.