JIM Owens, the country music producer who worked with Johnny Cash, has passed away.
Owens helped usher in the next generation of country music through innovative television entertainment.
Owens created and produced A Concert Behind Prison Walls in 1977. It featured Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, and Roy Clark.
Then, in 1983, he combined country music and news with The Crook & Chase program This Week in Country Music.
News reporter Lorainne Crook and radio and television personality Charlie Chase provided news within the world of country music entertainment.
The show was produced around the US and internationally.
Owens died with his wife, Crook, by his side Deadline confirmed.
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The Nashville Network partnered with Jim Owens Entertainment to begin making original content in 1985.
Together, they saw major success.
TNN took off in the 1980s and early 1990s with Owens produced shows like the TNN/Music City News Country Awards, Weekday, Weekend, Country Standard Time, TNN/Music City News, Songwriters Awards, and Yesteryear.
Owens' career also took off in the 90s.
In 1993, Crook & Chase was moved into primetime, taking over the 90-minute slot previously held by Ralph Emery's Nashville Now.
CONDOLENCES
Fans flocked to Twitter to share their sympathies for Owens' family.
CMA Country Music tweeted: "We are deeply saddened by Jim Owens' passing. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time."
Another tweeted: "RIP Jim Owens. Thank you for all the years of great entertainment."
A third fan wrote: "RIP Jim Owens. So much of my country music education came by way of your programming."
The ACM Awards also tweeted a message in the wake of Owens' passing.
"As we prepare for the 57th #ACMAwards on Monday, the Academy remembers Jim Owens, the visionary producer who revolutionized country music TV production, notably with 1978's Music City News Country Awards, the first fan-voted, big budget live awards show."
ALL ABOUT OWENS
Owens was born in South Carolina on August 27, 1937.
He was trained in New York and went on to be one of the most influential TV producers of all time.
His work continues to be influential to this day.
After TNN closed in 2000, Owens produced a series of Celebrities Offstage specials.
He also produced 180 episodes of Celebrity Kitchen.
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The Crook & Chase Countdown has been distributed by iHeart Media and played on hundreds of radios stations since 2014.
Owens served as an executive producer on the countdown as well as it's accompanying podcast, Crook & Chase Nashville Chats.
More to follow...
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