“We were quite hopeful there for a while because he was showing signs of coming back,” Hall said.

Once described by Tammy Wynette as “the only other country singer who can hold a candle to George Jones,” Gosdin sang gospel, bluegrass and folk before he tried country music. His hits included “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “I Can Tell By The Way You Dance” and “I’m Still Crazy.”

Gosdin, who was born in Woodland, Ala., and grew up chopping cotton and singing on the family gospel music show, once said he based his music on life experiences.

“Out of everything bad, something good will come if you look hard enough – and I got 10 hits out of my last divorce,” the singer said after his third marriage went south in 1989.

His fans are pushing for Gosdin to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“We’re going to push and push and push and get him the recognition he deserves,” Hall said. “Fans leave him so many messages all the time. … He inspired so many people.”

A public visitation is planned for Saturday at Mount Olivet Funeral home.