Married for nearly 66 years, Sally and Eddy died within a couple months of one another. Their marriage was often referred to as one of the great love stories of country music. Columnist Beverly Keel described Sally as "the woman who gave meaning to husband Eddy Arnold's love songs."
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
Here is information about the marriage of Sally and Eddy Arnold.
Born:
Eddy Arnold aka Richard Edward Arnold: May 15, 1918 in Henderson, Tennessee.
Sally K Gayhart: 1920 in Owenton, Kentucky.
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 44.
Died:
Eddy: May 8, 2008 at an assisted living facility, NHC Place, near Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 89.
Eddy's family scheduled a public viewing in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on May 13-14, 2008 and a public memorial service on May 14, 2008 at the Ryman Auditorium, followed by a private burial.
Sally: March 11, 2008 at the age of 87. Eddy was in a different hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery when Sally died.
Before her [Sally's] death, he [Eddy] told a friend, “'There is only one thing I want, and money can't buy it,’” he said, referring to his desire to be with his wife.
Source: Beverly Keel, "Arnold's family left with fond memories", Tennessean.com, 5/08/08.
Sally was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
How, When, and Where Sally and Eddy Met:
Eddy and Sally met in Louisville, Kentucky in 1940 when she reportedly asked for his autograph after a show. Their first date was a double date and they took a Sunday drive.
"He called Sally from a pay telephone and announced his intentions to marry her, promising to have a token of his intentions once he returned to Louisville ... When Eddy reached Louisville, she accepted."
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 45.
Wedding Date:
Sally and Eddy were married on November 28, 1941.
Children:
Sally and Eddy are survived by two children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Residence:
Eddy and Sally lived in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Occupations:
Eddy: Singer, country music performer, real estate investor.
Quotes About the Marriage of Sally and Eddy Arnold:
Sally: "When we were first married, he was on the Camel Caravan, and we hadn't been married a few days and he left to go down in Texas. And, due to the war, he was gone six weeks. There were times that I'd wonder if he just married me to stay there with his mother! That really gets boring, but I accepted it because it was part of his work."
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 45.
Beverly Keel, columnist: "For more than 66 years, the couple had one of the greatest romances in the history of country music ... the couple’s relationship to friends and family epitomized commitment, devotion and teamwork ... Described as two peas in a pod, they both enjoyed a good laugh and a great bargain. In the last few years, the two relished morning walks together."
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
shannon Pollard, grandson: “He [Eddy] would talk to us about how between a man and his wife is like nothing else. That’s a certain special kind of love. He was coming from the context of someone who had been married and through so much with someone. Only someone who has been through that could understand. He [Eddy] was just obviously smitten with her [Sally], very proud of the fact that they were together so long. He was a great lover of romantic music and always wanted to sing a good love song. She was truly the inspiration for singing those types of songs.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Arnold's family left with fond memories", Tennessean.com, 5/8/08.
Jim Ed Brown, friend: “I can tell you one thing, that she was willing to share him with the whole world because she knew how much he loved her. I know that she just loved him and wanted him to have everything. He is a hard worker. He is a great gentlemen and she was a loving, caring wife. Sally was behind him in everything he wanted to do.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
Don Cusic, biographer: “She helped him a lot in his career. He told me more than once that if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have had the career he had. She supported him and took care of the books a lot. It was a real partnership ... She kept him grounded. Stars can lose perspective so easily, but he was always down to earth, and she was a major reason for it.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
Here is information about the marriage of Sally and Eddy Arnold.
Born:
Eddy Arnold aka Richard Edward Arnold: May 15, 1918 in Henderson, Tennessee.
Sally K Gayhart: 1920 in Owenton, Kentucky.
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 44.
Died:
Eddy: May 8, 2008 at an assisted living facility, NHC Place, near Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 89.
Eddy's family scheduled a public viewing in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on May 13-14, 2008 and a public memorial service on May 14, 2008 at the Ryman Auditorium, followed by a private burial.
Sally: March 11, 2008 at the age of 87. Eddy was in a different hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery when Sally died.
Before her [Sally's] death, he [Eddy] told a friend, “'There is only one thing I want, and money can't buy it,’” he said, referring to his desire to be with his wife.
Source: Beverly Keel, "Arnold's family left with fond memories", Tennessean.com, 5/08/08.
Sally was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
How, When, and Where Sally and Eddy Met:
Eddy and Sally met in Louisville, Kentucky in 1940 when she reportedly asked for his autograph after a show. Their first date was a double date and they took a Sunday drive.
"He called Sally from a pay telephone and announced his intentions to marry her, promising to have a token of his intentions once he returned to Louisville ... When Eddy reached Louisville, she accepted."
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 45.
Wedding Date:
Sally and Eddy were married on November 28, 1941.
Children:
Sally and Eddy are survived by two children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
- Jo Ann Arnold Pollard: Married to Richard.
- Richard "Dickey" Edward Arnold Jr: Married to Jeannie.
Residence:
Eddy and Sally lived in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Occupations:
Eddy: Singer, country music performer, real estate investor.
Quotes About the Marriage of Sally and Eddy Arnold:
Sally: "When we were first married, he was on the Camel Caravan, and we hadn't been married a few days and he left to go down in Texas. And, due to the war, he was gone six weeks. There were times that I'd wonder if he just married me to stay there with his mother! That really gets boring, but I accepted it because it was part of his work."
Source: Michael Streissguth, Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, page 45.
Beverly Keel, columnist: "For more than 66 years, the couple had one of the greatest romances in the history of country music ... the couple’s relationship to friends and family epitomized commitment, devotion and teamwork ... Described as two peas in a pod, they both enjoyed a good laugh and a great bargain. In the last few years, the two relished morning walks together."
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
shannon Pollard, grandson: “He [Eddy] would talk to us about how between a man and his wife is like nothing else. That’s a certain special kind of love. He was coming from the context of someone who had been married and through so much with someone. Only someone who has been through that could understand. He [Eddy] was just obviously smitten with her [Sally], very proud of the fact that they were together so long. He was a great lover of romantic music and always wanted to sing a good love song. She was truly the inspiration for singing those types of songs.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Arnold's family left with fond memories", Tennessean.com, 5/8/08.
Jim Ed Brown, friend: “I can tell you one thing, that she was willing to share him with the whole world because she knew how much he loved her. I know that she just loved him and wanted him to have everything. He is a hard worker. He is a great gentlemen and she was a loving, caring wife. Sally was behind him in everything he wanted to do.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.
Don Cusic, biographer: “She helped him a lot in his career. He told me more than once that if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have had the career he had. She supported him and took care of the books a lot. It was a real partnership ... She kept him grounded. Stars can lose perspective so easily, but he was always down to earth, and she was a major reason for it.”
Source: Beverly Keel, "Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold, dies", Tennessean.com, 3/11/08.