Daryle Singletary‘s unexpected death at the age of 46 on Monday (Feb. 12) took his loved ones and the country music world by surprise. Shortly after his death, Platinum Records Nashville released a new song, “She’s Been Cheatin’ on Us,” and now the decision is causing legal drama.
According to Platinum Records Nashville Owner Greg Hudik via a statement made available with “She’s Been Cheatin’ on Us,” the song was Singletary’s final recording, and proceeds from it will benefit his family. However, Singletary’s business partner, Chuck Rhodes, says that no such fund exists, and that the song was released without the knowledge or consent of Singletary’s family and business associates.
“The recordings were ‘works for hire,’ where Daryle was paid as a demo singer. I have worked with Daryle for 21 years to uphold the musical integrity of his recordings, his song choices and his record production, along with Daryle’s co-producer Greg Cole. These songs were never meant to be released as master recordings and do not reflect the gold standard that Daryle held himself to and anybody in our immediate team that worked with him,” Rhodes tells Taste of Country. “There was also a mention by Mr. Hudik of a ‘fund’ established with proceeds from downloads going to Holly Singletary and Daryle’s family. At this time, no such fund exists and, when established, will be sanctioned by the Singletary family and overseen by Donna Lee at Buddy Lee Attractions. A cease and desist letter has been sent to Mr. Hudik demanding the songs be taken down immediately.”
To Fox News, Hudik states that he will be setting up that fund after Singletary’s funeral. He also says that he will take the song down if “that’s what Holly [Singletary] wants.”
Singletary released his debut album, a self-titled project, in 1995; two of its singles — “I Let Her Lie” and “Too Much Fun” — reached the Top 5 on the country charts. Throughout his career, Singletary released six additional studio albums, the most recent of which, There’s Still a Little Country Left, came out in 2015. He charted more than a dozen singles, including a third Top 5 hit, “Amen Kind of Love.”
In addition to his wife, Singletary leaves behind four children: 7-year-old twin boys Mercer and Jonah, 5-year-old daughter Nora Caroline and 3-year-old daughter Charlotte Rose. He is also survived by his parents, Roger and Anita Singletary; a brother, Kevin Singletary; a sister-in-law, Melinda Singletary; his mother and father-in-law, Terry and Sandy Mercer; and a brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Kristy Rowland. Funeral arrangements have not yet been revealed.
Country Artists Mourn Daryle Singletary’s Death
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