Mel McDaniel, Grand Ole Opry member and ‘Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On’ singer, has died at the age of 68. McDaniel passed last night after a battle with cancer, GAC reports.

McDaniel, born in Checotah, Okla., which is also the hometown of Carrie Underwood, is best known for several hits, including the aforementioned charting-topping, Grammy-nominated ‘Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,’ which was a big smash in 1981. He scored had another No. 1 hit with ‘Louisiana Saturday Night’ and also sang ‘Big Ole Brew’ and ‘Stand Up.’ According to The Tennessean, McDaniel knew he wanted to sing after he witnessed Elvis Presley performing on TV at the age of 14.

McDaniel nearly died in 1996 when he fell into an orchestra pit during a 1996 performance in Louisiana. He endured surgeries and chronic pain as a result. It forced the singer to cut back on his live performances in ensuing years. He released ‘Reloaded’ in 2006 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame that year.

Memorial details are not yet available.

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