I'm not a huge country music fan, but damn!  I was sorry to hear of his passing.  He sang a LOT of songs that made up the soundtrack of my life over the years.
Fun story: I was living in this small BF Egypt town in the Midwest a little over 20 years ago and he performed at a local Indian casino one weekend or weekend night.  I didn't go to his show, but I did go to one of the local bars which was packed (usually a good mix of locals and non) and partied my ass off.  Had a great time.  Anyway, on Monday morning a bunch of us local yokels heard that he had been at that same bar after his show and he had told someone what a great time he had there that night.  No one had any clue he was there.  He just blended right in.  I mean, where we were, you just don't expect some celebrity to belly up to the bar next to you.