Troy Gentry, best known as part of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, was killed in a helicopter accident in New Jersey Friday, Fox News has confirmed.
The singer was 50.
A rep for the group made the statement on Facebook:
The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter crashed into a wooded area close to the Flying W Airport in Medford hours before Montgomery Gentry was expected to perform at a hotel that’s also housed at the airport.
The airport announced the cancellation of the gig Friday afternoon.
Medford Township Police Chief Richard Meder told NJ.com that police got a call about a helicopter “that was distressed” around 1 p.m. He said crews were able to remove the passenger from the wreckage, but he died on the way to a hospital.
The pilot died at the scene and crews worked to remove his body, Meder said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Gentry was the passenger or the pilot.
TROY GENTRY DEAD — CELEBRITIES REACT
Gentry was born on April 5, 1967, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met bandmate Eddie Montgomery and formed a group based off their last names. The duo had success on the country charts, scoring five No. 1 hits. The band was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.
The duo is known for their singles “My Town,” “Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm” and “Gone. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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