According to The Tennessean, Conley, who suffered from a dementia-like illness, died just after midnight Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee, following months of hospice care, said his brother, Fred Conley.
During his music career, 18 of Conley's songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts.
The Portsmouth, Ohio, native leaves behind three daughters and one son, two brothers, two sisters and five grandchildren, the Tennessean reported.
Fans and fellow country music stars, including Blake Shelton, Toby Keith and Charlie Daniels, paid tribute to Conley on Twitter.
"My heart is absolutely destroyed today ... I'm sad to report that Earl Thomas Conley passed away very early this morning," Shelton tweeted. "Earl was my all time favorite singer, hero and my friend. Prayers to his family. We will all miss you deeply my brother. Now go rest ..."
My heart is absolutely destroyed today... I’m sad to report that Earl Thomas Conley passed away very early this morning. Earl was my all time favorite singer, hero and my friend. Prayers to his family. We will all miss you deeply my brother. Now go rest... pic.twitter.com/W75ZVV6fbe
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) April 10, 2019
"An all time great," wrote Keith. "Earl Thomas Conley passed away today. Huge influence on me. Loved him. Prayers to his family."
An all time great. Earl Thomas Conley passed away today. Huge influence on me. Loved him. Prayers to his family. -T
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) April 10, 2019
Daniels called Conley a "great country singer."
"Rest in peace," he added.
A great country singer passes today, Earl Thomas Conley rest in peace.
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) April 10, 2019
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