Country musician Conley dies at 77

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Country musician Earl Thomas Conley has died. He was 77.

Erinn Scates of Nashville is one of Conley's daughters. She said her father passed away early Wednesday in Nashville due to an extended illness.

Conley was born in Portsmouth, Ohio. The music website allmusic.com states he charted his first Top 40 hit in 1979 with "Dreamin's All I Do." He sang a number of other hits, including "Holding Her and Loving You," "Right From the Start" and "What I'd Say."

Country music star Blake Shelton tweeted Wednesday that Conley was his all-time favorite singer, hero and friend. Shelton said his heart "is absolutely destroyed today."

Scates said Conley was an incredible dad who would do anything for the people he loved.