Public Memorial Planned for Mindy McCready
A public memorial will be held in Nashville in the coming days for Mindy McCready following the country crooner's apparent suicide on Sunday.
In a statement to ET on Monday, McCready's publicity firm Music City Media said a service was being planned in which the music industry could "say goodbye to an extraordinary and gifted talent, a daughter, a mother and friend." The statement added that in addition to any formal family funeral arrangements, "preliminary plans are being made by Mindy's 'friends in music' to organize a memorial in Nashville in the coming days."
McCready, 37, was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon after sheriff's deputies were called to her Arkansas home after gun shots were reported. Officers reportedly found Mindy McCready's body on the front porch of the home with what appeared to be "a single self-inflicted gunshot wound."
RELATED: Mindy McCready Admitted to In-Patient Facility
McCready had attempted suicide in the past, having been hospitalized in 2008 after she cut her wrists and took several pills. Her passing follows the shooting death of boyfriend David Wilson on January 13.
Wilson, a record producer, was initially rushed to the hospital after suffering a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound that did not immediately kill him. McCready recalled how she discovered him after the shooting in an interview on NBC's Today. "I just started screaming, calling 911. I laid down next to him and just pleaded with him not to die." The singer said Wilson "was responding" after the shooting, but only making sounds, not words. McCready was admitted to an in-patient facility weeks later.
After she was admitted, a rep for the star gave ET this statement: "While taking appropriate, much needed and deserved time to grieve, [McCready's] sons have been placed in foster homes where they are comfortable and cared for. We have no further statement at this time."
RELATED: Mindy McCready Denies Killing Boyfriend
McCready had several successful country albums in the '90s, but her career was later overshadowed by domestic abuse issues and drug and DUI arrests.
In 2011, McCready was reported to have gone missing with her oldest child, who was under the custody of McCready's mother at the time. During the episode, McCready posted a Facebook message, writing, "FB Friends I know it has been a long time since you have heard from me... I have been fighting the Florida court system to protect my son, and bring him home. Wink TV has once again reported nothing but lies and they are most likely being supported by the attorney for DCF child services. There is NO AMBER ALERT and my son is not missing! Detectives from the Cape Coral Police department established that this afternoon via Skype. Please do not worry or support anything they continue to lie about!! Thanks Always.... Mindy"
McCready is survived by her two sons: 6-year-old Zander (fathered by ex Billy McKnight) and 9-month-old Zayne (who she had with now-deceased boyfriend David Wilson).
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