Country Artists Salute The Late Earl Scruggs

Country and bluegrass music legend Earl Scruggs passed away this morning in a Nashville hospital. He was 88. Fellow artists quickly took to Twitter to express their sadness and respect for the pioneering banjo player. Among the posts:

• Dierks Bentley (@DierksBentley): lost one of the pillars of bluegrass music and country music today. rest in peace #earlscruggs! thanks for a lifetime of music to listen to!

• Charlie Daniels (@Charlie Daniels): I just got the word that my friend Earl Scruggs has passed away. He meant a lot to me. Nobody will ever play a 5 string banjo like Earl

• Billy Ray Cyrus (@BillyRayCyrus): Turnin the banjo up on hillbillyheart and stomp in honor of Earl Scruggs.

• Chely Wright (@ChelyWright): Rest In Peace, Earl Scruggs. A member of a lovely, talented family.

• Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo): Earl Scruggs, the most important banjo player who ever lived, has passed on.

• Lee Brice (@leebrice): RIP Earl Scruggs. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

• Chris Young (@ChrisYoungMusic): RIP Earl Scruggs #legend

• James Otto (@jamesotto): Sad. Another musical legend has passed. Earl Scruggs died in Nashville at age 88. RIP Earl.