Thomas Rhett: 'Love You And Miss You Busbee'

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Thomas Rhett is one of many Nashville artists who worked with and had a friendship with songwriter and producer Michael Busbee, who passed away yesterday at age 43 of a brain tumor.

Rhett was so impacted by Busbee he posted an email sent by Busbee to him last Christmas. It read in part, "Every night when I go to bed after my wife and I walk into the bathroom and slide the sliding glass door, you pop into my head. I have no idea why but it's happened many times now so I just say a quick prayer for you and your family. Blessing, Protection, Wisdom. Have an amazing Christmas. Our love to your family."

Thomas posted to Instagram, "I got this e mail from my good friend @busbee last Christmas. I’m so heartbroken to hear about him passing. My prayers are with his sweet family. I feel like Busbee had it figured out while he was on this earth. He has encouraged me to look at this life as it is. We are but a mist. We are here then we are gone. Go out and love people today. Be a light in dark places. Love and miss you Busbee."

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Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media GroupEditor

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.