Jerry Chesnut

1931–2018 (age 87)

Country songwriter

Biography

Jerry Chesnut penned songs that became staples of the country music canon, crafting lyrics of resilience, love, and the everyday struggles of working-class life. His work found its voice through artists such as Johnny Cash and George Jones, who carried Chesnut’s words to audiences around the world.

His talent for pairing truth with melody made him a beloved figure in Nashville songwriting circles, a steady storyteller whose legacy rests among those commemorated at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

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