Saving Country Music was the first to reveal Hall’s cause of death. In a post written on January 5, the website shared what led them to seek out more details surrounding the “A Week In a Country Jail” singer’s passing. In the post they shared that numerous commenters on their annual In Memoriam article wrote that Tom T. Hall’s death was especially sad since it was the case of a suicide.”
“Not having seen any news about this, nor being able to find anything about it in any official or verifiable capacity anywhere, I initially questioned the validity of these suicide claims,” the post reads. “Looking to refute, or potentially, verify the possible rumor, I made some inquiries to officials in Williamson County, Tennessee where Tom T. Hall’s home was in Franklin, and where he passed away. I am now able to verify that Tom T. Hall did indeed die from suicide and not natural causes, according to the Williamson County Medical Examiner.”
Nicknamed “The Storyteller,” Hall had dozens of songs recorded by country artists such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jenning, Alan Jackson, and Bobby Bare.
Hall retired from songwriting in 1986 and from performing around 1994. His last public performance was in 2011. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and a decade later was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame alongside his wife, Dixie Hall. But, it was his 2019 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame that he considered his greatest honor.
Tom Hall was married to Dixie Hall from 1969 until her death on January 16, 2015. Hall had a son, Dean, from his previous marriage to Opal “Hootie” McKinney.