Singer Mindy McCready, dead at 37

The cover of Mindy McCready's album, I'm Not So Tough. Picture: Supplied Source: news.com.au

COUNTRY music star Mindy McCready has reportedly committed suicide, aged 37.

McCready's brother confirmed to the New York Daily news that the star, who shot to fame as a teenager, died on Sunday night.

TMZ reports the singer shot herself – and her dog – on the front porch of her home in Heber Springs, Arkansas.

The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office released a statement confirming they had "arrived on the scene at 3:58 PM and discovered the body of 37-year-old Melinda Gayle McCready on the front porch of the residence at 1132 Fox Chase.

"Ms. McCready was pronounced dead at the scene from what appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this time family members have been notified of the incident. Ms. McCready will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy and the matter will be fully investigated."

McCready had two young boys. One is aged six and the other is nine months old.

Mindy McCready and her boyfriend David Wilson, who shot himself just a month before her death. Picture: Mindy McCready Facebook fan page Source: news.com.au

Tragically, the singer's death comes just a month after her boyfriend and the father of her youngest son, record producer David Wilson, was found dead in his home.

Wilson also reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on January 13.

McCready was forced to deny any involvement in his death and her two sons were removed from her care during this time.

She was said to be struggling with the death of her "soulmate".

There has been an overwhelming outpouring of grief throughout the American country music community since her tragic passing.

Carrie Underwood today tweeted "I grew up listening to Mindy McCready...so sad for her family tonight. Many prayers are going out to them...".

Mindy McCready was an accomplished country singer. Picture: Mindy McCready Facebook Fan Page Source: news.com.au

Thousands of tributes have been posted to her Facebook page in the last hour, where she had previously written: "In life I believe everything happens for a reason, even when I don't understand I still believe there is a perfect plan for everything... Every laugh, every tear, every moment, I love the dance".

Her official Facebook fan page administrators have urged users to be respectful with their comments.

In recent years the star has struggled with mental health and alcohol abuse and reportedly tried to commit suicide several times before. She was admitted to hospital in 2008 for slitting her wrists.

The singer recorded a total of five studio albums during her career, and notched up twelve singles on the Billboard country charts.

She was very successful in the Nineties, with her 1996 album Ten Thousand Angels being certified as a two times multi-platinum record.

Mindy McCready has died, aged 37. Picture: Mindy McCready Facebook Fan Page Source: news.com.au

In 1997, McCready became engaged to actor Dean Cain, who had been playing the lead role in the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The engagement ended the next year.

Rob Potts, who owns Rob Potts Entertainment Edge in Sydney, met the star multiple times and is close to the star's former manager Doug Casmus.

"I was kept up to date on the stories because we were looking, in the early days, at bringing her out (to Australia) but her management advised us against taking that path because they couldn't rely on her behaviour," he said.

"Whilst she had two big albums and a lot of hits there were very early signs within the country music world that she was going to be a difficult success story.

"I feel sad more for my friend who, as a manager, got right in close to her and I know it had been a constant distress for him to see such a great talent not realised."

Mr Potts said McCready had a troubled childhood.

"She came from a very troubled family, she suffered sexual abuse as a young girl and was a handful to manage from the very start of her career," he said.

"She was a tortured soul – an incredible singer and fantastic performer but she could not keep anything else together. Drugs became a huge problem for her – marriages, break-ups, drink driving charges, the whole box of dice."

The mother-of-two experienced a meteoric rise when she shot to fame in her late teens. 

"She was a gorgeous-looking girl and it blew up very quickly," Mr Potts said.

"It's a tragic story by any circumstance. It's a great example of a brilliant talent who was tortured beyond being able to cope with it."

For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263

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