Hugh Prestwood, a renowned country songwriter known for his poignant ballads, passed away on September 22 at the age of 82 following a stroke. Prestwood’s close friend, songwriter James Dean Hicks, confirmed the news.
Prestwood’s impressive catalog includes hits such as “Ghost in This House,” “The Song Remembers When,” and “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart.” His literary approach to songwriting established him as a leading figure in Nashville from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. In 2006, he was honored with induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside icons like Jimmy Buffett, who recorded Prestwood’s “Savannah Fare You Well.”
Trisha Yearwood, who achieved significant success with Prestwood’s “The Song Remembers When” in 1993, expressed her admiration: “Hugh Prestwood was a poet. We’re all lucky that Hugh decided to be a writer. I will miss his voice.”
Beyond country music, Prestwood’s work attracted artists from various genres, including Judy Collins and British singer-songwriter Rumer. Rumer, who paid tribute to Prestwood in her 2020 album Nashville Tears, remarked on social media that recording his music was one of the greatest joys of her life.
Originally from El Paso, Prestwood lived much of his career in New York before relocating to Nebraska in 2022. That year, he faced personal challenges, revealing to Rolling Stone that he was at risk of homelessness. He described his situation as emblematic of the broader struggles faced by professional songwriters today. “I would not recommend anybody go into songwriting at this point,” he lamented. “It was hard enough to make a living when it was good, but now it’s ridiculous.”
Despite these difficulties, Prestwood received an outpouring of support from the music community. After launching a GoFundMe campaign to cover moving expenses, he raised over $100,000, demonstrating the industry’s appreciation for his contributions. “My ego is always in need of some affirmation, and I don’t get it too much, but this is extremely major affirmation,” he shared. “I’m sure I’ll be back a year from now feeling depressed about one thing or another, but now I feel really good.”
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