Ray Stevens, 87, recovering at home after breaking his neck in Nashville fall

Ray Stevens, the two-time Grammy Award winner behind "Everything is Beautiful," broke his neck late last month after a serious fall in the Nashville area. The 87-year-old country and comedy legend was hospitalized briefly and is now recovering at home, where doctors have told him to wear a neck brace for roughly four weeks.

A press release obtained by Fox News Digital confirmed that Stevens was taken to the hospital following his fall on Sunday, March 29. Despite the severity of a broken neck, an injury that can be life-threatening at any age, let alone 87, his team struck an optimistic tone.

"He was briefly hospitalized in the Nashville area and is now recovering at home," the press release stated. "Despite the injury, he remains fully mobile and in good spirits as he continues his recovery."

A representative offers more detail

A representative for Stevens told Fox News Digital that his discharge went smoothly, though the road ahead still holds more medical steps.

"Ray has been discharged from the hospital and is on his way home right now. He will be recovering for a few weeks at home. There will be a few additional procedures to perform once he's recovered but things went really well."

The nature of those additional procedures has not been disclosed. Nor has Stevens' team identified the specific hospital where he was treated or the exact circumstances of the fall itself.

What is clear: at 87, Stevens is still working. His upcoming album, "Favorites Old & New," remains on schedule for release this Friday through Curb Records. The 13-track project features what the press release describes as "a curated mix of beloved standards alongside new selections from a range of talented songwriters, offering both nostalgia and discovery in one cohesive project."

Stevens himself sounded characteristically upbeat about the record.

"I had a lot of fun creating this album, 'Favorites Old & New.' It really does contain a few of my favorite old songs as well as favorite new ones penned by some talented writers. I just hope Ray Stevens fans enjoy it as much as Ray Stevens!"

Not his first health scare

The broken neck is the second major health episode for Stevens in less than a year. On July 4, he complained of chest pains and was admitted to a hospital in Nashville. Doctors performed a heart catheterization and determined he had suffered a mild heart attack. He underwent minimally invasive heart surgery a few days later.

Stevens was released from the hospital on July 10. Prior to his discharge, his official Instagram account posted a positive update that captured the performer's trademark good humor.

"Ray is out of ICU and beginning to walk the halls as therapy with a nurse's assistance as he is working towards recovering from this surgery. Ray is very grateful for all of the cards and get well messages. Everything Is Still Beautiful!!!"

That last line, a nod to his signature 1970 hit, told fans everything they needed to know about his spirit. The same spirit, it appears, is carrying him through this latest setback.

Performances canceled, but the music keeps coming

Stevens has canceled his performances at Nashville's CabaRay Showroom for the remainder of the month as he heals. The venue, which bears his name and has served as a home stage for his live shows, will have to wait. When music fans rally around an ailing legend, the outpouring tends to be swift, and Stevens' team acknowledged as much.

"Stevens appreciates any thoughts and prayers during his recovery," the press release noted.

A career that spans more than six decades, from novelty hits like "The Streak" and "Gitarzan" to the Grammy-winning "Everything is Beautiful", has earned Stevens a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame conversation and a loyal fan base that stretches well beyond Nashville. At 87, he is still recording, still planning live dates, and still cracking jokes in his own album liner notes.

A broken neck would sideline most people half his age. Ray Stevens is already home, already promoting a new record, and already asking fans to enjoy it "as much as Ray Stevens." That tells you something about the man, and about a generation that doesn't quit just because the road gets rough.