mindy mccready

You know "Carlene" and "Just Another Day in Paradise," but did you know Phil Vassar also wrote these country hits for other artists?

Rest in peace.

The country talent would have turned 47 today.

The best country songs about being a strong woman all have a certain independent spirit in common.

It's more tragic when it's unexpected, as is the case with these country singers who died before their time.

Women have ruled the country charts for decades by singing about far more than just love and heartache.

Mindy McCready's career was as promising as anyone could dream when she released "Ten Thousand Angels" to country radio in 1996.

They have known the pain they sing about.

May they rest in peace ...

Country star Mindy McCready was laid to rest during a service in her hometown of Fort Myers, Fla. on Tuesday (Feb. 26), nine days after the troubled singer took her own life with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Since country singer Mindy McCready took her own life on Sunday, February 17, 2013, there's been quite a bit of speculation about the so-called 'Celebity Rehab' curse. Now, Dr. Drew Pinsky (who headed up the reality television show for its three-season run) has spoken out about her suicide, saying he wished she had completed a longer stay in treatment just prior to her death.

Billy McKnight -- Mindy McCready's ex-boyfriend and the father to her oldest son, Zander -- says he's not surprised that the singer took her own life on Sunday afternoon. Right now he is worried for his son, as well as McCready's son with David Wilson, 10-month-old Zayne.