Country, pop star Glen Campbell passes away at 81

LOS ANGELES: US country and pop singer Glen Campbell has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, his family said on the musician’s official Facebook account. He was 81. A string of celebrities have paid tribute to him on social media.

Campbell passed away on Tuesday, Efe news reported. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather,” their statement said.

Musicians like Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Tim Mcgraw and Dolly Parton have paid tribute to Campbell on social media. “Miss you already Glen Campbell,” Miley Cyrus tweeted. Singer Kevin Jonas called it a “sad” news for the music industry while Shelton sent “prayers and thoughts” to Campbell and his family. Singer Brian Wilson tweeted: “I’m very broken up to hear about my friend Glen Campbell. An incredible musician and an even better person. I’m at a loss. Love and mercy.”

Parton called Campbell “one of the greatest voices of all time”. Campbell, who during his life sold more than 45 million albums, gained national and international fame in the 1960s and 1970s not only for his hit songs but also for his television and movie appearances. Born in 1936 into a humble family in Delight, Arkansas, Campbell got his start in the music world at an early age and, as a guitarist, always admired Django Reinhardt.

In his early 20s, Campbell moved to Los Angeles, where he gained fame as an excellent and much soughtafter studio musician, working with stars such as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif is set to be appointed as president of the PML-N after Pakistan’s Election Commission asked the ruling party to replace his brother Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified as prime minister by the Supreme Court, a senior leader has said.

Raja Zafarul Haq, senior Pakistan Muslim Leaguenawaz (PML-N) leader, told the media that Shehbaz Sharif, 65, would be the new president of PML-N.

The formal decision would be taken later this week in Lahore in meeting of the PML-N. Though Nawaz still holds sole authority to appoint anyone to any post but he consults party before major decisions.

The 67-year-old ousted prime minister was president of the ruling party until he was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 over the Panama Papers scandal. According to the local laws he lost his seat in the national assembly and cannot hold any post in the party.

Opposition parties had lodged petitions against the then premier.