Country Hall of Famer Bonnie Brown has lung cancer

NASHVILLE, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Country singer Bonnie Brown, due for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October, revealed Monday she has lung cancer.

Brown revealed the news at a Hall of Fame luncheon. She revealed she originally thought her health problems were due to her heart, but a Sept. 2 diagnosis confirmed Stage 4 adenocarcinoma in her lung.

Brown is expected to begin chemotherapy Tuesday morning. Her older brother, Hall of Fame member Jim Ed Brown, also died from a different type of lung cancer on June 11. She acknowledged this during the luncheon and dubbed it a "shock" to deal with two diagnoses of lung cancer in one family in a single year.

Brown expressed optimism about the therapy she will undergo, proclaiming confidence in her oncologist and accompanying specialists and praising the love and support afforded to her by her family.

Despite her ongoing therapy, Brown and her sister Maxine will be in Nashville on Oct. 25 for their official induction to the Hall of Fame.

Maxine and Jim Ed were formerly a duo, recording such hits as 1954's "Looking Back To See." Bonnie, Jim Ed and Maxine formed a trio in 1955, leading to such hits as "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" and "The Old Lamlighter." Bonnie and Maxine quit the trio in 1967, leaving Jim Ed to pursue a solo career. His most recent album, In Style Again, was released in January.

The Tennessean says people who want to send well wishes to Brown can do so by way of snail mail. The address is P.O. Box 233, Dardanelle, AR 72834-0233.