Country Singer Passes: Dawn Sears Dies At 53

Country singer Dawn Sears passes away at 53-years-old. Sears was a member of The Time Jumpers, and she also toured with the Vince Gill band.

Sears passed away December 11 in Gallatin, Tennessee. The singer had been battling lung cancer since March 2013.

Dawn was originally from Minnesota, and began her career by playing in regional clubs and contests. At 14, she won first place in a contest at the VFW in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Three years later, the singer left her home in Minnesota to travel with her band. In 1986, she met fiddler Kenny Sears in Las Vegas, and six months later they were living in Nashville.

A few years later, in 1991, Sears released her debut album, What a Woman Wants to Hear, with Warner Bros. She went on to create other albums, including Nothin’ but Good in 1994 with Decca and self-released, self-titled album in 2002.

Sears was in demand as a back-up singer and a vocalist. She worked with many artists throughout her career, including Tracy Byrd and Merle Haggard. She was a long time harmony singer for Vince Gill’s band, touring and recording with them for 22 years.

Since her diagnosis, the country singer worked to raise awareness, and money, for cancer research. She hosted a benefit concert late last month. Country Weekly reports that Sears wanted to bring hope to those also battling cancer.

“It is my mission to bring more hope to those of us with lung cancer. I was diagnosed with lung cancer over a year ago and I now have a greater understanding of the daily battle and challenges that people with cancer of any kind face.”

The world, especially the world of country music, will miss her. Brad Paisley joins other singers mourning the loss of Sears on Twitter.

Dawn Sears sang so beautifully. And lived just as beautifully. She will be missed. #dawnsears

— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) December 12, 2014

Sears was a member of The Time Jumpers, a group that was formed in 1998. Since then, the band could be seen on stages throughout Nashville. Nearly every Monday night, the country singer could be seen at The Station Inn, where the band had a 13-year long residency. In 2012, The Time Jumpers moved to 3rd and Lindsey.

The band earned two Grammy nominations for their self-titled album in 2012.

Watch below as Dawn Sears and The Time Jumpers preform “Sweet Memories.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fi-BhsKOMA

TheTennessean reports that Larry Gatlin, a country singer and song writer, spoke fondly of Sears on his radio show.

“She was an incredible singer. It wasn’t just a great voice, but the way she phrased a song. Like Patsy Cline, she had that little tear in her voice that was just fabulous.”

Fabulous is only one of many words that could be used to describe Dawn Sears. The world mourns the loss of this beautiful country singer. Our condolences go out to her friends and family.

[Image via Hallels]