Rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis did not die on Wednesday, as TMZ reported. The outlet said it got a bogus tip.
The 87-year-old musician, nicknamed “The Killer,” is known for hits such as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire.”
His sister, Linda Gail Lewis, posted to Facebook Tuesday: “Please pray for my dear brother, he’s going thru a hard time and needs our prayers and positive thoughts right now. Thank you so much.”
The erroneous news of Lewis’ death comes 10 days after he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was unable to attend the Nashville ceremony due to guidance from his doctor. Fellow country stars Hank Williams Jr. and Kris Kristofferson showed up in his stead to accept the honor.
Fans shared tributes when they heard he had died.
“Rest In Peace to the great Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the founders of Rock N Roll. All of the early pioneers of the genre including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe are gone now. However, there was a time when they walked the Earth like giants,” radio personality Lou Brutus tweeted.
Born in Louisiana in 1935, Lewis grew up on country music. He said he began playing the piano at age 9.
He ended up winning four Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. He was inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
But his career was nearly derailed over a scandal stemming from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra.