Country singer Travis Tritt has paid tribute to the three members of Southern gospel group The Nelons, who were killed in a plane crash over the weekend.
“Very sad news! My heartfelt condolences to Nelons family, friends and fans,” he wrote to X.
Television actor and bluegrass musician Randall Franks also posted an emotional message: “Heartbroken. The Nelons family plane crashed on their way to the Geyser homecoming cruise. Prayers going out to you all.”
One of gospel music's most beloved families, the Nelons, were involved in a plane crash en route to Alaska that killed Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber and her husband Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melody Hodges, and pilot Larry Haney and his wife Melissa.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
Jason and Kelly's youngest daughter, Autumn, who performs in a Grammy-nominated group, and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the flight. Autumn confirmed the deaths of her parents and sister on Instagram.
She thanked her fans for their support hours after the fatal accident.
“Thank you for all the prayers you have already given me, my husband Jamie and our soon to be born son.”
Kelly Nelon Clark's father, Rex Nelon, founded the group in the 1970s.
They were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
The group has been nominated for 35 GMA Dove Awards throughout their career, most recently winning Recorded Song of the Year in the 2021 Country/Bluegrass/Roots category for “If God Pulled Back The Curtain.”
Kelly is also an actress and appeared in the ABC fantasy drama “Resurrection.”