CMT News

Todd David Cerney, co-writer of the No. 1 country hits "Good Morning Beautiful" (recorded by Steve Holy) and "I'll Still Be Loving You" (Restless Heart) died Monday (March 14) in Nashville following a battle with cancer. Cerney was also a noted musician and singer who performed internationally. He backed the Dixie Chicks on their first radio tour and was a member of the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. Among other artists who recorded Cerney's songs are Aretha Franklin, the Four Tops, Ty Herndon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cheap Trick and Etta James. As a backup singer, he recorded with Kenny Rogers, Michael Johnson, John Conlee and Levon Helm. "I'll Still Be Loving You" won ASCAP's country song of the year award in 1988. Cerney is survived by his wife, Kip Kirby, the former Nashville bureau chief of Billboard magazine.