The group, made up mostly of friends outside the music industry, formed the nonprofit around three of Troy Gentry’s passions: cancer research, in recognition of Angie Gentry’s successful ...

“Nobody loved life more than Troy Gentry,” music journalist and author Holly Gleason tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Whatever adventure, all night party or hardcore hillbilly song, he was up for it.

The country singer died in a helicopter crash last Friday. The late country star will be honored during a public service in Nashvile, Tennessee, on Thursday. The 50-year-old country singer was ...