- While it never affected his professional work, nor was it ever publicized (for fear of how it would impact his career), Ford battled all his life with a drinking problem, something which ultimately undermined his health. In October, 1991, he collapsed after leaving a White House dinner and died at an area hospital a few days later, exactly one year to the day after being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Used his influence to give many young performers their first break in show business, including San Francisco-area disk jockey turned TV personality Jim Lange (later of "The Dating Game"), and most notably, the singing duo the Everly Brothers.
- Made the first tour of the Soviet Union with a country-western stage show (including Roy Clark) in 1974.
- His biggest hit "Sixteen Tons" was credited as being the first Rock and Roll big hit and for kicking off the Rock and Roll era of the 1950s.
- He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1600 Vine Street, for Recording at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- His popular TV program "The Ford Show" was not named after him, although many assumed so, but after his sponsor, the Ford Motor Company.
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.
- His remains are buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California.
- His book "Tennessee Ernie Ford's Book of Favorite Hymns" was a best-seller in its fleid when it was published in 1962, and a companion record album on Capitol Records was released later that same year.
- He also sang the title song in the movie River of No Return (1954) starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe. It was released as a single and did well on the record charts.
- The album "Hymns" (1956) was on the USA Billboard Album charts for 350 consecutive weeks.
- His many albums of hymns and sacred music for Capitol and Ranwood records were among the top-sellers in their field, with "Hymns" (1957) and "Sing a Hymn with Me" (1961) both achieving Gold Record status.
- Country singer.
- Father of Jeffrey Buckner Ford.
- His real name was Ernest T Ford, Ernest Ford was unsuitable for a stage name so he adopted the name of his own state - Tennessee.
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