Betsy Smittle, country star and half-sister to Garth Brooks, died on Saturday, November 2nd. She was sixty-years-old. She performed live with her half-brother, Garth Brooks, and even toured with his band (Stillwater) before releasing her solo album (Rough Around The Edges) in 1994.

Smittle sang on multiple albums for her half-brother such as Ropin’ the Wind. She even made television appearances with Garth for two of his well-known specials (This Is Garth Brooks and This Is Garth Brooks, Too) where she was seen enjoying the music right beside Garth.

Smittle’s desire for a musical career was influenced by her country-singing mother, Colleen Carroll, who married another musician, Jim Smittle. Unfortunately, the union did not last; however, Colleen remarried Troyal Raymond Brooks, and the rest was history.

Funeral services are presently pending at the moment in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Reports have not indicated whether this will change any upcoming scheduled engagements for Garth Brooks, who is grieving the loss of his talented half-sister. The cause of death has not been released at this time; however, many have already taken to Twitter to offer their condolences.

RIP Betsy Smittle. The bassist, who played in brother Garth Brooks' band for years, was 60.

— ReDigi™ (@ReDigi) November 6, 2013

We are sending our condolences to Garth Brooks and his family, as his half-sister, Betsy Smittle, passed away… http://t.co/t3M3aomUV5

— 106.7The CanyonKYUN (@1067thecanyon) November 6, 2013

Sending our condolences to Garth Brooks, who is mourning the loss of his half-sister. http://t.co/TM6XWtK77E

— CountryMusicIsLove (@cmilove) November 5, 2013

The country singer was known for her activism where she advocated for gay rights. She spent time lending her musical talents to pride festivals throughout Oklahoma. Her concern will be missed by organizations that benefited from her talents.

A 2006 headliner of the OKC Pride parade, Betsy Smittle (half-sister of Garth Brooks) died Saturday. She… http://t.co/G4ZTVlOUJc

— OKC PRIDE (@okcpride) November 4, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_mvf0b5CuU

[Image Via Wikimedia Commons and Courtesy of Steve Jurvetson]