Troy Gentry's death was announced on the band's official website

Troy Gentry, of the country duo Montgomery Gentry, has died in a helicopter crash in New Jersey.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the helicopter crashed into a wooded area on Friday afternoon while approaching Flying W Airport in Medford.

The pilot was also killed.

The crash happened hours before the duo was due to perform a concert at a resort that is also based at the airport.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm that Troy Gentry, half of the popular country duo Montgomery Gentry, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash which took place at approximately 1.00pm in Medford, New Jersey," the band's website said.

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Image: The crash happened hours before the duo was due to perform a concert

"The duo was scheduled to perform tonight at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford. Troy Gentry was 50 years old."

Medford Township police chief Richard Meder told local media that police got a call about a helicopter that was "distressed".

He said crews were able to remove the country star from the wreckage, but he died on the way to the hospital.

The pilot died at the scene and crews were working to remove his body, Meder said.

Image: Troy Gentry (L) with his bandmate Eddie Montgomery (R) in February

Gentry was born on 5 April 1967 in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met Eddie Montgomery and formed a group in 1999 based on their last names.

Montgomery Gentry had success on the country charts and country radio in the 2000s, scoring number one hits with Roll With Me, Back When I Knew It All, Lucky Man, Something to Be Proud Of and If You Ever Stop Loving Me.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.</s>NEW JERSEY – Country music singer Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash at the Flying W Airport in Medford, New Jersey, Friday afternoon.

The airport also houses a resort and was scheduled to host a concert by the country duo on Friday night. The airport announced the cancellation of the gig Friday afternoon.

The crash resulted in death of Gentry and the pilot of the helicopter.

Gentry, 50, was part of the duo, Montgomery Gentry, along with Eddie Montgomery.

Montgomery was not on the helicopter.

Gentry was born April 5, 1967, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met Montgomery and formed the group based off their last names.

The duo had success on the country charts, scoring five No. 1 hits. The band was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.

The two have also made appearances in Oklahoma, including one at the State Fair in 2016.</s>On September 8, the country music world was struck by tragedy when one half of Montgomery Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash. According to a statement from the group’s management, Troy Gentry died in the crash at around 1 p.m. in Medford, New Jersey. The release says the duo had been due to perform at the Flying W Airport and Resort in the town. Gentry was 50 years old. The statement concludes with, “Troy Gentry’s family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy.”

There is no indication that Eddie Montgomery was not on board the helicopter. TMZ said in their report that they are still digging to find out Montgomery’s whereabouts.

CBS Philadelphia reports that the helicopter crashed into a wooded area close to the airport. The chopper was a Schweitzer 269 model.

Both Montgomery and Gentry hail from Kentucky, Montgomery from Danville and Gentry from Lexington. Montgomery’s musical beginnings came when he was the drummer in Harold Montgomery and the Kentucky River Express, his parent’s band. The initial incarnation of Montgomery Gentry featured Montgomery’s younger brother, John Michael. At that time they went by the name Early Tymz.

In November 2010, Montgomery had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had a tumor removed in December 2010 in the same month that his wife, Tracy, filed for divorce. It was reported at the time that Nunan served him divorce papers at his restaurant in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. They had been married for 20 years and had four children together.

Tragedy struck Montgomery in September 2015 when his son, Hunter, died after a drug overdose. His death had initially been reported as an “accident.” Tracy Nunan said in a statement, via People Magazine, “When a family asks for privacy, there is a reason. Grieving the loss of a child is the most heart-wrenching experience any parent can imagine. It defies description.” Hunter Montgomery was survived by his infant son, Bennett.</s>Montgomery Gentry singer Troy Gentry was killed Friday in a helicopter crash near a New Jersey airport where before the country music duo was supposed to perform later in the day. He was 50.

The news was confirmed on the group's social media pages.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm that Troy Gentry, half of the popular country duo, Montgomery Gentry, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash, which took place at approximately 1:00 p.m. today in Medford, New Jersey," read the message. "The duo was scheduled to perform tonight at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford. Troy Gentry was 50 years old. Details of the crash are unknown. Troy Gentry's family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers, and asks for privacy at this time."

The crash also killed the pilot, who has not been identified publicly, and no other people were involved. Troy's band mate Eddie Montgomery was not on board the helicopter, according to Lex 18 News in the duo's native Kentucky, who spoke to sources close to Troy's family.

"At approximately 12:30 p.m., law enforcement received calls about a helicopter in distress at Flying W Airport in Meford New Jersey," a Burlington County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson told E! News. "When law enforcement arrived, they learned a helicopter went down in a field close to the landing destination. Two males were found. One was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry. The other male was extricated from the helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The second victim was the pilot of the plane whose name has not yet been released."

The Montgomery Gentry concert was canceled soon after the crash, before it was revealed Troy was one of the men killed.</s>PHILADELPHIA — Troy Gentry, best known as part of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, was killed in a helicopter crash on Friday.

The crash happened in Burlington County, New Jersey around noon, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Two people died in the crash. The other half of Montgomery Gentry, Eddie Montgomery, was not on the helicopter, according to WLEX. Troy Gentry was 50 years old.

A statement was released on Friday on behalf of Montgomery Gentry:

“It is with great sadness that we confirm that Troy Gentry, half of the popular country duo, Montgomery Gentry, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash which took place at approximately 1:00 p.m. today in Medford, New Jersey. The duo was scheduled to perform tonight at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford. Troy Gentry was 50 years old. Details of the crash are unknown. Troy Gentry’s family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers, and asks for privacy at this time.”

A Montgomery Gentry concert planned for Friday at the airport was canceled an hour after the crash, according to the report.

Gentry and Montgomery have performed together since the 1990s and formed Montgomery Gentry in 1999. The duo is best known for their singles “My Town,” “Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm,” and “Something to Be Proud Of” — which made it to #1 on the country music charts in 2005.

Gentry is survived by his wife and two children.</s>NEW YORK (AP) — As one half of Montgomery Gentry, Troy Gentry — who died Friday in a helicopter crash — helped the country music duo become a successful act in the genre, launching countless hits, winning multiple awards and reaching platinum status throughout the 2000s.

Gentry, 50, was killed hours before the band was set to hit the stage — a second home for the singer and guitarist from Kentucky.

The helicopter carrying Gentry crashed in a wooded area near the Flying W Airport in Medford, New Jersey, around 1 p.m. Friday. Montgomery Gentry was supposed to perform Friday in Medford.

Gentry was born on April 5, 1967 in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met bandmate Eddie Montgomery, known for his signature hat. Later, they formed a group based off their last names.

Montgomery Gentry had success on the country charts and country radio in the 2000s, scoring No. 1 hits with “Roll With Me,” ”Back When I Knew It All,” ”Lucky Man,” ”Something to Be Proud Of” and “If You Ever Stop Loving Me.” Some of the songs even cracked the Top 40 of the pop charts.

“Troy Gentry’s family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers, and asks for privacy at this time,” the statement read.

The band mixed country music with Southern rock and was known for their blue-collar anthems. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009 and into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Montgomery Gentry released their debut album, the platinum-seller “Tattoos & Scars,” in 1999. Two of their albums, “My Town” and “You Do Your Thing,” also achieved platinum status, while several of their albums were gold successes.

“We didn’t want to be an overnight success like acts that have one or two hits and then go away. We wanted the longevity like Waylon, Willie, Charlie, Cash, Kristofferson. All those cats; and they weren’t about No. 1 hits all the time,” Gentry said in a quote from the band’s website biography. “They had enough success with their music to be appreciated, to be able to play as long as they wanted to, and they did it the way they wanted to.”

Several country singers wrote touching words on social media about Gentry’s death on Friday, the same day country singer Don Williams died. Randy Houser called Friday a “sad day in country music,” while Brad Paisley tweeted: “God bless you Troy Gentry. Heartbroken and in disbelief.”

Montgomery Gentry’s latest album was 2015’s “Folks Like Us.” It featured the song “Two Old Friends,” which describes the longstanding bond between Montgomery and Gentry.</s>MEDFORD, New Jersey (KFSM) — Troy Gentry, half of the country music group Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter crash on Friday (Sept. 8).

The crash happened at 1 p.m. in Medford, New Jersey. The group was scheduled to perform at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford.

Details of the crash are unknown at this time.</s>Singer Troy Gentry, of country music group Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter crash in New Jersey on Friday, the band's website said. The singer was 50.

LOS ANGELES: Singer Troy Gentry, of country music group Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter crash in New Jersey on Friday, the band's website said. The singer was 50.

Details of the crash, which occurred in Medford township were not immediately known, the band said in a statement. Medford police did not immediately respond to a request for information on the crash.

Gentry was due to perform with his bandmate Eddie Montgomery on Friday evening at the Flying W Airport and Resort in Medford. Singer Montgomery did not appear to be involved in the incident.

Country music stars paid tribute to Gentry on social media on Friday, including Sheryl Crow, Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton, who tweeted an old photo of himself and Gentry, saying he was "heart broken". Singer Brad Paisley tweeted, "God bless you Troy Gentry. Heartbroken and in disbelief".

Kentucky band Montgomery Gentry formed in 1999 and scored hits such as "She Couldn't Change Me" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" across eight studio albums.

The band has won awards from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association, and has been inducted into Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

Montgomery Gentry released its most recent album, "Folks Like Us" in 2015.</s>Troy Gentry, one half of the popular country duo Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter crash in Medford, New Jersey on Friday, September 8th, where he was scheduled to perform this evening. He was 50 years old.

Born April 5th, 1967 in Lexington, Kentucky, Gentry and his eventual singing partner Eddie Montgomery formed the band Early Tymz with Eddie's brother John Michael Montgomery, who'd go on to solo success as a country singer. Gentry tried his hand at a solo career, but eventually reunited with Montgomery to become Montgomery Gentry.

The duo signed with Columbia Records' Nashville division, releasing their first single "Hillbilly Shoes" and the top 5 follow-up "Lonely and Gone" – both from the album Tattoos & Scars, in 1999. They enjoyed several more top 5 hits through the early 2000s with their Southern rock-influenced brand of country, including "My Town," "She Couldn't Change Me" and "Hell Yeah." They also reached Number One a handful of times throughout the 2000s, counting "Something to Be Proud Of," "Lucky Man" and "Roll With Me" among their five chart-toppers. They were named the Academy of Country Music's Duo of the Year in 2000 and invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.

Most recently, Montgomery Gentry issued the 2015 album Folks Like Us, which featured the single "Headlights" as well as the title track.

Funeral arrangements are not yet known.</s>FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2013 file photo, Troy Gentry of the Country Music duo Montgomery Gentry performs on the Rebels On The Run Tour in Lancaster, Pa. Gentry, one half of the award-winning country music duo Montgomery Gentry, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in a helicopter crash, according to a statement from the band’s website. He was 50. The group was supposed to perform Friday at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford, N.J. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, Eddie Montgomery, left, and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry arrive at the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Gentry, one half of the award-winning country music duo Montgomery Gentry, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in a helicopter crash, according to a statement from the band’s website. He was 50. The group was supposed to perform Friday at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford, N.J.

As one half of Montgomery Gentry, Troy Gentry — who died Friday in a helicopter crash — helped the country music duo become a successful act in the genre, launching countless hits, winning multiple awards and reaching platinum status throughout the 2000s.

Gentry, 50, was killed hours before the band was set to hit the stage — a second home for the singer and guitarist from Kentucky.

The helicopter carrying Gentry crashed in a wooded area near the Flying W Airport in Medford, New Jersey, around 1 p.m. Friday. Montgomery Gentry was supposed to perform Friday in Medford.

Gentry was born on April 5, 1967 in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met bandmate Eddie Montgomery, known for his signature hat. Later, they formed a group based off their last names.

Montgomery Gentry had success on the country charts and country radio in the 2000s, scoring No. 1 hits with "Roll With Me," ''Back When I Knew It All," ''Lucky Man," ''Something to Be Proud Of" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me." Some of the songs even cracked the Top 40 of the pop charts.

"Troy Gentry's family wishes to acknowledge all of the kind thoughts and prayers, and asks for privacy at this time," the statement read.

The band mixed country music with Southern rock and was known for their blue-collar anthems. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009 and into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Montgomery Gentry released their debut album, the platinum-seller "Tattoos & Scars," in 1999. Two of their albums, "My Town" and "You Do Your Thing," also achieved platinum status, while several of their albums were gold successes.

"We didn't want to be an overnight success like acts that have one or two hits and then go away. We wanted the longevity like Waylon, Willie, Charlie, Cash, Kristofferson. All those cats; and they weren't about No. 1 hits all the time," Gentry said in a quote from the band's website biography. "They had enough success with their music to be appreciated, to be able to play as long as they wanted to, and they did it the way they wanted to."

Several country singers wrote touching words on social media about Gentry's death on Friday, the same day country singer Don Williams died. Randy Houser called Friday a "sad day in country music," while Brad Paisley tweeted: "God bless you Troy Gentry. Heartbroken and in disbelief."

Montgomery Gentry's latest album was 2015's "Folks Like Us." It featured the song "Two Old Friends," which describes the longstanding bond between Montgomery and Gentry.
A helicopter crashes in Medford, New Jersey, leaving two people dead, including singer Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry.