Current:Home > News3 Members of The Nelons Family Gospel Group Dead in Plane Crash -StockPrime
3 Members of The Nelons Family Gospel Group Dead in Plane Crash
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:03:09
The gospel music community is in mourning.
Three members of The Nelons, a Grammy-nominated family gospel group, died in a private plane crash in Wyoming that claimed the lives of all seven people aboard July 26.
Singers Kelly Nelon Clark, 64, husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, 35, were killed along with the latter's husband Nathan Kistler, 34, the Georgia-based band's assistant, Melodi Hodges, plus the pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa Haynie, Gaither Management Group said in a statement.
"One of the best loved Gospel music families in America," the company said. "The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska."
Kelly and Jason's youngest daughter, fellow Nelons singer Autumn Nelon Streetman, 27, who had traveled separately to the cruise along with her husband Jamie Streetman. Following the crash, Autumn, who is in the second trimester of her pregnancy with the couple's first child, thanked fans for their support.
"Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark," she wrote on Instagram. "We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days."
The single-engine Pilatus PC-12 aircraft had flown from Georgia to Nebraska City, Neb. the morning of July 26 and then took off again that afternoon, headed for another stop in Billings, Mont., according to flight records obtained by E! News.
WSB-TV in Atlanta reported that the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred in a remote area north of Gillette, Wyo.
An NTSB spokesperson told British newspaper The Guardian that preliminary information indicated the accident took place following an “autopilot issue during flight."
Hours before the accident, the Nelons shared a travel vlog from a Nebraska airport on Instagram.
Autumn, the only surviving member of the Nelons, and her husband were notified of the plane crash upon their arrival at their destination, Gaither Management Group said in their statement.
"They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief," the company said in their statement, "pledging to support them in whatever needs arise."
The management group added that "Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly's brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers."
Rex Nelon, Kelly's late father, founded the band in the late '70s. The group, whose lineup has changed over the decades, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Southern Gospel Album for Let The Redeemed Say So in 1991. The Nelons were also known for songs such as "I Shall Not Be Moved" and "We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown."
Autumn, the only surviving member of the Nelons, and her husband were notified of the plane crash upon their arrival at their destination, Gaither Management Group said in their statement.
"They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief," the company said in their statement, "pledging to support them in whatever needs arise."
The management group added that "Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly's brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (5729)
Related
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Flavor Flav is the new official hype-man for U.S. women's water polo team. This is why he is doing it.
- Some older Americans splurge to keep homes accessible while others struggle to make safety upgrades
- A high school senior was caught studying during prom. Here's the story behind the photo.
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Trump tells Jersey Shore crowd he’s being forced to endure ‘Biden show trial’ in hush money case
- Maps of northern lights forecast show where millions in U.S. could see aurora borealis this weekend
- US special operations leaders are having to do more with less and learning from the war in Ukraine
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- University apologizes after names horribly mispronounced at graduation ceremony. Here's its explanation.
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- WFI Tokens: Pioneering Innovation in the Financial Sector
- Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4
- Hollister's Surprise Weekend Sale Includes 25% Off All Dresses, Plus $16 Jeans, $8 Tees & More
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Israel orders new evacuations in Gaza’s last refuge of Rafah as it expands military offensive
- Rangers lose in 2024 NHL playoffs for first time as Hurricanes fight off sweep
- Former NBA player Glen Davis says prison sentence will 'stop (him) from eating hamburgers'
Recommendation
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Jeannie Mai Shares Insight Into Life With Adventure-Loving 2-Year-Old Daughter Monaco
3 GOP candidates for West Virginia governor try to outdo each other on anti-LGBTQ issues
With extreme weather comes extreme insurance premiums for homeowners in disaster-prone states
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Chad Michael Murray Shares Daughter’s Reaction to Watching A Cinderella Story
Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday: See photos
WABC Radio suspends Rudy Giuliani for flouting ban on discussing discredited 2020 election claims