Mickey Gilley Returning to Branson After Long Recovery

Mickey Gilley is back. After nearly eight months of physical therapy following a life-threatening accident last July 5, Mickey says he can't wait to get back to work.

LIFE IN BRANSON first reported the incident last August, speaking to the country legend about the accident that left him in intensive care, paralyzed from the neck down after he fell helping a friend move a piece of furniture. When we spoke to Mickey on Monday (April 5) from his condo in Branson, Mo., his enthusiasm was contagious. The entertainer was eager to talk about his miraculous recovery, and his long-awaited return to his own Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson on April 12.



"I'm doing pretty good," explains Mickey. "I'm beginning to walk down the steps here at my condo without any problem. I can walk about 200 feet without any help. I have to have somebody close to me because I can't afford to fall. I'm not able to play the piano yet but I think maybe by the end of the season my hands may come to the point where I can play the piano again.



"My stamina seems to be coming back," he continues. "And even though I'm going to have to sit on a stool and start the show, I think I'm going to be able to pull it off alright. I'm still working on my health getting back to normal. I have to have somebody close to me when I walk, but I'm doing a lot of things on my own. I can shave myself, I can feed myself, I can comb my hair, I can take a shower and things of that sort. I have a little help to button my pants because my hands don't work as well. Other than that, I'm doing good. I sat out on the patio yesterday. I'm trying to get a little sun tan to look better so I don't look so pale and white after laying up for seven and a half months."



Mickey says he'll be doing the 8 o'clock shows five days a week. "I think I'll be able to do it," he reasons. "I don't know why I can't. I'm going to have a full rehearsal on the 10th and the 11th and then on the 12th, we open. I'm excited about going back to work after being down for seven-and-a-half months. I've got some new stuff I'll be doing in the show that I think people will get a kick out of. I've got four new songs I'm putting in the show. I'll do the songs that were hits for me including the No. 1 songs, but the new stuff will be fun."



Mickey's sense of humor remains healthy. "I've got to go back to work or either go broke," he says with a laugh.



Mickey's shows at The Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson, are scheduled from Apr. 12 through Dec. 15.

Mickey Gilley returns to links, theater

Mickey Gilley prepares to tee off at Thousand Hills Golf Course on Thursday.

By Joshua Clark

Entertainment Editor

Originally published April 3, 2010



In addition to celebrating its 15th anniversary, Thousand Hills Golf Course welcomed Mickey Gilley back to Branson on Thursday, as the entertainer hit a ceremonial tee shot to commemorate the occasion.



“We are so excited and honored to have Gilley here,” said Dan Davis, PGA professional at Thousand Hills. “Branson is such a cool town and this is such a cool golf course, but it’s so much cooler with Gilley around.”



Since falling last July, Gilley has been working around the clock in rehab to regain his strength for not only a return to the course, but to the stage.



As he pulled into the parking lot, Gilley, an avid golfer, gave a smile and a thumbs up to everyone waiting to welcome him home. He walked from the golf cart to the tee box, unassisted, before teeing up for the shot. The ball headed straight into the creek below the first tee box.



“That’s not the first time I’ve ever been in that creek,” he said with a laugh.



When asked about his injury and rehab, Gilley said, “Without a doubt it was the toughest eight months of my life. It’s so good just to be here.”



After his seven-month stay in Texas, Gilley has returned to Branson to begin rehearsals for his 2010 show.



“The rehearsals have been going very well,” said Jay Brandon, horn player in Gilley’s Urban Cowboy Band. “His attitude and everything he brought is so upbeat and positive. It’s just great.”



Despite not being back at 100 percent, Gilley flashed his trademark sense of humor.



“My body may not be working right, but my mouth is just fine.”



Opening night for the 2010 season is April 12 at the Mickey Gilley Theatre.



“After seven-and-a-half months of being out of action, I’m very happy to be back,” Gilley said. “We have a lot of new material in the show, and I’ll try and do as many of the No. 1 songs I’ve had in the past. I can’t play the piano yet, but hopefully before the season’s over I will.”