Maxine Brown Russell was part of the sibling trio The Browns. The legendary group was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. She died Monday from complications of heart and kidney disease. She was in hospice care in Little Rock, Arkansas. Russell was surrounded by family when she passed away.

The Browns are known for their biggest hit “The Three Bells.” It was released in 1959. It spent 10 weeks on top of the country chart, four weeks on the pop charts. The song even crossed over to the Hot R&B Sides chart, peaking at the 10th spot.

50 years later after its release, “The Three Bells” experienced a minor resurgence when it was featured in two episodes of the final season of the HBO drama “The Sopranos.

In 1963, the trio was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The trio stopped recording in 1967 but had ventured into careers of their own. In 2012, Russell was awarded the Ella Dicky Literary Award for her 2005 autobiography “Looking Back to See.” The Browns were inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. The Arkansas Walkway of Stars and the Arkansas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Remembering Maxine

Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum had some heartfelt words for the legend:

“Maxine Brown’s voice joined in harmony with brother Jim Ed and sister Bonnie to create the smoothest vocal blend in country music history. Offstage, Maxine was an absolute delight. She was reverent about things worth revering, and riotously irreverent about every other thing. In song and in conversation, Maxine Brown made people smile. The world is a duller place without her,”

Russell was the last surviving member of the trio. Her brother Jim Ed died in 2015, her her sister Bonnie died in 2016.

Sarah Trahen, CEO of the Country Music Association also had kind words to the revered country artist:

“Maxine was a force to be reckoned with, and I’ll always remember her sense of humor. She and her siblings will forever be celebrated as one of Country Music’s most beloved trios. ”