UPDATE: February 17th at 10:55pm CST: A post on the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office’s website in Arkansas: “At 3:31 PM, Sunday, February 17th Deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of gun shots fired in the area of 1132 Fox Chase Drive in Heber Springs. Officers arrived on the scene at 3:58 PM and discovered the body of 37 year old Melinda Gayle McCready on the front porch of the residence at 1132 Fox Chase. Ms. McCready was pronounced dead at the scene from what appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this time family members have been notified of the incident. Ms. McCready will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy and the matter will be fully investigated.”

7:50pm CST: Various reports tonight, are reporting that troubled country music star Mindy McCready has died of an apparent suicide. She was 37.

The reports had started to circulate via Twitter stating that she died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. She was 37 years old and leaves behind two boys.

McCready rose to fame in country music in the late 1990′s, but has most recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons, including rehab, being accused of running away with one of her children, and just weeks ago, the suicide death of her “soul mate”.

At this hour, it is stated that the family is putting together an official statement.

The country music family is already beginning to share their condolences on Twitter:

Really really sad to learn the news about Mindy McCready.

I will pray for her children and I hope that people are gentle with her memory—
Chely Wright (@chelywright) February 18, 2013

A sad loss of talent…Mindy McCready. 10,001 angels—
Steel Magnolia (@steelmagnolia11) February 18, 2013

Steve Koscik / US99.5