Musicians Jack White, Merle Haggard and George Jones have paid to tribute to county music icon Porter Wagoner, who died on Sunday. Wagoner passed away at a hospice facility in Nashville, Tennessee after a battle with lung cancer. He was 80.

The White Stripes rocker White will always remember the time he spent with the music legend.

He says, "Porter was a wonderful man. Well-versed and well-dressed. I wish I could have spent more time with him and learned more from him. I'm glad that we were able to share a bill together. It was an honour."

Haggard was planning to perform with his longtime friend early next year.

He states, "I was real close to him... We were talking about doing a show together in January in Portland. We were both real happy about that because we haven't worked together in a while. It's a great shock and it's a great loss. I hope the country gives him the send-off he deserves. He was a great American."

And fellow country music icon Jones adds, "We always had a good time sharing jokes backstage at the (Grand Ole) Opry (legendary Nashville country music venue) or whatever stage we might be sharing. Country music lost a bit of sparkle with the passing of Porter Wagoner."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)