Charley Pride's son by a flight attendant was left out of the will, barred from the funeral, and sued the widow of 60 years

Charley Pride died of COVID-19 complications at 86. He had been married to Rozene Pride for more than 60 years and had three children with her. Tyler Pride, a police officer in Tyler, Texas, was his son by a flight attendant, born during the marriage. A paternity case had established the relationship. In May 2021 Tyler contested the will in Dallas County probate court. He alleged that Rozene exercised undue influence over her husband, who had spoken publicly about mental health struggles. He said he was left out of the will and the obituary, was not told his father was ill, and was not allowed to attend the funeral. He said the will documents were signed in early August 2020. Rozene, the executor, answered through her lawyer, Will Hartnett. She said the couple had given Tyler gifts and financial help, that Charley was mentally sound until he caught COVID-19, and that Charley never included Tyler in his estate planning until 2020. She called his claims a "hurtful smear campaign" and said he had sent her a draft of the lawsuit and threatened to file it if she did not meet his demands. In September 2022 Tyler said the two sides had settled. The only reported term is that his family keeps the house Charley gave them. In 2026 no further litigation has been reported.