The veteran Grand Ole Opry member, 81, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday (11Jun15), and his legacy was remembered during a touching event at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Lee spoke highly of her longtime friend, calling Brown and his sisters and The Browns bandmates Maxine and Bonnie "true pioneering legends", adding they served as her "road family" early on in her career, and looked out for her when she was an up-and-coming artist.

Also taking the stage with a musical tribute were The Oak Ridge Boys, who were named the 2015 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside Brown, who will be honoured posthumously at a ceremony slated for later this year (15).

In addition, country stars Lady Antebellum and Crystal Gayle also performed tributes to Brown.