Country music legend Sonny James dies at 87

Photos: People we lost in 2016

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/28/entertainment/debbie-reynolds-hospitalized/index.html" target="_blank">Debbie Reynolds</a>, one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1950s and 1960s, died December 28, one day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, passed away. She was 84.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Debbie Reynolds, one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1950s and 1960s, died December 28, one day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, passed away. She was 84.

Actress <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/entertainment/carrie-fisher-obit-star-wars/index.html" target="_blank">Carrie Fisher</a>, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchises, died December 27, according to her daughter's publicist. Fisher had suffered a cardiac event on December 23. She was 60 years old.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images

Actress Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchises, died December 27, according to her daughter's publicist. Fisher had suffered a cardiac event on December 23. She was 60 years old.

Actor and comedian <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/entertainment/ricky-harris-death-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">Ricky Harris</a>, who was a regular on the TV sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" and first gained attention on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," died December 26, according to his publicist. He was 54.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Actor and comedian Ricky Harris, who was a regular on the TV sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" and first gained attention on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," died December 26, according to his publicist. He was 54.

Singer <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/entertainment/george-michael-fadi-fawaz/index.html" target="_blank">George Michael</a>, who shot to fame with the '80s band Wham!, died on Christmas Day, according to Britain's Press Association. He was 53 years old.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Michael Putland/Getty Images

Singer George Michael, who shot to fame with the '80s band Wham!, died on Christmas Day, according to Britain's Press Association. He was 53 years old.

English novelist <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/europe/richard-adams-watership-down-obit/" target="_blank">Richard Adams</a>, author of the famous children's book "Watership Down," died at the age of 96 on December 24.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

English novelist Richard Adams, author of the famous children's book "Watership Down," died at the age of 96 on December 24.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/18/entertainment/zsa-zsa-gabor-dies/index.html" target="_blank">Zsa Zsa Gabor</a>, the Hungarian beauty whose many marriages, gossipy adventures and occasional legal scuffles kept her in tabloid headlines for decades, died December 18, said her former longtime publicist Ed Lozzi. She was 99.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian beauty whose many marriages, gossipy adventures and occasional legal scuffles kept her in tabloid headlines for decades, died December 18, said her former longtime publicist Ed Lozzi. She was 99.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/us/craig-sager-dies/index.html" target="_blank">Craig Sager</a>, the longtime Turner Sports sideline reporter best known for his colorful -- and at times fluorescent -- wardrobe, died December 15 after battling acute myeloid leukemia, the network said. He was 65.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Noah Graham/NBAE/NBAE/Getty Images

Craig Sager, the longtime Turner Sports sideline reporter best known for his colorful -- and at times fluorescent -- wardrobe, died December 15 after battling acute myeloid leukemia, the network said. He was 65.

Actor <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/13/us/alan-thicke-dead/index.html" target="_blank">Alan Thicke</a>, known for his role as the father in the sitcom "Growing Pains," died on December 13, according to his agent, Tracy Mapes. He was 69. Thicke's career spanned five decades -- one in which he played various roles on and off screen, from actor to writer to composer to author.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

ABC Photo Archives/Disney/Getty Images

Actor Alan Thicke, known for his role as the father in the sitcom "Growing Pains," died on December 13, according to his agent, Tracy Mapes. He was 69. Thicke's career spanned five decades -- one in which he played various roles on and off screen, from actor to writer to composer to author.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/08/health/john-glenn-dead/index.html" target="_blank">John Glenn, </a>the first American to orbit the Earth, died December 8, according to the Ohio State University. He was 95.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

NASA

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, died December 8, according to the Ohio State University. He was 95.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/10/entertainment/obit-joseph-mascolo-stefano-dimera-days-of-our-lives-trnd-irpt/index.html">Joseph Mascolo</a>, the actor who portrayed archvillain Stefano DiMera in the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives," died December 7 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, the network said. He was 87.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

NBC

Joseph Mascolo, the actor who portrayed archvillain Stefano DiMera in the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives," died December 7 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, the network said. He was 87.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/entertainment/greg-lake-dies-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">Greg Lake</a>, a founding member of influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, died December 7 after a bout with cancer, his manager said. He's seen here at left with bandmates Keith Emerson, center, and Carl Palmer in 1972.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

AP

Greg Lake, a founding member of influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, died December 7 after a bout with cancer, his manager said. He's seen here at left with bandmates Keith Emerson, center, and Carl Palmer in 1972.

Actor <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/26/entertainment/ron-glass-barney-miller-actor-dies/index.html" target="_blank">Ron Glass</a>, known for his role on the police sitcom "Barney Miller," died November 25, his agent said. Glass also starred in "Firefly" and its film sequel "Serenity."

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Jason Merritt/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Actor Ron Glass, known for his role on the police sitcom "Barney Miller," died November 25, his agent said. Glass also starred in "Firefly" and its film sequel "Serenity."

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/25/entertainment/florence-henderson-obit/index.html" target="_blank">Florence Henderson</a>, whose "Brady Bunch" character Carol Brady was one of television's most famous mothers, died November 24 at the age of 82, her manager, Kayla Pressman, said.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

ANGELA WEISS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Florence Henderson, whose "Brady Bunch" character Carol Brady was one of television's most famous mothers, died November 24 at the age of 82, her manager, Kayla Pressman, said.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/entertainment/singer-sharon-jones-dead-at-60/" target="_blank">Sharon Jones</a>, the powerful lead singer of the Dap-Kings, died November 18 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, manager Alex Kadvan told CNN. She was 60.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Sharon Jones, the powerful lead singer of the Dap-Kings, died November 18 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, manager Alex Kadvan told CNN. She was 60.

<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/14/media/gwen-ifill-obituary/index.html" target="_blank">Gwen Ifill</a>, the veteran journalist and newscaster who co-anchored "PBS NewsHour," died after a battle with endometrial cancer, according to PBS on November 14. She was 61.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Don Emmert/Getty Images

Gwen Ifill, the veteran journalist and newscaster who co-anchored "PBS NewsHour," died after a battle with endometrial cancer, according to PBS on November 14. She was 61.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/13/entertainment/leon-russell-obit/" target="_blank">Leon Russell</a>, who emerged as a rock 'n' roll star in the 1970s after working behind the scenes as a session pianist for other musicians, died November 13, his wife told CNN. He was 74.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Robert Knight Archive/Redferns/Getty Images

Leon Russell, who emerged as a rock 'n' roll star in the 1970s after working behind the scenes as a session pianist for other musicians, died November 13, his wife told CNN. He was 74.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/entertainment/robert-vaughn-dead/index.html" target="_blank">Robert Vaughn</a>, who played a slick spy on TV's "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", died November 11, his manager, Matthew Sullivan, told CNN. Vaughn was 83.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Robert Vaughn, who played a slick spy on TV's "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", died November 11, his manager, Matthew Sullivan, told CNN. Vaughn was 83.

Canadian singer-songwriter<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/10/entertainment/leonard-cohen-singer-songwriter-dead/index.html" target="_blank"> Leonard Cohen</a> died at the age of 82, according to a post on his official Facebook page on November 10. A highly respected artist known for his poetic and lyrical music, Cohen wrote a number of popular songs, including the often-covered "Hallelujah."

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Jemal Countess/Getty Images North

Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died at the age of 82, according to a post on his official Facebook page on November 10. A highly respected artist known for his poetic and lyrical music, Cohen wrote a number of popular songs, including the often-covered "Hallelujah."

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/janet-reno-dies/" target="_blank">Janet Reno</a>, the first female US attorney general, died November 7 following a long battle with Parkinson's disease, her sister Maggy Hurchalla said. Reno, 78, served in the Clinton White House from 1993 to 2001.

Photos: People we lost in 2016

Barry Thumma/AP

Janet Reno, the first female US attorney general, died November 7 following a long battle with Parkinson's disease, her sister Maggy Hurchalla said. Reno, 78, served in the Clinton White House from 1993 to 2001.