Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991) was an American country music and gospel singer and actor.
He served in World War II as a bombardier and flew missions over Japan.
He made 57 studio albums and had 83 singles during the course of his musical career. In 1955 he sang the song Sixteen Tons. He snapped his fingers on the recording. The song sold over a million copies.
He won a Grammy Award in 1964 for best album.
He hosted a daytime talk/variety show from 1962 to 1965 known as The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (later Hello, Peapickers).
He was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990 and was also elected into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
He died of liver failure on October 17, 1991 in Reston, Virginia.