Jerry Lee Lewis is still alive.
“TMZ reported incorrectly based on a bogus anonymous tip,” Lewis’ spokesman said.
Lewis has been known to be sick with the flu this month; he was unable to attend the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Oct. 16, where his wife accepted the honor in his place, so saying he is “alive and well” may be exaggerating one of those two things.
However, TMZ admitted they had received a false report about his apparent death.
“Earlier today, we were told by someone claiming to be Lewis’ rep that he had passed,” TMZ said in revising its article. “That turned out not to be the case. TMZ regrets the error.”
Kris Kristofferson was photographed visiting Lewis at his home after the Hall of Fame induction ceremony to personally present him with his medallion.
The false report on Lewis is the second time in recent weeks that a major music figure has been reported dead in error, following People magazine’s story and tweet that Joni Mitchell had died.
Despite his absence from the concert scene, Lewis was well enough to travel from Memphis to Nashville in May when the Country Hall of Fame inductees were announced, posing for photos and participating in a news conference.
Aside from the Hall of Fame induction, Lewis will be the subject of a new documentary, “Trouble in Mind,” directed by Ethan Coen.
The documentary has no set release date but received positive feedback at its Cannes premiere in May.